Make your voice heard on loneliness
Loneliness and social isolation are among the greatest public health risks of today. Loneliness is now as prevalent in the young as it is in the elderly. One in three older people now live alone and research shows that loneliness can decrease life expectancy by up to 10 years. Research also shows that loneliness and social isolation are harmful to our health and are worse for us than well-known risk factors such as obesity and physical inactivity. In the UK, research in 2014 showed that 40% of all older people say the television is their main company.
The recently established Loneliness Taskforce would like your help in terms of a report to be published in coming months. They are asking for suggestions in three categories: short term proposals, which can be introduced immediately; medium term proposals which may require a longer lead-in period and long-term proposals which will require long-term planning or significant change.
Detailed submissions or suggestions can be sent to the Loneliness Taskforce at www.lonelinesstaskforce.com or can be sent by post to Dr. Keith Swanick, Chairperson of the Loneliness Taskforce, Seanad Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. The deadline for receipt of submissions is Monday 9th April 2018.