1. Loneliness and Social Isolation in Gloucestershire

2. Who does it affect? All ages Men and women People living alone
People with physical and mental health conditions
People with dementia
Bereaved
Carers

4. How does it affect them? Physical health Mental health Wellbeing
Participation in the community

5. What are the wider costs?
Limited evidence base and difficult to measure
Health costs
GP and A&E attendance
Contribution to the community
Carer burnout

6. Key Risk Factors
Being over 80 – there is a steep rise amongst the oldest old
Low income – there is a direct correlation between low income and loneliness and isolation in older age
Poor physical/mental health
Living alone
In isolated rural or deprived urban communities
Being single/divorced/never married
Living in care - around 400,000 people live in residential care and while not socially isolated and in regular contact with a range of people, loneliness can be a serious issue for many
Transitions in older age – e.g. retirement, bereavement, sensory impairment, declining physical health, forced cessation of driving

7. Gloucestershire County Council model of social isolation
Acorn map
Gloucestershire County Council model of social isolation

8. Age UK model of loneliness

9. Strong Communities Community Connectors Social Prescribing
Voluntary sector
Housing – more than bricks and mortar
Reducing dependency culture and paternalism – positive risk taking

10. Community Connectors Social Groups & support Arts & Culture
Using a person-led approach to connect people to their community
‘I went in to get a letter about me not driving anymore and wanting to. The GP said to me I have got a man who can help you with that and everything else and since then he has helped me with so many things I don’t know what I would have done. I have my driving licence sorted, I have got help with caring for my husband and I now have a new circle of friends’ (A social prescribing patient)
Physical activity & lifestyle
Social Groups & support
Arts & Culture
Welfare, benefits & employment
Environment & horticulture
Place-based in local communities
Using local knowledge about what exists and identifying gaps
Understanding the person: Their strengths and their needs
interventions aim to address all patient needs in a holistic way (anything from loneliness through to domestic violence). This is done through co-production, identification of need and action; thus the patient and the prescriber seek to achieve the promotion of self-management. There are no time limits to the relationship and links cease only on the achievement of improved well-being.

11. However…..