LONELINESS: problem or opportunity?
We are very lucky in South Africa, where there is a huge choice of retirement
communities with lots of open space, great facilities and interesting activities.
These places are specially designed to mitigate the inevitable used to be, they may find it difficult to get out of the house and
loneliness that comes to survivors as they age and their friends, visit relatives or even attend social events.
spouse or partner dies. But this is not the case in Britain, where
older people may not have the same opportunities to go out And, of course, it’s not uncommon that people move around
and socialise. for work, so older people are quite likely to not be living in the
Loneliness is endemic
same city as their children and other family members. It may be
logistically difficult for them to visit as often as they’d like. This
Older people in the UK are especially susceptible to loneliness is exacerbated by the fact that as people get older their network
and isolation. The weather and usual living arrangements are grows smaller as friends and partners pass away.
not ideal for encouraging the elderly to go out and socialise, as
it is not often warm, and family members may live far away. Of The real effects of loneliness
course, the distances may not seem excessive to us, but Britons It is well documented that loneliness and a lack of social contact
have a different concept of space, and a drive of 25 miles (about can be detrimental to mental wellbeing, and people who report
40 kilometres) is considered quite an expedition. According to feeling lonely are more likely to develop illnesses such as
research conducted by Age UK, over two million people aged 75 depression. It also has a negative effect on one’s physical health
or over live alone, and more than a million go a month or more – equal to smoking 15 cigarettes per day – and it’s considered to
without talking to a family member, friend or neighbour. Can be even more harmful than physical inactivity or obesity. And
you imagine the effect that has on not only someone’s mental, loneliness often exacerbates these conditions anyhow, as it’s
but also physical wellbeing? hard to motivate oneself to exercise alone, and loneliness and
comfort eating are long-term bosom buddies.
According to Age UK, nearly half of those aged 65 and over state
the televis ion, or pets, as being their main form of company, and OK, it’s a problem, but is there a solution?
17% are in contact with their family, friends or neighbours less It may seem obvious to us, living in South Africa where
than once a week. retirement villages are commonplace. But that’s because,
How did this happen?
in comparison to the UK, we have an abundance of land for
development, and a flexible planning process. So, while the
The main causes of loneliness in the UK are due to changes in benefit of living in these communities is clear to UK residents,
living or personal circumstances. For example, when people restrictive planning permission limits the number of new
retire, they may not have the same level of daily interaction retirement homes available. Many retirement facilities are
that they would have experienced with work colleagues. If developed in existing buildings – often stately homes or other
their health declines as well, and they are not as mobile as they large historical buildings.
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