Social isolation and loneliness in people aged 55 and over in the UK

Minocha, Shailey; Holland, Caroline; McNulty, Catherine; Banks, Duncan and Palmer, Jane (2016). Social isolation and loneliness in people aged 55 and over in the UK. In: Campaign to End Loneliness Research Hub Meeting, 14 Apr 2016, London School of Economics, 9th Floor Research Suite, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE.

Abstract

In association with Age UK Milton Keynes, we have conducted research to investigate the conditions that lead to social isolation and loneliness among older people (55 years and above) in Milton Keynes, and to recommend possible strategies and solutions to prevent and mitigate isolation. The project was funded by the Milton Keynes Council and commissioned by the Senior Joint Commissioner, Adult Community Services. The research has involved a review of academic and policy literature on social isolation and loneliness, and an information gathering exercise that included expert workshops, individual and group interviews, and site visits. This talk will be based on the project's report (http://oro.open.ac.uk/43925/) and will discuss several case studies of older people and interventions for social isolation and loneliness within Milton Keynes. We hope that the recommendations and the resources from our report and in this talk would be useful for other communities, towns and cities, who may also be facing the challenges of supporting an ageing population.

Taking the example of an online photo journal which encourages users to document their life with just one photo each day, we will discuss how online social interactions influence the lives of older people, the challenges that they face, and the concerns that they have about being online.

Viewing alternatives

Item Actions

Export

You can export this page using these formats