Many of us will be finding this lockdown difficult, you might be missing your friends, your family or just the socialisation of being out but for the majority of us social distancing & isolation will be temporary, for others, this never ends. Loneliness is chronic across society.

Well before the lockdown @age_uk research showed that half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all (2016) Two fifths all older people (about 3.9 million) say the television is their main company (2014)

So many of those who are vulnerable & lonely in our communities live alone & may be struggling to get the help they need during this pandemic. Look out for these people in your area, check in if you can (via phone/other social distancing means) be safe & be kind

Loneliness won't disappear when the lockdown is lifted. Demographic trends mean the number of over 50s suffering from loneliness is set to reach two million by 2025/6. This compares to around 1.4 million in 2016/7 – a 49% increase in 10 years – according to new research by Age UK