Loneliness in older people
with Lisa Goodman, Age UK
Hello, I’m Lisa Goodman, Head of Mental Health Services at Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland. Our mission is to support older adults in leading happier, more active, and socially connected lives within their communities. Our work is to help older people live happier, active, fulfilled and socially engaged lives in the community.
At Age UK, we focus on enhancing quality of life, and within that context, we run initiatives to combat the loneliness that comes with getting older and try to work with older people to support their mental health.
Life after retirement
I think one of the common issues many older people face is when they stop working. The idea of not having to work may sound idyllic, but for some, the reality is very different.
Many of the people we support talk about losing their ‘purpose’ associated with working. The lack of daily and weekly structure can be challenging, as well as the fact that their social contact may be reduced considerably. People can feel isolated very quickly
There may also be financial pressures, which might see people becoming more frugal, potentially stopping them from being social or going out to do things they enjoy.
The impact of being lonely
There’s more to loneliness than feeling alone. Research suggests that loneliness can increase stress and it is also associated with an increase in certain mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.1
Early signs of someone being isolated and lonely may include:
- Having a significant change in their daily routine, for instance waking up much later2
- Neglecting their appearance or personal hygiene2
- Not eating properly2
- Putting themselves down2
- Not being themselves2
It’s important to have support in place early to prevent the situation from worsening.
How to combat loneliness
My main recommendation would be to talk to someone. Having someone to listen to you and support you explore what is causing you to feel lonely can help you to start feeling better, and talking to people can be a great way to remember all of the positive things in your life.3
My main recommendation would be to talk to someone.
You might be able to form connections through community groups and initiatives. For example, we facilitate a scheme called ‘Men & Women in Sheds’. This workshop provides a place for woodwork, gardening and pottery. It is a safe place for individuals to work on their own projects and make objects to raise money for the charity. As well as providing a sense of purpose and achievement, it also provides an opportunity for social interaction. This group give a lot back to the community, supporting people with dementia to engage in woodwork and pottery and they have also started to deliver pottery sessions to other organisations to support their mental health.
Activities like this, or social clubs, may feel less daunting because you’re meeting people in a similar position to you, who also want to chat and make friends. Try something new; who knows what doors it may open for other things to try.
You can hear more from Age UK’s Tony Donovan, Executive Director of Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland on Series 2 of the Mind if I Join You? podcast, and more information on Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland here.
Tips for retirement4
- Plan what you would like to do with your time.
- Think about hobbies you may be interested in trying.
- Increase your social contact as friendship circles can reduce as we get older.
- Think of the positive things in your life.
- Get out and about – it’s easy to lose confidence in getting out of the house if we don’t do this regularly.
- Build your confidence using technology – it can help you to keep in contact with family and friends.
- Get advice about planning your finances in order to maximise your income so that you feel more able to engage in more social opportunities or hobbies.
- Look after your physical health. Regular exercise is good for our mood and will help you to stay independent for longer. It’s also a great way to meet new people!
This article has been developed and funded by Lundbeck and is intended for UK audiences.
References
- Mind. Loneliness. Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/loneliness/about-loneliness/ [last accessed October 2024]
- Age UK. Caring for someone who's lonely. Available at: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/loneliness/caring-for-someone-whos-lonely/ [last accessed October 2024]
- Age UK. Feeling lonely. Available at: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/loneliness/how-to-overcome-loneliness/ [last accessed October 2024]
- Age UK. Preparing emotionally for retirement. Available at: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/work-learning/retirement/preparing-emotionally-for-retirement/ [last accessed October 2024]
