Loneliness Resources

Here, Nicki Haywood, founder and director, The Honeycomb Foundation community interest company (CIC), shines a spotlight on loneliness and social isolation in the workplace and explains why acknowledging it, both as a common experience and health concern, is a way to start tackling it. Please note that personal information about bereavement is included that some readers might find difficult.

The recent pandemic has highlighted the impact of social isolation on health. District and community nurses are in daily contact with vulnerable, elderly clients for whom the norm is a world with little social contact. This compounds the health inequalities affecting this population. District and community nurses require support to meet the psychological and social needs of these clients. In order to improve the health of older people with long-term conditions, joint action between agencies, voluntary groups and charities is imperative. Inclusive and creative evidence-based interventions could be the public health solution to the emerging crisis in the psychological health of elderly clients with chronic conditions.

Research from national charity Contact the Elderly has found that nine out of 10 people feel concerned for a lonely older person within their community or neighbourhood, while four in 10 people do not feel they can offer appropriate help to older people who might be lonely or isolated.