The Campaign to End
Loneliness has launched 'Listening to you: a baseline report'
which highlights how few people would know where to turn if
they felt lonely. 42% of the 1,500 people surveyed did not know of
any organisations or services that could help those facing
loneliness.
We're all aware of the dangers posed to health through smoking and obesity - they maintain a prominent place the media, and have vast amounts of money ploughed into advertising campaigns. But when it comes to loneliness it appears that, well, we're on our own. When we consider that loneliness has in fact been shown to be as bad for your health as obesity and life-long smoking, and that shockingly, almost half of all older people say that the telly is their main form of company, we have to wonder why we aren't talking about it more.
The Campaign to End Loneliness, which is supported by Esther Rantzen, is asking health commissioners to support and promote groups and organisations that provide services that prevent and alleviate loneliness in their area. By working together we can aim to stamp out the feeling of isolation that can affect us all.
Download a full copy of the report here.
If you would like to help lonely older people in your area, find out about volunteering opportunities with Independent Age.