Are you feeling lonely?
There are myriad reasons why we might be feeling lonely. Living alone is an obvious one. The National Office for Statistics states in it’s Families and Households Survey from 2024 that the number of people living alone is on the rise. There were 8.4 million people living alone in the UK in 2024. This was an increase of 11.0% from 7.6 million in 2014. And if we are older or living health conditions and disabilities it makes loneliness much more likely.
Getting older
Evidence from Age UK’s Loneliness report in 2024 showed that 9 out of 10 older people often felt lonely or unhappy, compared to 4 out of 10 in the general population. And shockingly 270,000 older people (aged 65+) in England go a week without speaking to a friend or family member (3%, or around 1 in 40 people aged 65+).
Living with health conditions and/or disabilities
The National Office for Statistics in it’s Disability, well-being and loneliness report in 2019 says that the proportion of disabled people (13.3%) who report feeling lonely “often or always” is almost four times that of non-disabled people (3.4%), with the greatest disparity for young adults, aged 16 to 24 years old.
The effects of loneliness
Loneliness can affect our physical wellbeing, affecting blood pressure, heart health, the onset of dementia, and sleep amongst others. And the effects of loneliness on our mental wellbeing are well documented, and we hope are less stigmatised than they used to be.
So what can we do to tackle loneliness?
There is no one solution because we’re all different. The Mental Health Foundation offers some really practical coping strategies for combatting loneliness, which include:
- A hobby that you enjoy and will keep you busy such as gardening, going to the gym, knitting
- Find an activity that stimulates the mind, maybe take a course or listen to a pod-cast
- Try some physical activity, whatever is possible for you
- Try to engage with people in your day to day life, say hi to the postman or a neighbour
- Find people that are your sort of people
- Spend time with a pet if you can
- Could Talking Therapies be helpful for you?
- Using technology/social media can be helpful to feel connected, but not too much
The NHS also has a useful advice page.
What’s on offer locally?
Here at Home & Company we are supporting many people who live alone and are older, or have long term health conditions or disabilities. We find that matching people with someone from the team to visit regularly who they get on well with, and get to know over time, is a great way to combat loneliness. Having someone in your life who is a constant, who you can share things with and get out & about with can be a really game changer.
GP practices now have ‘social prescribing teams’ who can support you to find local groups or activities that work for you.
Most areas will have a befriending service, whereby you can sign up and be matched with someone who contacts you every fortnight either by phone or in person.
Every Council will have commissioned local organisations to provide a programme of activities to support you, whether you are older, or living with disabilities or long term health conditions. Contact your local council to find out what’s available in your area. In Brighton & Hove you can get in touch with the Ageing Well team and Possability People.
Living alone as an older person or with health challenges doesn’t mean you will be lonely. But it increases the likelihood. If you’re feeling lonely do get in touch with us. We have got to know what’s on offer locally and are really happy signposting people. If we can’t help you directly we’ll know someone who can. And in any case, we love a good chat!
Do give us a call.