Heartbreaking research reveals what lonely older people miss most
LONELY older people most miss having somebody to sit with, while almost half miss enjoying a hug, research shows.
A new poll of more than 1,000 over-65s who say they are lonely found it was simple things that people missed the most.The survey, for the Campaign to End Loneliness, found people most missed sitting with somebody and just being together (mentioned by 52 per cent of respondents).
This was followed by having somebody to laugh with (51 per cent), hugging (46 per cent), eating together (35 per cent), sharing a bed (31 per cent) and holding hands (30 per cent).
The activities that lonely people missed the most included going on holiday (44 per cent), country walks (32 per cent), socialising outside the home (31 per cent), restaurants (26 per cent), going to the pub (17 per cent) and entertaining guests (16 per cent).
Meaningful social connections are essential for human happiness
The Campaign to End Loneliness says a million older people in the UK suffer from chronic loneliness.
Its director, Laura Alcock-Ferguson, said: "Meaningful social connections are essential for human happiness."
At the campaign, we want to make loneliness everyone's business and show that we can all play a role in combating loneliness in their community, whether as an organisation or an individual.
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"At a national level, we're calling for the development of a UK-wide strategy for tackling loneliness and social isolation to help end this growing crisis.
"Health and wellbeing boards also have a big role to play, and it is vital that every board in the country put in place a clear action plan with measurable targets for reducing loneliness in their local population."