Isolation
Loneliness and social isolation are terms that can cause a great impact on people of any age group, but elder people are more vulnerable to these terms. Social isolation is a term that is caused due to loss of connection with family, friends and lack of involvement in community whereas loneliness can be due to lack of resources, desire of affection and emotional state of a person.
As Lois Lowry says in her Novel ‘The Giver’ that, “The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.”
Social isolation and loneliness can place significant impact on persons health and wellbeing, and it can impact on blood pressure, cause depression and many other severe health issues. Medical conditions like obesity, cardiovascular disease, and high depression are more prevalent in winter time due to short days and wet weather whereas others enjoy this season with company of family and friends. These health condition cost healthcare and social care organisations to alleviate terms and improve interventions to reduce such incidents. It is believed that these medical these terms cost almost six thousand pounds each person. It is important to connect these people with their family and friends and other random people from different age group to avoid increase in such health-related issues.
My app will aim to reduce depression, obesity, blood pressure and other health conditions by 10% at the end of 2020. (Ons.gov.uk, 2019)
Effect on elderly people
People from all age group are influenced by social isolation and loneliness all over the UK. A study shows that over 9 million people in UK, which is almost one fifth of population, is under influence of loneliness and social isolation but almost two third of them don’t feel comfortable to admit it (British Red Cross and Co-Op, 2016). Older people above the age of 50 are more vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness. Over 50% of people above the age of 75 are living alone and only 6% of them leave their houses once a week (ONS, 2010). A study shows that 200,000 elderly people don’t get out of their home at all, 17% are in contact with family and friends once a week whereas 11% of them don’t even contact once a week. (Anon, 2019) A survey shows that over 55% of adult above age of 52 who are separated or divorced or with poor health often feel lonely (Beaumont, 2013). A high percentage 20 | P a g e Fahima Butt (K1126336) of people who age 80 or above feel lonelier than any other age group reported in the past. Live Life is designed to prevent loneliness and social isolation in elderly people by connecting them with outside world from home who don’t step outside their home and who like to go out and meet new people and family and friends.
Health
The definition of ‘health’ with regards to old age is topic of debate. There are biological health conditions where disease can be diagnosed and treated over a period by performing necessary medical treatments, whereas, psychological health conditions are persistent and not easy to diagnose. Psychological conditions cannot be treated without collaboration of patients and social organisations who works towards amelioration of people. There are enormous causes of psychological health conditions and a debate is requisite to explore this phenomenon. A mental health study states that proportion of people aged 65 and above has grown by 47% which makes 18% of the total UK population in 2014. (Smyth, 2019) A global statistic of population estimates that the proportion of elderly people will almost double from 12% to 22% by end of year 2050. (Who.int, 2019) As proportion of elderly people is growing rapidly, the mental health issues are also likely to increase. A study states that 22% of men and 28% of women aged 65 and above are under effects of depression. (ONS, 2019) A growing body of evidence states that psychological factors can determine how well individuals age. Figure 1.6 and 1.7 provides evidence of growing populating of 60 years and older people.
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