Combating loneliness and reducing social isolation

It is reported that there are 1.2 million chronically lonely older people in the UK and that the number of over-50s experiencing loneliness is set to reach two million by 2025/6. This will undoubtedly be exacerbated by COVID-19 with people experiencing increased social isolation and loneliness due to the current pandemic.

Arranged into 6 key topic areas below, these new pages showcase relevant guidance and policy instruments, useful research findings and examples of services and innovative projects that offer practical solutions in combatting loneliness and reducing social isolation.

With thanks to The Mercers Charitable Foundation, the resources listed below deal with the impact that housing and support services can have on responding to these types of need amongst older people.

The Housing LIN are also pleased to a member of the ESRC funded DICE research project (opens new window) with the University of Bristol, ILC-UK and partners, Anchor Hannover, Brunelcare and Pobl. Entitled, ‘Diversity In Care Environments (DICE) - Promoting Social Inclusion in Housing with Care and Support for Older People in England & Wales’, and due to report in 2021, the aim of the project is to explore the social inclusion of older people from socially diverse backgrounds living in housing with care and support schemes in order to benefit social wellbeing, bolster against social exclusion, social isolation and marginalisation, and promote social cohesion in housing with care and support schemes.