Loneliness harms health Campaign to end Loneliness Hertfordshire Loneliness Harms Health

Loneliness Harms Health objectives Inspire local communities to raise awareness of negative health implications of loneliness Urge local health and wellbeing boards to act on chronic loneliness in older people Hertfordshire Loneliness Harms Health

Social Isolation in the UK Hertfordshire Loneliness Harms Health 1 in 6 adults aged over 50 socially isolated 6% older people leave house less 1/week 51% older people live alone 17% older people in contact with family, friends, neighbours 1/ week 11% 1 / month

Self Reporting of Loneliness 25% older people say they are sometimes lonely 9% say they are often lonely 46% aged 80 and over often lonely 5 million people say TV is their main source of company Hertfordshire Loneliness Harms Health

Causes of Loneliness Personal factors – health, accident, sensory loss, mobility, retirement, bereavement, moving home, becoming a carer/ceasing, giving up driving Societal factors – transport, physical environment, community, housing, technology, crime, demographic changes Hertfordshire Loneliness Harms Health

Why should we act on loneliness? Negative impact on health – 15 cigarettes Worse than obesity and inactivity Depressive symptoms Alzheimers Hypertensions, diabetes, dementia £££? Hertfordshire Loneliness Harms Health

Interventions to reduce loneliness Low cost and effective Public and private partnerships Voluntary groups – befriending, telephone help lines, carers support groups, lunch clubs, car services, clubs and activities Hertfordshire Loneliness Harms Health

Effects of interventions Fewer GP visits Lower use of medication Fewer days in hospital and outpatient appointments Lower incidence of falls Lower and later admission to care homes Hertfordshire Loneliness Harms Health

Loneliness in Hertfordshire 179,000 older people in Hertfordshire 17,900 chronically lonely 67,445 pensioners living alone 2,403 older people suffering from depression By 2020 – 207,800 Hertfordshire Loneliness Harms Health

Health and Wellbeing Boards Health Trusts and Councillors Setting local health and wellbeing agenda Local people can raise awareness about moral and financial cost of chronic loneliness and pressure HWBs to do something about it Hertfordshire Loneliness Harms Health

What can you do? Write to the Hertfordshire Health and Wellbeing Board (“HWB”) Write to your local paper Write to your MP Join with me to Hertfordshire Loneliness Harms Health