Survey shows seniors lonely, isolated
Consumer peak body advises that aged care providers should be aware that loneliness and isolation among seniors is high, and taking action.
New research highlighting an epidemic of loneliness amongst older adults should be a wake up call for governments and aged care providers, says consumer peak body COTA New South Wales, who conducted the study.
The report Voices of Solitude: Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Older Adults in NSW is based on a survey of 2,200 adults living in NSW aged over 50 that aimed to better understand the extent and impacts of loneliness and social isolation among this group.
It found that three in five respondents are lonely, half are socially isolated and a quarter experience extreme levels of loneliness.
(Image: COTA NSW)
COTA NSW chief executive officer Gohar Yazdabadi said aged providers needed to be aware of these issues.
“They need to make sure their staff are trained to identify loneliness and how it manifests in older people,” Ms Yazdabadi told Community Care Review.
“Even if they take the smallest of steps, it is important to move on this.”
The research also found that among lonely older adults:
- 40 per cent engage in social activities in person less than once a month
- 60 per cent don’t feel valued by society
- 20 per cent do not have someone to rely on
- 11 per cent leave their homes once a month or less
- 15 per cent feel that their family and friends do not care about them.
The Voices of Solitude report forms part of COTA NSW’s submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s inquiry into the prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in NSW.
Despite COTA NSW congratulating the NSW government for taking this important first step in addressing loneliness, the peak is calling for more support from them going forward.
Ms Yazdabadi told CCR that funding is required for a much-needed research program, so that COTA NSW can further the second stage of its work around loneliness in older Australians.
“This would allow us to connect with hard-to-reach parts of community, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and those living in regional and remote parts of our state,” she said.
“We need to further our understanding of the impacts of loneliness on these people and how it impacts them and manifests in their lives. We also want to ask them what they think they need to age well going forward.”
Elsewhere in the report, COTA NSW recommended:
- older adults be involved in the development of policies and programs aimed at reducing loneliness
- investment in intergenerational programs plus a retirement preparedness program that looks at social and financial aspects
- a campaign to highlight the value of older adults, ensuring older adults feel valued and connected
- funding to establish a program for older adults experiencing loss, including support groups, grief workshops, and social activities
- tailored support services for older adults living with disability and older adult carers
- funding in-depth studies to explore the unique challenges older LGBTQ+ people face regarding loneliness and social isolation
- creating culturally sensitive interventions to address loneliness among older First Nations people
- expanding loneliness services in regional NSW through mobile outreach programs
- recognising the different experiences of loneliness among men and women
- acknowledging the significant experience of loneliness and social isolation among older residents and taking urgent, meaningful action to address this issue.
Likening the situation to an epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, Ms Yazadabadi said the research findings were devastating.
“The data shows there’s something broken with ageing in NSW,” she told CCR. “We can and we must do better.”
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