Poverty And Poor Health Create Isolation In Older People

New MORI research commissioned by the Help the Aged British Gas partnership reveals the wide scale problem of isolation in older people in Britain today. The survey findings show the disturbing link between low incomes and poor health and the scourges of too many older people's lives - isolation and loneliness.

The survey indicates that nearly one million older people are acutely isolated and over one million people aged 65 and over (12 %) feel trapped in their own home.

Older people with an income less than 1636,500 and with a long term illness are three times more likely to feel isolated as older people in general (31% compared to 10%) and three times more likely to feel trapped in their own home (35% compared to 11%)*.

The most severely isolated and lonely are people over 75, particularly older women, those who are widowed and those living alone.

Those older people who felt lonely told us what two things they felt they needed to help overcome their plight. Better health is given priority by 36% to lessen their loneliness, while 16% want better income. Others point to more police on the beat (12%) and to different aspects of improved personal support, such as someone to visit and having help to get out and about.

Mervyn Kohler Head of Policy at Help the Aged said `This survey graphically illustrates the sheer scale of the terrible loneliness and isolation felt by many older people in Britain and shows that poverty and poor health play a key role. Clearly the important challenge to the Government is to address the problems of low incomes and poor health. But the survey also shows the way forward on a broader agenda and the need both to listen to older people and act on the perception of their needs and to make a reality of joined up Government by constructing services with older users clearly in mind.'

Professor Sir Robert Worcester, Chairman and Founder of MORI, said `MORI's recent political research has shown that, for older people, three `core issues' dominate as the most important issues facing Britain - healthcare, crime and pensions. That isolated older people see these same factors - better health, higher income and safer streets - as some of the best ways to alleviate their situation shows why they are such important issues to some older people. It is important that the Government is aware of these issues, if the crucial `grey power' vote is going to support them at the next election.'

The survey findings mark the launch of a new campaign by the British Gas Help the Aged partnership to combat isolation and loneliness amongst older people.

Older people are making a rooftop protest at Help the Aged headquarters to 'Free our old age prisoners' as one of a series of launches around the country for a new campaign ad.

Charles Naylor of British Gas said `While the Help the Aged British Gas partnership is calling for action at national policy level, we too have a role to play in finding solutions. Together we have already helped thousands of older people through practical support for local projects. Our future support will aim to relieve isolation and loneliness at a local level, helping the people identified through this groundbreaking research.'

Notes

1. The survey: interviewees were asked the extent to which they identified with six statements measuring aspects of isolation. Those identifying with four or more of the six statements are termed acutely isolated.
2. For purposes of this release, unless otherwise stated 'older people' are defined as all persons aged 65 and over.
3. * While figures for this statement relate to the population aged 55 and over, the data suggests that this finding is equally true of persons aged 65 and over.
4. There are approximately 9 million people aged 65 or over in Britain. There are approximately 15 million people aged 55 or over in Britain.
5. MORI interviewed 1,901 adults aged 15+ between 31 August - 6 September and a booster survey of 660 adults aged 55+ between 7-12 September. All data are weighted to the known population profile aged 15+ or 55+. All interviews were conducted face-to-face and in-home, using sampling points throughout Great Britain, as part of MORI's Omnibus
6. The British Gas Help the Aged Partnership was launched in January 1999 to address the serious and widespread issues of fuel poverty and isolation.

Key findings of Help the Aged British Gas MORI survey

Isolation among persons aged 65 and over:

• Nearly one million older people (10 per cent) in Britain feel acutely isolated.
• Over one million older people (12 per cent) feel trapped in their own home.
• Over 630,000 (7 per cent) have felt like no one knows they exist in the last year.
• More than 180,000 (2 per cent) have gone for a whole week without speaking to friends neighbours or family.

Older people who are most vulnerable to isolation:The 'very old'.

• A quarter of people aged 75 and over (26 per cent) agree that they are "more or less alone and welfareise with very few people". They are among the most vulnerable people in our society and are the most severely isolated and lonely.

Pensioners on low income

• Older people on low incomes (22 per cent) are twice as likely to feel trapped in their own homes as those on higher incomes (9 per cent) and twice as likely to be acutely isolated (20% to 8%).

Older people with a limiting long-term illness

• Older people with a limiting long-term illness are more likely to be isolated than those in better health (19 per cent compared to 5 per cent).
• One in seven (14 per cent) report that in the last year they have felt like no-one knows they exist, against just 3 per cent of those without a limiting illness.

Older women and widowed.

• Women are more isolated than men: Older women are more than twice as likely (15%) to feel trapped in their own homes compared to older men (7%). 15 per cent of older people who are widowed are acutely isolated. Nearly half (46 per cent) say they sometimes feel lonely.

Regional Over 55s

• People aged 55 or over are more likely to feel acutely isolated and lonely if they live in London (17 per cent) and least likely to feel this way if they live in other areas of the Southeast (3 per cent).

Please call for details of the photocalls to arrange interviews and for further information on any aspect of the isolation campaign.