Impact of Loneliness and Isolation on Adults over 65

Research Project

Table of Contents
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
Introduction .................................................................................................................................3
Literature review..........................................................................................................................4
Methodological perspectives.......................................................................................................8
Ethical consideration....................................................................................................................9
Discussion and Findings..............................................................................................................9
Conclusion and key recommendations......................................................................................24
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................26
.......................................................................................................................................................27

TASK 2
Introduction
Loneliness and isolation are considered as two main issues today, that are faced by adults
of age over 65 years. Being alone or feeling of distraction from family members and society
ones, becomes a threat to survival of this population group (Kelly and et. al, 2019). It affects
well-being state of persons and adversely impact on their physical and mental state. The most
important factors in England, which increases people with loneliness of age 65 and above,
include health & disability, death of life partner, living alone and growing age. This would have
gained the attention of England towards mentioned vulnerable community as social problem (La
Placa and Oham, 2019). A research is therefore, going to be conducted for exploring the impact
of these chronic conditions (loneliness & isolation) over adults of age 65 and above. For this
purpose, a number of objectives with specific aim are made, which are then further evaluated
through number of primary and secondary resources.
Purpose of study
The main purpose of present research is to identify the impact of loneliness and isolation
on old-age people health. This would help in analysing how much older adults are at risk to feel
isolated and lonely, including reasons behind same, so that effective measures can be taken to
reduce ever growing population of such people (Kemperman and et. al., 2019). Through this
research, effectiveness of care and support initiatives taken by England could be analysed, for
promoting the quality of live in adults of 65’s and above.
Research aim:
The aim of given study is “To determine the impact of loneliness and isolation over
65 years through different databases health behaviour like smoking, obesity”.
Research objectives:
 To explore the cause(s) of loneliness in adults aged over 65 in England
 To determine how loneliness and isolation affects the psychological well-being of adults
over 65 in England
 To conduct primary and secondary research in loneliness and isolation that impact on
adults aged over 65 in England

 To make recommendations to the local authority on how best to support initiatives for
promoting healthy living in adults over 65’s in England
Research questions
 Is the high prevalence of loneliness and isolation in adults over 65 in England major
cause of self-neglect and poor health?
 What is the difference between loneliness and isolation?
 What evidence exists between isolation, loneliness and health?
 What type of health problems can cause loneliness and isolation especially in adults aged
over 65?
 What Health Department of England is doing to offer support to those lonely and isolated
adults over 65?
Limitations of study
Adults of age 65 and above, are at higher risk in England of being isolated and lonely,
which adversely affect their health and well-being state of mind. To promote healthy life of this
vulnerable community (Neves, Sanders and Kokanović, 2019). Non-profitable national charity of
this nation has run a number of campaigns and also provided a telephone be-friending services,
where such people can call for getting advice to overcome from loneliness and isolated type of
issues. As this research is concerned only on adult aged people for analysing the issues and
factors related with loneliness and isolations, therefore, it shows the major limitation of research
outcomes.
Literature review
Determining the impact of loneliness and isolation kinds of social issues in England,
assists researchers to explore a number of articles, published and non-published reports including
the statistical data (Gann, 2019). For this purpose, authenticate websites are utilised for gathering
information on given topic, that will help in addressing research objectives and obtaining desired
outcomes, in ethical way.
Overview of main theories
Concept of loneliness and isolation
As per views of Newall and Menec (2019), it has been analysed that today, the main
problem that people at old age face are loneliness and isolation. In England, over 12 million
people of age over 65 and above are suffered from the same. Due to lack of interaction with

family members, relatives and society members, they feel more-lonely that highly impact on
their well-beings. But before identifying social and other causes, which develop such kind of
social issues, it is essential to differentiate both concepts viz. loneliness and isolation (Isolation
and Loneliness: What’s the Difference?, 2019). The term isolation refers to a state where a
person has little or no social interaction with surrounding people. It may occur at any stage of life
either for long-term or short-term, therefore, it is categorised as distinctly physical state. It
includes characteristics like avoidance of social interaction, refuse to make inter-personal
conversation, stay at home for longer period and more. All these factors cause negative
emotional effects that increase sadness, loneliness and restlessness in a person. Therefore, it has
been analysed that isolation generate loneliness because when people find themselves as socially
isolated then its generate mental health issue like social anxiety. In such condition, it has been
said that isolation is a physical state, but in case of isolation it is emotional one, which can be
defined as feeling of separation from loved ones due to breakups, divorce, death of spouse,
moving on a new place and more. Thus, in such case of isolation, people can be accompanied
with anxiety, depression, phobias and many addictions. Taking an example of a person, who is
experience bullying at a workplace regularly, so, in such case, feeling of depression and
loneliness is surely be generated. Similarly, when a person lives alone for longer period due to
work related purpose or other reasons, then, in such scenario, they may get hard time for being
engaged in social interaction. This would arise isolation in them when they deal with loneliness.
Thus, from all over discussion, isolation and loneliness are two different issues but may occur
simultaneously. In case of adult of above 65+, such people face various diseases also which
caused due to isolation.
Evidence exists between isolation, loneliness and health
According to Cohen-Mansfield and et. al. (2016), it has been evaluated that people at the
old age are especially vulnerable for being isolated and loneliness, due to less social interaction,
getting older, death of spouse and more. This would highly effect their health in negative way
which sometime become threat for their long-time survival and causes death. Therefore, both
aspects viz. isolation and loneliness, when remained for prolonged period, then it leads to causes
a number of health problems. In case of older people over 65 age, there are number of symptoms
present, that arise mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, Posttraumatic stress
(PTSD), borderline personality and more. Loneliness / isolation at initial period shows signs of

mental health issue, like abusive behaviour with family and other known persons, eating
disorder, depression and more, which might affect their relationship with others. Along with this,
risk taking behaviour, increased level of stress, smoking and drinking behaviour etc. are some
health symptoms that shows occurrence of isolation or loneliness type of social problems.
Loneliness and isolation in UK over 65 years, has been continuously increasing for the last
decades. The local authorities of this nation, including health and social care providers, NGOs
and more, has put attention on the serious causes of this, which affect the physical and mental
health as well as increase the public cost to the economy.
Health problems caused by loneliness and isolation especially in adult-aged population over
65’s
Isolation and loneliness are responsible for developing various types of health problem
among people. As mentioned by Crizzle and et. al. (2017), it includes the number of physical and
mental condition related to health such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, weakened
immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease and even death of an
individual. Basically, it involves various circumstances which develop condition of separation
and create specific health issue for a person. However, it consist several situations like death of
partner or spouse, retirement, loss of mobility, separation form fiends & family members and
lack of transportation which are mostly at risk of occurring health problem related to isolation. It
consist the situation when a person feel lonely and separated from others then it will impact
negatively on their physical as well as psychological health condition. It is necessary for family
members of old people to support them for avoiding condition of isolation. In addition to this,
many times citizens are not able to interact socially which also develop loneliness in their life.
On the other hand, there are various kinds of health problems that are cause by isolation
& loneliness in which some of them are much severe. Yu and et. al. (2020) states that it includes
suicide & depression, cardiovascular disease & stroke, increased level of stress, reduced learning
& memory, antisocial behaviour, poor decision making, drug abuse & alcoholism, the
progression of Alzheimer's disease and altered brain function. This is mostly observed in old age
people then their family members should take care of them and immediately consult with a
registered physician of notices any relevant sign. It has been analysed that around 1.2 million old
people are chronically lonely in the country. However, half million of old people go at least five
or six days without seeing or speaking with anyone. It includes number of symptoms such as