Combating Loneliness and Social Isolation with an Ageing Population
It may come as no surprise that the UK population is ageing. The Office for National Statistics projects that more than 24% of people living in the UK will be aged 65 or older by 2042, up from 18% in 2016 (Office for National Statistics, 2019). This figure has been influenced by a variety of factors including people living to longer ages and women typically having fewer children. As a bi-product of an ageing population a variety of challenges are presented ranging from economic challenges with less income tax being paid, to social challenges with an increased reliance on the National Health Service.
However, perhaps the least obvious issue this introduces is the rising amounts of loneliness and social isolation within the UK population. This problem affects a multitude of citizens across the country with more than 2 million people in England over the age of 75 living alone and more than a million older people say they go for over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member. (Age UK, 2018).
People can become socially isolated for a variety of reasons, such as getting older or weaker, no longer being the hub of their family, leaving the workplace, the deaths of spouses and friends, or through disability or illness. Whatever the cause, it's shockingly easy to be left feeling alone and vulnerable, which can lead to depression and a serious decline in physical health and wellbeing.
As outlined by the NHS, one of the best ways to combat loneliness is to keep in touch by phone with your elderly relatives and friends if they are living alone. A simple phone call goes such a long way for people who are living alone and can only take 5 minutes of your day.
The Anywhere Group are proud to be actively combatting loneliness and social isolation with thousands of Ownfone devices operating across the UK putting elderly people in simple contact with loved ones. The Ownfone has pre-programmed buttons to call a variety of contacts of the customer’s choice and is fully customisable with names or pictures. With Christmas fast approaching ensure that your loved ones are not without crucial contact at what can be a lonely time of year.
