COMMENT

20% £19bn

KAREN HARRISON LONELINESS can have a serious effect on wellbeing and is one of the leading reasons for poor mental and physical health in older people.

Without family to sit and eat with, many lose interest in food or feel there is no point cooking for one.

They may miss meals, snack or eat a limited diet – people with dementia are particularly vulnerable, often forgetting to eat. Made worse by changing tastes and mobility issues, it’s no wonder many older people are at a high risk of malnutrition, which further compounds their frailty.

Feeling alone can make someone miserable and even trigger depression and anxiety.

Depression can lead to a loss of appetite, again making lonely people more susceptible to malnutrition. NHS figures show that depression effects around 22 per cent of men and 28 per cent of women over 65 in England.

Understanding the simple signs of malnutrition – looser fitting, frailty and susceptibility to illness, confusion, tiredness – and having the confidence to discuss are important steps too. It is encouraging to see people starting to talk about loneliness, but a lot more needs to be done. There is such a massive link between loneliness and malnutrition.

Many people worry about older relatives in the winter when the weather is cold. However, with families jetting off on holidays this time can also be especially lonely.

We forget older people are particularly affected by hot weather.

Age UK says over 1.2 million older people are chronically lonely with the over-75s particularly at risk.

While there is no quick fix, there is a lot that can be done. Families, care staff, friends and neighbours can all help: A simple phone call, drop in or engagement with a community programme are all options. cook for themselves. Sam Dick, director at the Campaign To End Loneliness, said: “Eating together is one of the best ways to connect, which is vital for health and wellbeing. “It’s incredibly worrying that so many older people are missing