As Featured In Heart of Bucks: Tackling Loneliness in The Elderly. Guest Blog

Combating loneliness and isolation in older people is something that Ashridge Home Care founder Trudi Scrivener feels extremely passionate about. The quiet epidemic of loneliness in the elderly may have come into renewed focus during COVID-19, but we need to make sure that it stays at the top of our minds.

There are no recent data available about social isolation and loneliness in Buckinghamshire. However, information from national publications and 2015 research can provide further indications of the likely prevalence of these problems in the local population:

• Around 10% of people over 65 in the UK are experiencing chronic
  loneliness at any given time. In Buckinghamshire this would be around 9,400 people
• The 2011 census found that 11.8% of people of pension age in Buckinghamshire are living alone, which may be a contributing factor to isolation.
• Adults with learning disabilities of all ages are at risk of social isolation.
  Nationwide, 51% feel lonely and 64% don’t see their friends enough. In Buckinghamshire this would equate to 3,646 adults with learning disabilities feeling lonely and 4,576 who do not see their friends as often as they would like.
• 8 in 10 carers in the UK have felt lonely or socially isolated as a result of caring. The 2011 census showed that over 49,000 Buckinghamshire residents are carers, 17% for 50+ hours a week. 28% of carers providing 50+ hours of care a week are over 65.
• 3 in 10 of those aged 80 and over report being lonely. For Buckinghamshire this would be 8,040 people over 80 who feel lonely and would be expected to rise to 14,460 by 2030. While people can feel lonely at any age, older people are likely to face multiple life experiences which are known to influence loneliness, such as bereavement, illness and disability, caring responsibilities and reduction in income.

Read the latest guest blog post from Heart of Bucks Ambassador for Health and Wellbeing Trudi Scrivener, about tackling loneliness in the elderly.

As Health & Wellbeing Ambassador, Trudi is using her local expertise and over 30 years experience in social and health care to help the charity continue its crucial work to create a culture of giving that strengthens and supports communities throughout Buckinghamshire.