Loneliness targeting 'young old'

People unable to cope as singles

Baby boomers who thought they were looking forward to the kids leaving home, the prospect of retirement and the freedom to please themselves are running into problems.

Many of them are confronting chronic loneliness, and don't know how to deal with it, says Manawatu Age Concern manager Sue Gould.

"It's a key problem for us," she said.

"It's not just about old people sitting at home alone, but the younger older people, who might have lost a partner, who are now singles and don't know how to cope."

Mrs Gould said loneliness was a social problem closely linked to health problems.

"As human beings we all want connection – it stems from and can cause medical issues and depression," she said.

The group has invited Massey University director of Health, disability and rehabilitation programmes Steve LaGrow to speak at its annual meeting on Monday on his research into the prevalence of loneliness among people aged over 65.

He's found half of older people are moderately lonely, and for about one in 10, the problem is severe, often sparked by a significant life change such as loss of a partner, giving up work, or retiring to the beach house and losing touch with social networks.

He said while loneliness was a natural, human response to losing touch with important people in our lives, it could become a chronic problem when people didn't know how to reach out and make new connections. The Age Concern meeting is at its offices at 273 Broadway Ave, Terrace End, from 5.30pm-7pm.

- © Fairfax NZ News