Webchat with Baroness Barran Tuesday 16th June at 4pm - add your questions here

4allweknow

In my younger days I volunteered with older people. Some wanted to go to bingo, to a pub for a pint, the cinema,theatre, visit a library or museum or just chat over a cuppa. The reasons given by many for wanting to go out was that they wanted to feel like everyone else mixing with all ages and seeing what was going on outside their four walls. I used my car for transport, was given fuel costs as well as eg cost of cinema ticket. The organisations involved in providing social activities now all seem to focus on grouping them together. Yes this is more cost effective and for some does help combat loneliness but is not for all. Surely there should be more funding "attached" to an individual to allow them to help combat loneliness in a way they would feel they are still an individual and able to make choices. We keep hearing about babyboomers clogging up the system and being a drain on services. There have been statistics on population growth for decades. Boomers are now in their 70s why does it seem a surprise to Governments that there is now a large population of older people. Why has this not been planned for and systems developed to cope with the resultant needs of older people?

Interesting points 4allweknow - although actually more young people experience loneliness than any other age group which can be surprising. There are definitely things which need funding - but actually some of the simple things in life such as calling someone, writing a letter or going for a walk together don't and can be really helpful.

Naoise

I think something that’s really important to acknowledge is that someone doesn’t need to be alone to feel lonely. I have a big family who I’ve kept in touch with through zoom during the pandemic, and I understand I am lucky with this, but I do still feel incredibly lonely at times as I don’t have a lot of friends. How can we approach tackling loneliness for those who aren’t necessarily alone?

Dear Naoise,

You are definitely right. I think that being able to talk about it helps, but also helping someone else - so reaching out to another person who you think might be feeling lonely?

BabsAnn

I think it's great that you are encouraging people to talk about loneliness. But haven't we moved past that now? Don't we need to be taking proper action? GPs should be involved. Everyone needs to visit one, they should have time allowed to spend with people who seem lonely and prescribe websites, social groups etc. But they need to follow up on this too. This pandemic has shown me how isolating it is not to be able to go shopping or just communicate with others doing basic things. If that is denied you because you can't get around as easily then my future looks very bleak.

Dear BabsAnn

You make a good point - but I think that the key is to firstly try and reduce the stigma about loneliness so that it becomes 'ok' to talk about it, and secondly that we offer people choices of how to reduce their sense of loneliness. The Government is rolling out social prescribing across the country so following the route you suggest.

Milliee

Hello. My daughter is about to be a new mum. She’s very scared about the isolation of going through such a big change, and not having family around her as she usually would if times were different. My Q is what are you doing for new mums and families during this time, when they may feel loneliness while something so big is happening in their lives but can’t even hug their mum for support?

Dear Milliee,

It must be mixed feelings - excitement at your prospective grandchild but sadness not to be able to hug your daughter. There is help out there - from your local volunteer centre, but also a lot of online support. There is a great charity called the Chatty Cafe who are doing online 'cups of tea and chat' which was started by a young mum who felt very isolated herself. Also Mumsnet will have alot of support on offer.

petitpois

Hello and thank you for coming on to talk to us about this. My elderly mother has been on her own too for the past 14 years. I've been extremely worried about her during lockdown. My sister lives closer to her but has been shielding and so unable to visit and I am three hours drive away. She has had no one visit her over this time, aside from food deliveries and an occasional over the fence hello from one of her neighbours. I can see from our calls that the isolation has really taken a toll on her. And now she's been indoors for so long she's terrified about leaving the house compounding the problem. What is the government doing about this? I feel like her needs and those of so many other elderly people are right at the bottom of the pile of priorities right now.

Dear Petitpois, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. You must feel very worried. There are several organisations who can offer volunteers to visit, call for a chat and do small practical tasks - there is more info on letstalkloneliness.co.uk website or her local volunteer organisation might be able to help. I hope you find someone to contact her.

Leafee

Hello

Have you ever felt lonely yourself?

Hi Leafee,

Yes, I definitely have felt lonely. For me, I felt it most when at university (a long time ago but I still remember what it felt like) - especially when I first arrived.

Eloethan

There have been several reports noting that, because council funding has been significantly reduced, the number of older people having access to day services, such as lunch clubs, has significantly decreased. In 2012 Age UK reported that numbers using these services had fallen from 88,498 in 2009-10 to 68,160 in 2011-12 and this trend has continued. It warned then that thousands of older people faced "the prospect of living out their last years in loneliness".

The reduction in such services - which may include exercise classes, hairdressing, podiatry and social activities - have naturally had an impact on older people and their carers.

While a conversation regarding the issue of loneliness and social isolation is welcome, will there also be a focus on restoring ongoing government funding for some of these services which help so many people? Relying on funding from charities is not a reliable method of ensuring continuity. When funding ends, if new financial sources are not found successful projects often have to be abandoned.

What is your view on this?

Thanks Eleothan - my view is that there needs to be a mix of funding - both from government but also from charities. These are really important services but often it is the local organisations who really understand best the needs of their communities and how these are evolving. Government isn't always so agile!

Hi CherryCakeandTea

Thanks for your question. You raise an important point. Our approach is to encourage people to talk about loneliness, because that helps reduce it, and make sure that there is funding for both local and national charities to provide support. We also want to support the spontaneous volunteering and acts of kindness that we have seen from neighbours all around the country.