Commenting on ONS Statistical Bulletin - Older People's Well-being, 2015 Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Independent Age, the older people’s charity said:
“This research suggests a worrying degree of loneliness among older people but also demonstrates that we may be able to learn a lot from their resilience.
“Three in 10 of those 80 years old and above report being very lonely, twice as many as working age people, and risk factors include living alone, poor health and mobility, divorce and bereavement. One in 10 over-75 year old has no close friend, compared to just two percent of 18-24 year olds. Yet despite this, the report suggests older people reporting higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction than younger people. Older people may simply be lowering their expectations, in a society which offers them limited social contact. On the other hand this generation may have something to teach us all about finding ways of enjoying life that do not rely solely on frequency of social interaction.”