Keystone-SDA
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September 29, 2024 – 4:35 p.m.
(Keystone-ATS) More than a third (37%) of people aged 85 and over suffer from loneliness in Switzerland, or some 90,000 seniors, according to the Pro Senectute Old Age Observatory. The loss of mobility is accompanied by a shrinking of the social network.
“Loneliness has serious consequences on health and considerably reduces life expectancy,” warns Pro Senectute on Sunday in a press release.
The survey shows that very elderly people (85 years and over) are significantly more affected by loneliness than young seniors. Among 65-74 year olds, the proportion is around 24%, while it is slightly higher than 25% among 75-84 year olds.
“Very old people more often have to deal with the death of their loved ones. Their social network is shrinking. They also face more health problems,” explains Alexander Widmer, member of the management of Pro Senectute Switzerland.
Loneliness should not, however, be confused with being alone, the organization specifies: being alone is not necessarily a source of suffering.
However, loneliness poses a risk: “Elderly people who feel lonely not only have a shorter life expectancy but also suffer more often from hypertension and depression. They move less, are more stressed and more often suffer from dementia,” explains Mr. Widmer.
Lack of volunteers
Pro Senectute faces difficulty in reaching the people concerned. It is not easy for them to talk about it and ask for help. The organization encourages them to contact specialized organizations but also their family circle, reference people and neighbors.
Pro Senectute encourages seniors to use daily assistance and home visit services. To do this, the foundation also depends on the support of volunteers. Problem is, she is having more and more difficulty finding them. “We invite interested people (volunteers) to come forward, so that they can make a difference,” says Mr. Widmer.
