How can we make loneliness everyone’s business?

1. How can we make loneliness everyone’s business?

2. Background • Founded in 2011 by Independent Age, Sense, RVS, Age UK Oxfordshire, Manchester City Council • Aim to bring attention to the issue of loneliness and improve understanding • Have a network of 10,000 organisations, academics, policy professionals and supporters

3. What next? • Secured funding from the Big Lottery Fund to work with new communities and audiences • Test new ideas: we recognise we don’t have all the answers! • Support others in their work and share their knowledge and experiences with others

4. What we know about loneliness? • Developing topic: many things we don’t understand yet • Transitions in life pose risks: bereavement, illness, disability, retirement • More ‘life transitions’ as you get older • Ageing population increases number

5. The impact • Impacts on physical health – equivalent to 15 cigarettes a day • Impacts on mental health • Impacts on life expectancy • Impacts on your ability to get out of loneliness • Impacts on us all

6. The task ahead of us • Making the public take action but in the right way • Making loneliness everyone's business in every community • Helping ‘interventions’ improve and grow • Individual emotional and psychological needs

7. Engaging the public We want to understand and address: • Why too few people form meaningful connections with older people what will motivate them to do so • How do we make sure those connections are reciprocal and mutually rewarding • The stigma of loneliness • Tap into our human need for connections

8. Mental health, well being and resilience No amount of ‘interventions’ will work if lonely older people aren’t equipped to use them. • People need to be aware of their feelings • People need to understand it isn’t inevitable • People need to have confidence to admit loneliness • People need to know what to do • People need the social skills to develop connections

9. Questions