Older people are 50% more likely to visit A&E if they live alone than if they live with someone else

Older people are 50% more likely to visit A&E if they live alone than if they live with someone else

  • Pensioners living alone have more long-term conditions, a report has said
  • One in four older people living alone have a mental health condition
  • Tackling loneliness, at the root of the problem, will relieve pressure on NHS

Pensioners who live alone are 50 per cent more likely to visit A&E than those who live with family.

They are also at increased risk of being admitted to hospital as an inpatient and half more likely again to visit their GP, analysis by a leading health think-tank found.

The Health Foundation report found those living alone had more long-term health conditions than those with company. 

An estimated 9million people across the UK, almost a fifth of the population, report feeling lonely.

Pensioners who live alone are 50 per cent more likely to visit A&E than those who live with family, think tank The Health Foundation have reported 

Experts say those living solo are at far greater risk of social isolation, which is heavily linked to poor health.

Tackling loneliness and social isolation at its roots could therefore drive down pressure on hospitals and GP services, they conclude.

One in three over-65s in the UK live alone with the growing ageing population meaning numbers are set to soar.

DOES SOCIAL ISOLATION INCREASE YOUR RISK OF AN EARLY DEATH? 

Social isolation increases the risk of premature death from every cause for every race, research has found.

For white people (unlike other groups), solitude was found to significantly increase the risk of cancer.

For black people, being lonely doubles the risk of early death (it increases 60-84 percent for white people).

The study by the American Cancer Society, published in November, is one of the first to confirm the tangible risks of social isolation to every racial group.

Data was analysed from 580,182 adults enrolled into Cancer Prevention Study-II in 1982/1983, who were followed for mortality up until 2012.

The 30-year study collected information on various social factors for each person.  

Using that information, the researchers gave each person a social isolation ‘score’, ranging from 0 (the most lonely) to 5 (the most social). 

They then looked at whether there was a correlation between that score and their general health.

The most socially isolated had the highest risk of death any way they cut it. Every risk increased for everyone, including heart disease. 

Social isolation is a prolonged lack of contact with other people or society, whereas loneliness is a temporary scenario (whether it feels that way or not).

Kathryn Dreyer, of the Health Foundation said: ‘Today’s findings underline the fact that older people living alone have poorer health than those living with others, as well as more intensive health care needs.

‘With the number of older people living alone set to continue to grow, more needs to be done to help people stay healthy and to offer more support and care in the community.’

The study of 1,447 older people found around a fifth (21 per cent) of those living alone visit their GP at least once a month, compared with 14 per cent of older people living with someone else.

Half had three or more long-term conditions, compared to 42.2 per cent of older people living with other people.

The findings also show that more than one in four older people living alone have a mental health condition, compared to one in five people living with others.

Existing research has shown poor social relationships can increase the likelihood of stroke by a third (32 per cent).

Loneliness, living alone and poor social connections are as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Experts believe older people living alone are more unwell due to both loneliness and because of a lack of immediate support at home.

In October, the government announced a landmark ‘loneliness strategy’ amid concerns the problem is now a serious public health threat.

The Prime Minister confirmed all GPs in England will be able to refer patients experiencing loneliness to community activities – like cookery and ballroom dancing – and voluntary services by 2023.

This will allow GPs to direct patients to community workers offering tailored support to help people improve their health and wellbeing, instead of defaulting to medicine.

Laura Alcock-Ferguson, Executive Director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, said: ‘There are over 2.2million people aged 75 and over living alone in Great Britain – an increase of almost a quarter over the past 20 years. With a fast-ageing population, this is set to grow.

‘Urgent preventative action is needed to meet the needs of this group.’

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, added: ‘It’s understandable that those without friends, family or support networks turn more frequently to their GP or local hospital for help – they probably feel they have no other option.

‘Increasing numbers of older people are ageing alone so we have to provide the help and services they need and not assume there will always be a willing family member around to step in.’  

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