Blog

Using a loneliness scale: Benefits, drawbacks and good practice

Written on July 23, 2015 at 9:02 am

Over the past few months, we’ve been thinking a lot about the benefits and challenges of evaluating the impact of services and activities on loneliness in older age. We’ve had the privilege of talking to a wide range of organisations – from small befriending schemes to large housing associations – about impact measurement at two…
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The impact of caring on relationships and loneliness

Written on June 9, 2015 at 10:05 am

It’s Carers Week – a chance for people, charities and employers alike to raise awareness of the huge contribution that unpaid carers of all ages make to UK society. In May of this year, Carers UK published a new report that looked at the causes and consequences of loneliness and isolation on adult carers in…
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Loneliness, isolation and wellbeing in older age

Written on May 1, 2015 at 3:06 pm

In April, the NIHR School for Social Care Research (SSCR) and the Campaign to End Loneliness hosted a joint event to showcase some of the latest research into loneliness, isolation and wellbeing in older age. Over 200 delegates came – representing universities, local government, older people’s forums and charities. We heard about new evidence, debated…
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Hidden citizens: How can we identify loneliness in our communities?

Written on April 8, 2015 at 5:00 am

Regular readers of this blog will be aware that addressing loneliness and social isolation among older people in our population has become something of a national priority in the United Kingdom. Secretaries of state and key ministers have made speeches about it, major national funders have set aside millions of pounds to address it and…
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What is “social capital” and why does it matter?

Written on March 2, 2015 at 9:52 am

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released a new report that analyses the levels of ‘social capital’ in the United Kingdom. This is a slightly jargon-y word that explains the different types of social connections in our lives, and all the benefits they bring. The new report from the ONS looks at four aspects…
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Promising approaches for reducing loneliness and isolation

Written on January 26, 2015 at 9:50 am

The devastating impact loneliness can have on our mental and physical health makes it an issue we simply cannot ignore. For a growing number of older people, loneliness defines and shatters their lives. But loneliness is also a deeply personal experience – unique to every individual; a problem with different causes and consequences for every…
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Reduce loneliness with technology, teaching and therapy

Written on August 21, 2014 at 11:10 am

Here at the Campaign we try to keep up to date with the latest research into loneliness and the ways in which we can use it to help to tackle the issue. This month, we look at a study by Cohen-Mansfield and Perach which looked at a range of different interventions for tackling loneliness evaluated between…
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Will technology ever be a ‘fix’ for loneliness?

Written on August 5, 2014 at 9:36 am

We’ve probably all seen a newspaper headline arguing that technology is a cause of loneliness (“Loneliness in Britain is the legacy of social media and our high tech lives”) or an easy cure (“Give pensioners iPads to stop them feeling lonely, ministers indicate”). But life, and technology, is never that simple and we know from…
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Challenging loneliness, ageism and discrimination of older lesbian, gay and bisexual adults

Written on July 31, 2014 at 1:51 pm

There are many causes of loneliness. One important cause is feeling you cannot form meaningful relationships simply because you’re afraid to show who you really are. For gay, lesbian or bisexual people, growing older can be an isolating experience. Being scared to be yourself can mean social withdrawal, creating feelings of profound loneliness. James Taylor,…
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Loneliness and older people from BME groups: Challenging misconceptions and stereotypes

Written on July 28, 2014 at 9:56 am

If we’re to understand the causes of loneliness among older people, we have to challenge misconceptions and stereotypes. When it comes to older people from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups, there’s often an assumption they live in ‘traditional’ family structures, with young relations looking after or living with older generations. Though there is some…
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Campaign to end loneliness

Blog

Using a loneliness scale: Benefits, drawbacks and good practice

Written on July 23, 2015 at 9:02 am

The impact of caring on relationships and loneliness

Written on June 9, 2015 at 10:05 am

Loneliness, isolation and wellbeing in older age

Written on May 1, 2015 at 3:06 pm

Hidden citizens: How can we identify loneliness in our communities?

Written on April 8, 2015 at 5:00 am

What is “social capital” and why does it matter?

Written on March 2, 2015 at 9:52 am

Promising approaches for reducing loneliness and isolation

Written on January 26, 2015 at 9:50 am

Reduce loneliness with technology, teaching and therapy

Written on August 21, 2014 at 11:10 am

Will technology ever be a ‘fix’ for loneliness?

Written on August 5, 2014 at 9:36 am

Challenging loneliness, ageism and discrimination of older lesbian, gay and bisexual adults

Written on July 31, 2014 at 1:51 pm

Loneliness and older people from BME groups: Challenging misconceptions and stereotypes

Written on July 28, 2014 at 9:56 am

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