Last Updated on June 14, 2021

Loneliness Awareness Week takes place this week from 14th – 18th June. Hosted by Marmalade Trust, it's a campaign that raises awareness of loneliness and gets people talking about it.

Over one million older people report feeling lonely all the time¹ and even when living in a care home, loneliness and isolation can still occur. According to studies, loneliness has been linked to early deaths and an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, depression, cognitive decline and poor sleep. People who feel lonely are more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s (and other forms of dementia) than those who do not feel lonely²³.

The Relative and Residents’ Association has been campaigning for some time to #EndIsolationInCare, calling on the Government to lift the 14-day isolation. Director of the R&RA, Helen Wildbore, told CMM that they believe the Government ‘abandoned’ older people in the ‘most appalling way’. Commenting on the Government’s roadmap, Helen Wildbore said, ‘This policy must be urgently amended and a strategy for re-opening care homes published.' Campaign groups remain concerned that the current guidance (which is not mandatory) is being enforced by providers and is restricting residents' from enjoying the freedoms of everyday life and could lead to increased loneliness if residents' are spending less time with family and friends.

The Marmalade Trust⁴ defines ‘Loneliness’ in five ways:

• Emotional loneliness - When someone you were very close with is no longer there. This could be a partner or a close friend.
• Social loneliness - When you feel like you’re lacking a wider social network of friends, neighbours or colleagues.
• Transient loneliness - A feeling that comes and goes.
• Situational loneliness - Loneliness which you only feel at certain times like Sundays, bank holidays or Christmas.
• Chronic loneliness - When you feel lonely all or most of the time.

According to Christina R Victor’s ‘Loneliness in care homes: a neglected area of research⁵?’ thesis, rates of severe loneliness reported by people living in care homes (22-42%) are more than twice that of residents in the wider community (10%).

It’s important that care home operators are aware of what can be done to support their residents and staff and reduce the risks of isolation and loneliness. For this year’s Loneliness Awareness Week Bernadette Mossman, Healthcare Director at dementia care specialist Vida Healthcare, discusses how care home operators can combat feelings of loneliness and promote good wellbeing.

Residents

To reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, care home operators could:

• Improve connectivity with staff: Care home staff play a huge part in easing feelings of loneliness, particularly when visits from friends and family are prohibited. Initiatives, such as cutting-edge technology, can free up staff time so that they have more opportunities to socialise with residents.
• Invest in social activities: Consider coordinating different activities, such as stretching classes and choirs, to encourage residents to socialise with each other and therefore create a community spirit and strong connections.
• Keep families connected: Moving to a care home can be a stressful time, particularly when it comes to being able to see friends and family regularly. Visiting policies and times which are accessible will keep residents feeling connected to their community, and families up-to-date with the lives of their relatives.

Staff

It’s not only residents that can feel lonely in care homes. Care home operators also have a duty of care to protect their staff and promote positive mental wellbeing.

• Open communication: A positive workplace environment where conversations between colleagues are encouraged will support their mental health. If an employee is feeling lonely or struggling with their work, make it clear that it’s ok for them to talk to someone about how they feel. This is often an effective way of helping people to cope, and can address an issue before it becomes severe.
• Work life balance: A good work life balance is crucial for staff to be able to spend time with their friends and family, and therefore reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. It’ll also make care provision more effective because burnout will be less likely, and their mental health will be optimal.
• Socialisation with families: Families are not only crucial to support the mental health of residents, but can also provide another outlet for staff. Good connection between staff and families will promote feelings of positivity and give both parties opportunities to create a positive environment for all involved.

For more information, please visit www.vidahealthcare.co.uk

This awareness week is not just highlighting isolation felt by older people in social care. Data conducted by the Office of National Statistics⁶ (ONS) reveals that nearly three-quarters (74%) of disabled adults said they were worried about the impact COVID-19 is having on their life. The survey also highlighted that nearly half (49%) of disabled adults reported feeling lonely, compared to just 30% of non-disabled people.

Therese Timberlake, Senior Area Manager for United Response in Devon, said, 'We know that loneliness and isolation can disproportionately affect people with learning disabilities, and the past fifteen months have brought this distressing reality into even sharper focus. It’s been more important than ever during the pandemic for people with learning disabilities to be connected with others – whether talking to their friends and family or meeting new people in their community.

'Since the first lockdown last year, our support workers have been planning and delivering inspiring projects to keep spirits high and people connected across our services. Staff is still today finding new ways of keeping people we support engaged and in touch with people around them – often within their own homes.'

A new stop-motion animation created by people with learning disabilities and their support workers in Devon is hoping to raise awareness of climate change this summer.

References

<1> https://www.thegoodcaregroup.com/news/loneliness-and-care-homes/

<2> Holt-Lunstad et al. “Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A MetaAnalytic Review”, 2015

<3> Wilson et al.. “Loneliness and Risk of Alzheimer Disease”, 2007

<4> https://www.marmaladetrust.org/lonelinessguide

<5> https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/abs/10.2217/ahe.12.65

<6> https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/disability/articles/coronavirusandthesocialimpactsondisabledpeopleingreatbritain/may2020