Loneliness and isolation as bad for health as smoking

Serious physical and mental health issues can kill the lonely, says Becky Everett

Loneliness is as likely to put us at risk of an early death as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and can increase our likelihood of an early death by 29 per cent.

This is one of those facts that you struggle to make sense of when you hear it. It throws up so many questions, not least how it is possible in the UK in 2018 for this to happen? How can people feel so alone and disconnected from their fellow human beings that it can have such a devastating impact?

Such is the scale of the problem that the Scottish Government is developing a national strategy on loneliness and social isolation – one of the first in the world.

Known to affect hundreds of thousands of people of all ages, backgrounds and stages of life, feeling lonely and isolated is proven to lead to a wide range of serious physical and mental health issues. It is associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cognitive decline, depression and suicide. It can also increase the likelihood of older people developing clinical dementia.

A range of factors are seen as putting us at greater risk, including major life transitions, such as bereavement, divorce, redundancy and retirement, as well as long term health conditions.

The latter has a particular resonance for my team and I, working at Leuchie House, Scotland’s dedicated respite centre for people with long term conditions. People with disabilities and those who care for them are two of the groups at greatest risk of both loneliness and social isolation.

Many of those who come for short respite breaks to Leuchie House are aged over 60 and their conditions are at an advanced stage. As long term conditions progress, it is inevitable that social isolation does too. Opportunities to get out of the house, to socialise, to maintain hobbies and interests, and to retain your sense of independence all decline as your health deteriorates. Research by Sense, the charity representing people with communication support needs, has revealed that up to 50 per cent of disabled people will be lonely on any given day.

For people with long term conditions who live alone, the situation is particularly concerning. For many, their only regular contact with other people is with the care staff who come in to carry out personal care at set points in the day, always working within tight time limits that leave little time for socialising. This lack of social contact is likely to be exacer- bated by a feeling of having only limited control and personal choice over basic everyday decisions. If, for example, the time you get up and go to bed is determined by care staff rotas, it’s no wonder you can feel cut-off, disempowered and that you’ve lost your independence.

For those people with long term conditions whose main carer is a spouse or member of the family, it’s likely these feelings are shared with them. According to the results of a recent survey by Carers UK, 8 out of 10 carers taking part felt lonely or socially isolated as a result of their caring role, due to limited opportunities to take part in social activities or even leave the house.

When you find yourself in a caring role, it can become all-consuming and impact upon every aspect of