Thousands of pensioners 'lonely and isolated'

Around 50,000 elderly people feel lonely and isolated because they have few social contacts, a report revealed today.

With life expectancy as high as 75 to 80-years-old the National Council on Ageing and Older People found three quarters of pensioners had strong family ties and were well supported by relatives.

But it showed that 11% of the country’s older people had a limited social network.

The survey revealed many of those who felt isolated were aged 80 or over, in poor health, less well educated, widowed and had a generally lower socio-economic status.

The report, Loneliness and Social Isolation among Older Irish People, stressed pensioners could become vulnerable in times of illness, personal crisis or in the event of the death of a spouse.

Those most likely to experience high levels of loneliness are the oldest in society along with people who were widowed or single, the survey showed.

Eibhlin Byrne, chairperson at the NCAOP, said the report would help dispel the stereotype of old age and help promote successful ageing.

“The findings demonstrate the importance of being able to adapt to transition times in older age and the necessity for economic, social and personal resources,” she said.

“And the results highlight how critical it is for older people to be able to get out of the house.”

The report noted good transport links were vital in allowing pensioners to keep up social contacts with friends, family and local community.

Researchers found those with no access to regular transport had significantly higher levels of loneliness.

Older people in Ireland are, however, less likely to live alone than pensioners in other countries, the report noted. Around 80% of older people had a relative who lived within five miles.

Around 700 people were interviewed for the study which found social and emotional loneliness affected women more than men while levels of romantic loneliness were higher among women than men.