How do we tackle loneliness among older Australians?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-08-26 14:30

Australia; VIC

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Loneliness among older generations is common and can lead to health and subsequently economic problems, according to Australian researchers discussing the issue in a perspective piece. The researchers say while it is hard to put a number on how many older Australians are lonely, it could be around two in seven people over 60 years old. They say loneliness is linked by previous research to various chronic diseases, and the additional health problems combined with a desire for human interaction may be driving higher healthcare costs. The problem is likely to persist or increase with the decline in intergenerational living and traditional community resources such as libraries or post offices, the researchers say, and while some interventions are effective, especially group educational or social activity programs, there are a large number of factors which can lead to loneliness that will need to be considered to tackle it for everyone.