Majority of over-65s often feel lonely and use social media to combat it, study finds

Many senior citizens take to social media websites to stay connected with outside world

Using social networking sites, going for walks and joining dating websites are among the ways over-65s are combating loneliness, according to a new poll.

A survey of 1,000 pensioners showed 53 per cent often felt lonely, particularly when they were home alone. But the majority were trying hard to overcome this and stay connected with the outside world.

In total, seven in 10 respondents have taken to Facebook in a bid to stay in touch with friends and family and a further one in 10 had started dating again.

Four in 10 have made a concerted effort to volunteer within the local community, while 38 per cent go for walks and 28 per cent listen to the radio.

"Many older people are feeling lonely, but rather than doing nothing about it, the majority are being proactive in finding friendship," said a spokesperson for McCarthy and Stone, a developer and manager of retirement communities, which carried out the study. “Mastering technology is just one of the ways they are staying in touch with people they know and love.”

The research also found 42 per cent said being lonely made them feel sad and 28 per cent admitted to feelings of depression.

More than one in five said it made them feel invisible, while 15 per cent believed it affected their mental health. In total, 80 per cent of those who were lonely had never told anyone else about this and one in seven admitted to being “embarrassed” about feeling lonely.

When it came to confiding in others, 42 per cent said could not bear to have people worrying about them and 37 per cent did not want to be a burden.

One fifth of those polled said their families had enough of their own worries and 49 per cent preferred to deal with their problems by themselves.

Just under half believed sons and daughters should look after their older parents, while 30 per cent thought the healthcare profession should be responsible for lonely older people and a quarter thought the government should be accountable.

Just under half of those polled said a "good morning" greeting from a neighbour would help them to feel less lonely, while for 39 per cent a cheery wave from a neighbour as they walk or drive past would make a difference, according to the OnePoll.com study.

“It would be easy to get caught-up in our daily lives and to see the loneliness epidemic as someone else’s problem, but we all have a responsibility to the older people living in our communities," the spokesperson for McCarthy & Stone added. “We are urging everyone to be aware of the older people living around them and to get a little more involved in their neighbourhood from time to time.

“An impromptu chat with those living next door, being invited round for dinner once in a while and even someone offering to put your bins out for the weekly collection are among the many thoughtful actions that can make all the difference when you’re feeling alone.”

SWNS