The Department has not undertaken an assessment on the effects of loneliness on the mental health of elderly people.

The Department is working with organisations including the Campaign to end Loneliness, to understand the effects of loneliness and isolation, measure levels of social connectedness and to promote ways to tackle loneliness and isolation.

One of the key areas for action on the Mental Health Strategy “No Health Without Mental Health” is to address the social and other determinants of mental ill health across all ages, and the inequalities that can both cause and be the result of mental health problems including, for example, social isolation, particularly among older people.

The social connectedness indicator originally included in the Public Health Outcomes Framework was refined in the November 2012 refresh of the framework to be a measure of social isolation. This indicator will be shared with the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework. It has been initially established as an interim measure of social isolation; as current data sources only allow measurement in adults currently in receipt of social care services and their carers. However, we are working to develop a broader population-based measure of loneliness, which would be included in both the Adult Social Care and Public Health Outcome Frameworks. To ensure that this measure is helpful to local commissioners, we are working with key partners—including the Campaign to End Loneliness—on its development.

Loneliness is a serious issue that is blighting the lives of many people across the country. As a Department, we are working with partners—including The Campaign to End Loneliness—to reduce levels of loneliness and social isolation, and to highlight the links between people's relationships and their mental and physical health and wellbeing. Initial work has focused on measuring the issue, in order to help local commissioners come up with the right targeted solutions.

The Department has funded a digital toolkit to support Health and Wellbeing Boards and local commissioners in understanding, mapping and commissioning for loneliness and social isolation in their communities. This was launched in July 2012, and can be found at:

http://campaigntoendloneliness.org/toolkit/

The toolkit highlights sensory impairment as a risk factor that can lead to somebody becoming lonely or socially isolated.

The Government wants to deliver health outcomes that are among the best in the world for people with hearing loss. We are working with voluntary sector groups and other partners to see if it is possible to identify any further practical steps to address a number of issues that affect people with both addressed and unaddressed hearing loss.

Loneliness is a serious issue that is blighting the lives of many people across the country. As a Department, we are working with partners—including The Campaign to End Loneliness—to reduce levels of loneliness and social isolation, and to highlight the links between people's relationships and their mental and physical health and wellbeing. Initial work has focused on measuring the issue, in order to help local commissioners come up with the right targeted solutions.

The Department has funded a digital toolkit to support Health and Wellbeing Boards and local commissioners in understanding, mapping and commissioning for loneliness and social isolation in their communities. This was launched in July 2012, and can be found at:

http://campaigntoendloneliness.org/toolkit/

The toolkit highlights sensory impairment as a risk factor that can lead to somebody becoming lonely or socially isolated.

The Government wants to deliver health outcomes that are among the best in the world for people with hearing loss. We are working with voluntary sector groups and other partners to see if it is possible to identify any further practical steps to address a number of issues that affect people with both addressed and unaddressed hearing loss.

The department has made no specific assessment of the impact of loneliness in the elderly community at the risk of death. However, we understand through our work with the Campaign to End Loneliness that loneliness can have a very negative impact on people’s health. Research shows that loneliness has an effect on mortality that is similar in size to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and is associated with cardiovascular disease, dementia, poor sleep and depression.

The department is taking a number of steps to help address this important issue. So far this year, we have worked with the Campaign to End Loneliness to hold the first national summit on loneliness, and to launch a digital toolkit to support commissioners in understanding and mapping the issue in their local communities.

The department is also working to improve how loneliness is measured across the country. In 2013-14, there will be a measure of social isolation—among those in receipt of council services and carers—in the adult social care outcomes framework. The department is also working to develop a broader population-based measurement of loneliness, which will feature in both the adult social care and public health outcomes frameworks.

The information requested is not collected. However, the Campaign to End Loneliness has estimated that there are over a million people over the age of 65 reported feeling lonely.

On 15 March 2012, the Department co-hosted a summit on loneliness which saw charities, businesses, hon. Members and public sector organisations come together to start a discussion about loneliness and isolation in older age and how it could best be tackled. The Department also commissioned and funded work on a ‘digital toolkit’ for Health and Well-being Boards to support local councils and the national health service to take action to address the issue of loneliness in their area which was launched on 10 July 2012.

In addition, in 2013-14, the Department plans to include shared measures of well-being across both the Public Health and Adult Social Care Outcome Frameworks with a focus on developing suitable measures of social isolation.

The information requested is not collected. However, the Campaign to End Loneliness has estimated that there are over a million people over the age of 65 reported feeling lonely.

On 15 March 2012, the Department co-hosted a summit on loneliness which saw charities, businesses, hon. Members and public sector organisations come together to start a discussion about loneliness and isolation in older age and how it could best be tackled. The Department also commissioned and funded work on a ‘digital toolkit’ for Health and Well-being Boards to support local councils and the national health service to take action to address the issue of loneliness in their area which was launched on 10 July 2012.

In addition, in 2013-14, the Department plans to include shared measures of well-being across both the Public Health and Adult Social Care Outcome Frameworks with a focus on developing suitable measures of social isolation.