The document discusses loneliness and social isolation and their negative health impacts. It summarizes research finding that loneliness is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and increases risk of death by 29%. An estimated 38,000 people over 65 in Norfolk feel lonely, around one in five. Characteristics like being widowed, younger, unmarried, or having health issues are associated with greater loneliness. The document explores the rural dimension of loneliness and outlines approaches to addressing the issue.

1. Background and research
behind loneliness and isolation

2. The headlines
• Loneliness is as
damaging to our
health as
smoking 15
cigarettes a day
• 35,000 to 40,000
lonely people in
Norfolk
• But is this right?

3. • What are we talking about and why is it
bad?
• Who are we talking about?
• What can we do about it?

4. • Loneliness
– “an individual’s personal, subjective sense of
lacking desired affection, closeness and social
interaction with others. “
• Social Isolation
– Social isolation refers to a lack of contact with
family or friends, community involvement, or
access to services
• They are different
• That’s not the end of the story…
What are we talking about

5. • Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A
Meta-analytic Review

6. • Loneliness, living alone and poor social
connections are as bad for your health as smoking
15 cigarettes a day. (Holt-Lunstad, 2010)
• Loneliness is worse for you than obesity. (Holt-
Lunstad, 2010)
• Lonely people are more likely to suffer from
dementia, heart disease and depression. (Valtorta
et al, 2016) (James et al, 2011) (Cacioppo et al,
2006)
• Loneliness is likely to increase your risk of death
by 29% (Holt-Lunstad, 2015)
• A lack of social relationships reduce the
effectiveness of some physiological functions
(Yang et al, 2016)
Why does it matter

7. • the increased likelihood of death:
• reported loneliness?
• social isolation?
• living alone?
(Holt-Lunstad, 2015)
Can you be a healthy happy hermit?

8. • the increased likelihood of death
• 26% for reported loneliness
• 29% for social isolation
• 32% for living alone
• (Holt-Lunstad, 2015)
Can you be a healthy happy hermit?

9. If a lack of social relationships is
as bad for your health and being
overweight or smoking what does
this mean in terms of our
response?

10. Age UK have
produced a
predictive model for
loneliness in the
over 65 population
at a small area level
which shows that
increased risk of
loneliness is not
necessarily
associated with
living in rural areas
and that in Norfolk
people from the
most deprived
quintile of the
population are over
50% more likely to
be lonely.
Where does that 35-40K figure come from?

11. • There are an estimated 38,000 lonely people in Norfolk aged 65+, around
one in five. Norwich has the highest proportion of estimated lonely
population over the age of 65, Great Yarmouth and South Norfolk have the
lowest proportion.
• http://www.norfolkinsight.org.uk/resource/view?resourceId=1564

12. Loneliness - What characteristics and
circumstances are associated with
feeling lonely?
Analysis of characteristics and
circumstances associated with loneliness in
England using the Community Life Survey,
2016 to 2017.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/loneli
nesswhatcharacteristicsandcircumstancesareassociatedwithfeelinglonely/2018-
04-10

13. • In 2016 to 2017, there were 5% of adults in
England who reported feeling lonely “often” or
“always”.
• Circa 44K Norfolk? – (doesn’t quite fit with other
model?)
• Three profiles of people at particular risk from
loneliness were identified:
– Widowed older homeowners living alone with long-
term health conditions.
– Unmarried, middle-agers with long-term health
conditions.
– Younger renters with little trust and sense of
belonging to their area.

14. Of the 34 characteristics and circumstances included in this analysis,
13 were found to have an impact on loneliness, including:
• age
• sex
• marital status
• respondent and partners’ (if applicable) gross income
• disability status (self-reported)
• general health (self-reported)
• number of adults in the household
• caring responsibilities
• whether chat to neighbours more than to just say hello
• feeling as though you belong to a neighbourhood
• satisfaction with local area as a place to live
• the number of years lived in local neighbourhood
• how often meet up in person with family members or friends
Characteristics and circumstances

15. • age group
Younger adults aged 16 to 24 years reported feeling
lonely more often than those in older

16. Those single or widowed were at particular risk of
experiencing loneliness more often. People living as a
couple are lonely less often. People who live alone are at
greater risk of feeling lonely more often.

17. Those with poorer health report experiencing
loneliness more often

18. Unemployed people report being lonely more often

21. • One approach to doing this, only uses a
few of the key characteristics
• People who are more likely to be lonely
not that they are lonely
• This is a map of where more of the more
likely people are – but lonely people will
be everywhere
• This is mainly 2011 census data and
peoples lives change
Caveats

23. The rural dimension
Key indicators Norfolk - deprived
rural hotspots
Norfolk - Rural Norfolk
N % N % N %
Household composition
Single pensioner households 200 62.4% 28,795 51.8% 54,375 55.0%
Lone parent households 130 47.5% 6,820 14.7% 16,690 18.7%
Social housing 480 41.3% 20,615 11.4% 58,235 17.0%
Housing with no central
heating
135 11.8% 11,290 6.2% 24,030 7.0%
Unemployed people 85 4.3% 7,105 2.3% 17,075 3.0%
Economically inactive people 1,055 51.9% 107,455 34.8% 197,910 34.4%
Adults with no qualifications 955 47.1% 99,705 32.3% 186,430 32.4%
Limiting long-term illness 855 30.1% 82,380 19.3% 154,280 19.4%
People providing unpaid care 255 9.0% 46,145 10.8% 81,655 10.3%
Access to services
Households with no car/ van
415 35.5% 26,065 14.4% 71,120 20.7%
Source: OCSI 2011, Census 2001

24. Lasting effect or beneficial only in short term?
• Canterbury Wellbeing
Index
• Project providing
creative themed
social activities
• Targeting older
people with a focus
on those with
dementia
• 77 first session
• 34 four sessions

25. The potential, the gaps, the anarchy