Social Isolation and Loneliness: Its Impact to Ageing and What We Can Do About It

The Health Impact of Isolation and Loneliness

Human beings are social creatures. Our connection to others enables us to survive and thrive. However, older persons are more likely to live alone and tend to be less socially engaged. The effect of social isolation and loneliness on mortality is comparable to that of other well-established risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.

Did you know that loneliness has a comparable risk factor for early death as smoking 15 cigarettes a day! Social isolation and loneliness are widespread, with around 16% of people worldwide, one in six, experiencing loneliness.

The U.S. Surgeon General declared a global loneliness epidemic. Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death.

The Global Scope of the Loneliness Epidemic

Social isolation and loneliness are huge and growing problems in Australia and worldwide.

For instance, here are some statistics from the UK:

• 1 in 10 people seen by GPs attend the clinic because they are lonely; 

• 200,000 older people have not had a conversation with friends or family for a month;

• 3.9 million people consider the television to be their main form of company;

• A lonely person is twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease;

• 50% of people aged 75+ live alone;

• 1.9 million older people feel ignored or invisible.

In fact, the UK created the Ministry for Loneliness in 2018, representing a commitment to tackle loneliness as a significant public health issue, recognising its impact on mental and physical well-being. We are in the middle of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), and social isolation/loneliness is one of the key action areas.

Avanti’s Role: Stronger Together

Avanti exists not only to empower people to age healthily by maintaining strength, balance, mobility, and independence, but also to be stronger together by staying connected and nurturing new and existing friendships. 

“No one should be alone in old age he thought, But it is unavoidable.”

—The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway