One-in-nine elderly lonely and isolated

ONE-IN-NINE older Irish people are severely isolated from their communities and vulnerable to extreme loneliness, a study has revealed.

The group, which numbers about 50,000, is also more likely to be among the country’s oldest citizens, to have the poorest health and the lowest levels of income, according to research commissioned by the National Council on Ageing and Older People.

The council yesterday called for a range of measures to tackle the problem, including the development of volunteer bureaus within local communities to help support older people in their own localities.