Fear of social isolation: results of a survey of older adults in Gloucestershire

Abstract

A lifestyle survey of older adults living in Gloucestershire was carried out by Birmingham City University (formerly The University of Central England) and Age Concern Gloucestershire last year. Participants were asked to identify three main areas of concern for their retirement and while fears about health topped the list, fear of social isolation was cited by 11 per cent of participants, forced through events such as lack of mobility, loss of their partner and closure of community facilities such as post offices. Public involvement and inclusion schemes, such as befriending, may provide some solutions to this problem, but healthcare professionals need to be aware of these issues and to work towards community-focused solutions to avoid greater demands on health and social care resources.