Evidencing Promising Approaches Interim findings

Jonathan Barham (Research Assistant)

28th August 2015

Introduction

This presentation provides the analysis of current data from local Age UKs who

are collecting information on the loneliness amongst older people being

supported with activities aimed at helping them reduce their level of loneliness.

Project Aim

The purpose of the Age UK Evidencing Promising Approaches project is to

understand whether and how existing services delivered to older people by local

Age UK partners can contribute to alleviating loneliness.

Why does loneliness matter?

• Over one million older people say they always or often feel lonely.

• Loneliness can be understood as an individuals' personal, subjective area of

lacking desired affection, closeness, and social interaction with others.

Loneliness is dependent on the quality not the quantity of relationships.

• Loneliness can be temporary, recurrent or persistent (chronic) state and

because of this effects many people.

• Loneliness has be shown to be associated with poorer lifestyle choices, and

poorer health and well-being outcomes.

Source: Davidson & Rossall (July 2015)

Methodology

Twelve local Age UK partners are collecting standardised information from

“lonely” older people participating in existing services delivered to help them be

less lonely. The standardised information collected is presented in the Annex.

Loneliness is being measured by the use of the 3-item loneliness scale. The

three questions in the scale are asked before the intervention begins (stage 1)

and again after the completion of the intervention (stage 2) as defined by the

local Age UK.

Data

As of August 2015 four local Age UK partners have provided data. The table

below shows the number of people by local Age UK partners who have

completed the 3-item loneliness scale at both stage 1 (before intervention) and

stage 2 (after intervention).

Findings – Characteristics

The older people supported were:

• predominately female (64%); four-fifths had a disability (81%); three-quarters

live alone (77%); almost four fifth (56%) live in a privately rented

accommodation and one-fifth (22%) in social housing. Half were also

widowed (52%) and 5% were careers.

• ranged in age between 50 to 95. Over half of older people (55%) were 80 or

over, with a third (34%) between 80-89; with almost a tenth (8%) between the

ages of 50-59.

Findings – referral route and activities

The older people supported were mainly referred from other agencies (40%) or

health professionals (28%); with nearly a fifth (16%) referred by

family/friends/carers; and a tenth (9%) by staff and with only 7% self referred.

Almost three-fifths (63%) of older people were supported through an at home

befriending service; one-fifth (17%) of older people were supported to participate

in social activities; and 12% of older people were provided with tailored support.

Only 2% were supported through telephone befriending and 5% were supported

through an at home befriending service that progressed to social activities.

Findings – Feeling lonely

• Almost all older people (before being) supported were lonely, with half (56%)

feeling often lonely, two fifths (36%) feeling somewhat lonely and a tenth

(8%) feeling hardly lonely.

• After being supported feelings of loneliness fell with almost no older people

feeling often lonely (8%) and a third (28%) feeling hardly lonely.

• There has been a statistically significant reduction in the level of loneliness

amongst older people supported – details in Annex

Findings – Feeling lonely

• The average (median) level of loneliness amongst older people fell by a

statistically significant amount, from a score of 8.0 (which is equivalent to

being often lonely) to 6.0 (which is equivalent to being somewhat lonely)

ANNEX

Annex – Participants Profile (Gender)

Sample Size: 45

Annex – Participants Profile (Age)

Sample Size: 38

Annex – Participants Profile (Disability)

Sample Size: 42

Annex – Participants Profile (Carer)

Sample Size: 41

Annex – Participants Profile (Martial status)

Sample Size: 44

Annex – Participants Profile (Household)

Sample Size: 39

Annex – Participants Profile (House type)

Sample Size: 41

Annex – Participants Profile (Referral)

Sample Size: 43

Annex – Participants Profile (Activities)

Sample Size: 41

Annex – Loneliness Levels

Sample Size: 25

Annex – Loneliness Scores

The table below shows the distribution of loneliness amongst the older people supported. It shows that

before the intervention, of the group of older people supported:

• 75% had a score below 9.0 (equivalent to being often lonely) and 25% above

• 50% had a score below 8.0 (equivalent to being often lonely) and 50% above

• 25% had a score below 6.0 (equivalent to being somewhat lonely) and 75% above

And after the intervention:

• 50% had a score below 6.0 (equivalent to being somewhat lonely) and 50% above

• 25% had a score below 3.75 (equivalent to being hardly lonely) and 75% above

These changes are statistically significant indicating that there has been a positive shift in the level

of loneliness amongst the older people supported.