Charity begins battle to end elderly loneliness
Re-engage, a charity that supports lonely older people, is looking to partner with researchers to find new ways to end isolation.
The charity is now inviting submissions from academics ‘to transform the way we explore and understand the causes and impact of social isolation and loneliness.’
**REENGAGE** Phyllis Bunting 100 year old worked on Rader development in Second World War at home in Bristol. 28/04/2024
Reasons the charity have embarked on this task is because recent figures show that in the UK, more than 1.4 million people aged 75 and over live alone and one in three can go a week without talking to anyone.
Against this backdrop, Re-engage have claimed loneliness can harm people’s physical and mental health – in extreme cases it can even result in death.
‘We know loneliness really does have a big impact on older people. Their families may have moved away, and friends have died so their worlds shrink,’ Jess Doyle, who is heading the Research Accelerator Programme at Re-engage.
‘We have to recognise the experience, knowledge and fantastic life stories older people have and make sure they are not ignored and forgotten. To do that we have to end the isolation that is so damaging, and we aim to achieve this through our new research initiative.’
‘By working in partnership with others we hope to build a better understanding of the causes of loneliness and advance towards our goal of creating a world where no one is too old to make a friend.’
Currently, the charity are considering some projects that have already received. These include a scheme at Sheffield Hallam University which is investigating the impact of loneliness interventions and an Oxford University programme which is exploring the role of neighbourhoods in providing social connections.
Meanwhile, Re-engage are also launching their Research 100 programme that involves volunteers committing to spending 100 overs over 12 months with the charity, helping build data about its impact. The first four applicants will be enrolled in October. Details about how to become part of the project, can be found in full here.
Psychological care delivered by phone combats loneliness and depression
