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Understanding the Social Connection challenges of older adults
An Auckland and Tauranga Perspective
In recognition of 75 years serving the needs of older people and with generous funding support from CHT Aged Care Fund, we have worked with older people in Auckland and Tauranga to produce the research report titled “Breaking Barriers: Understanding the social connections challenges of older adults.
Loneliness and isolation among older people across New Zealand are severe and significant issues that have serious detrimental impact on the lives of many older New Zealanders. An impact that is of a similar negative level as smoking, alcoholism, and obesity, not only on the lives of those individuals who live with chronic loneliness, but on communities across New Zealand and on our society at large.
Our older population is rapidly expanding. We will see the number of older people almost double over the next fifteen years and the proportion of New Zealanders who are categorised as ‘older’ increase to twenty-five percent by 2040, when we will have 1.3 million people living in New Zealand who are over the age of sixty-five. As a country we simply cannot afford to do nothing to mitigate the detrimental impact of loneliness and isolation among our burgeoning older population. New Zealand should be at the front of the global drive to eliminate loneliness and isolation among older people. But, today, we are lagging behind. New Zealand should embrace both short-term support for older people directly through supporting organisations such as Age Concern Auckland and adopt a longer-term strategic focus, including following the UK’s lead and appoint a Ministerial lead for Loneliness.
Click the links below for more news articles
Age Concern calls for Ministry for Loneliness to support elderly New Zealanders
Loneliness and isolation among older Kiwis at epidemic levels - new study | New Zealand Doctor
Loneliness and Isolation Among Older Kiwis at Epidemic Levels - AgedPlus Village Business
A third of retirees feel lonely or socially isolated - study | RNZ