Loneliness concern among the elderly

Ann Lawrence, 85, has been living in Levin on her own for about 40 years and recently sought help for the loneliness she was experiencing.

When she read about Age Concern Horowhenua’s accredited visiting programme in the paper, she decided to reach out and get some help.

‘‘I had got to the different stage where I was sorta [sic] feeling a bit lonely at times.

‘‘There’s no harm in trying. I had got to the end of my tether, and if it was going to work or whatever, yeah, why not.’’

Lawrence, an avid tramper in her day, no longer had the mobility to go out by herself and had become isolated.

As part of the visiting service, Trish McGregor now came around to visit her once a week to have a chat, a cup of tea, or go out for a walk.

McGregor said she liked volunteering for the visiting service because she enjoyed talking to people and helping them.

She also needed a purpose. ‘‘You know, you go once a week and talk to them for an hour, or maybe go out somewhere...you’re a friend going round to visit, and it’s really great.’’

It helped her as much as it did the people she visited, McGregor said.

Age Concern Horowhenua accredited visiting service coordinator Robyn Baker said loneli

Charlene Lyttle

Age Concern Horowhenua support worker

ness and isolation had been shown to be as bad for a person’s health as smoking.

The service matched volunteers, who were police checked and trained, with older, vulnerable members of the community.

‘‘Quite often people have been married for 40 or 50 years, or 60 years, and they lose a partner, or they lose somebody, and it’s really hard.’’

Baker said Covid-19 had exacerbated this issue, isolating people from their communities and families.

Lawrence said she didn’t have a cellphone or computer, and it was nice to chat to someone about what was happening in the community.

‘‘There’s an awful lot of people out there who have become homebound because of [Covid-19], they haven’t always got family company and just somebody else to sort of talk to and to understand, and local gossip!’’

A 2020 report by New Zealand Social Wellbeing Agency: Toi Hau

Ta¯ngata said the Covid-19 pandemic would likely exacerbate inequalities in loneliness and social isolation.

‘‘The sudden loss of our usual routines could put many of us at risk of feeling lonely,’’ the report said.

It also said that there was consistent evidence for a relationship between loneliness, health and wellbeing.

‘‘Loneliness is associated with poorer physical health (strong evidence for cardiovascular health and mortality), mental health (particularly anxiety and depression, but also self-harm and suicide), and a lower quality of life.’’

Age Concern Horowhenua support worker Charlene Lyttle said there were approximately 40 volunteer visitors and 60 clients who made up the service.

She said older people often struggled with reaching out for help, as they still wanted to be independent and didn’t want to be a burden on people.

Lawrence said after reaching out for help herself, she wanted others to know that help was available.

‘‘This loneliness is something that I have experienced myself and looking around other people it’s certainly growing and particularly for an older person, I can see it, that it needs to be accounted for.

‘‘These people need somebody to give them a hand now and again or just say hello, the need is there.’’

If you are feeling isolated or experiencing loneliness, you can contact Age Concern on 0800 652 105 or visit their website https://www. ageconcern.org.nz/.

These people need somebody to give them a hand now and again or just say hello, the need is there.