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.
Loneliness and Isolation Key Subjects
Ageing
This section provides a range of resources that make the connection between ageing, loneliness and isolation.
Assistive technology
This section features resources on how assistive technology can help overcome loneliness and isolation.
Care and support
On this page you will find resources relating to the care and support for people experiencing loneliness and isolation.
Dementia
This section highlights the link between dementia and loneliness.
Health and wellbeing
This section contains information on loneliness and isolation and its link with health and wellbeing.
Homes and communities
This page has resources that showcases how home design and the built environment can reduce loneliness and isolation.
Key Resources
An A-Z of organisations and websites on ageing, loneliness and social isolation: A Housing LIN Practice Briefing
This Housing LIN Practice Briefing presents a list of organisations and online resources that are aimed to provide information and additional support to those wanting to find out more about, or to access key services, around the issue of loneliness and isolation.
A connected society: A strategy for tackling loneliness
This strategy sets out the approach to tackling loneliness in England. It marks a shift in the way we see and act on loneliness, both within government and in society more broadly.
Loneliness Annual Report: The first year
This Annual Report by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport provides an update on the progress made against each of the commitments set out in ‘A connected society: a strategy for tackling loneliness’
Going the Extra Step: A compendium of best practice in dementia care
A new Housing LIN publication looking at examples of best practice in dementia care seeking to reduce loneliness and social exclusion for people with dementia.
Exploring how to develop effective services to reduce loneliness
Housing LIN Viewpoint 96 explores best practice in developing effective services to reduce loneliness and provides six top tips for setting up new services.
Building companionship: how better design can combat loneliness in later life
This report by Demos, supported by McCarthy & Stone, recommends that redesigning 'cities for all ages' could help prevent social disengagement.
What role for extra care housing in a socially isolated landscape?
This Housing LIN report highlights five core elements of extra care housing that give older people fulfilling, socially-connected lives.
Latest Resources
- What is a ‘good enough’ life?
- Understanding befriending: A study of befriending schemes for older people
- How private landlords can support people affected by dementia to live safe and well
- Loneliness beyond Covid-19: Learning the lessons of the pandemic for a less lonely future
- Emerging and developing work to digitally enable care across the East
- The Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Interim report
- The Tech Pandemic: the long-term impact of COVID-19 on usage of technology in specialist housing
- From hospital to home; planning the discharge journey
- Understanding Integrations: how to listen and learn from people and communities