Tackling Loneliness

Loneliness kills. It is a public health crisis. It is as dangerous to a person’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It increases the risk of stress, anxiety and depression and doubles the risk of dementia. Loneliness can occur at different ages and stages; however many of the triggers tend to congregate in later life due to life changes such as bereavement, retirement, moving to a new area, illness or children moving away from home. 

100,000 older people in Scotland feel lonely all or most of the time. 200,000 will go half a week without a visit or call from anyone. 

We work to tackle loneliness and social isolation among in older people. Through our friendship line, we provide regular calls to isolated older people. We support local older peoples groups across Scotland, helping them to thrive and provide a sense of community. We also campaign tirelessly to ensure that loneliness is recognised as the public health crisis that it is and that decision makers consider the impact on older people in their work.