Thousands of Bolton's older people caught in loneliness 'epidemic'

This is one of many worrying statistics which has caused concern among charities, especially those that support older people.

In fact, lonely people are much more likely to experience health problems, including dementia, heart disease and depression, according to Age UK.

The charity says the number of people feeling isolated is constantly increasing, with hundreds of thousands of elderly people across the country regularly going over a week without even speaking to another person.

Some of these isolated individuals are just asking for smile or a wave while waiting in a queue.

Suzanne Hilton, Age UK Bolton's chief executive, said the charity estimates around 4,600 older people are "chronically" lonely.

"There's a massive epidemic of loneliness out there," she said.

"Studies haves shown that loneliness is worse than smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It's worse than drinking alcohol for you.

"It's not unusual, this is the case everywhere, but we have a real problem here in Bolton and we need to do something about it."

There are a number of groups in the borough working to try and fix this problem, including the Oddfellows, a 200-year-old society of people committed to helping people meet and become friends.

“Lifestyles have changed so older people often don’t find it as easy to walk into a pub or a new venue that they are not used to,” explained Dawn Walters, branch developer for the group.

“Loneliness can lead to people becoming depressed and it can create a lot of problems, their confidence goes, they don’t eat properly, they may start drinking heavily or their behaviour might change.”

Research by the Oddfellows suggests that nearly half of adults in the region only get together with friends once a month or less.

This situation will often become more pronounced for people that have lost a spouse or for those who have recently retired from a job.

“We did a survey of our members at the beginning of the year and asked them to feed back the significant triggers for them needing to be in the company of other people and why they would want to join an organisation like ours,” Mrs Walters added.

“We found that there were some key life stages.

“In terms of loneliness there were some cases, for example when someone finds themselves recently bereaved.

“That’s obviously a long term relationships and then you’re suddenly without your partner. That can leave you incredibly isolated.”

For a lot of older people in the borough, it seems that simple actions from other people can make a huge difference to how they feel.

An Age UK survey of over-65s found that around 40 percent of people would feel more confident if they knew their neighbours and another 25 percent just wanted their neighbours to stop and say hello.

A further 25 percent said that someone asking how their day has been or even smiling at them at the bus stop would make a lot of difference to their lives.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said:“Loneliness is a huge problem because retirement, bereavement & ill health mean many older people find they are spending a lot less time enjoying the company of others than they’d like.

“Loneliness can affect your health, your wellbeing and the way you see yourself - it can make you feel invisible and forgotten.”

She added: “A friendly “hello” or “how are you?” is something most of us take for granted – it’s just part of every day life, but these latest figures show that hundreds of thousands of older people in the UK will spend today and the rest of this week alone, with no one to share even a few simple words with.

“That’s why Age UK’s expert advice and support services are so crucial and help people in all sorts of ways, every day of the year.”

In response to these concerns, the Oddfellows has urged people to “make more mates and meet more often” as part of Friendship Month throughout September.

The group, based out of Dorest Road, in Manchester, regularly runs events in Bolton and Leigh, with meetings scheduled at the Bradley Fold Garden Centre and The Cowshed, in Horwich, later this month.

Jane Nelson, CEO of Oddfellows, said: “Many studies show that regular company is essential to living a happier life. In fact, some would say that spending time with friends is as important as eating healthily or exercising. Friends aren’t just there to socialise with, they provide support and comfort in times of need.”

For more information on future events in Bolton and how to get involved with the Oddfellows, visit: www.oddfellows.co.uk.

Alternatively, to speak to someone from Age UK or find out more about what they do, visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/bolton.