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Stephen Gilbert MPCornwall's voice in the Commons |
CORNWALL MPS HIGHLIGHT PLIGHT OF LONELY ELDERLY IN COUNTY
July 10, 2012 3:00 PM
Over 13,000 pensioners in Cornwall could be suffering physical and mental health problems as a result of being lonely.
Today, Cornwall Liberal Democrat MPs highlighted loneliness as a major health and care issue to be taken seriously by government and local organisations alike.
The three MPs also welcomed the news that the Coalition government will be working with the care and support sector to develop measures of loneliness to help identify people at risk of social isolation. This will help older people in Cornwall to receive the help and support they need to re-connect to their communities.
According to national and international research, an average of 10 per cent of the over 65s say they are lonely or very lonely. In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly this means there are around 13,500 lonely pensioners who could be experiencing serious long-term effects on their health as a result.
North Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson said:
"If we don't start to champion loneliness as a health and care issue, elderly people in Cornwall will continue to have their lives cut short.
Stephen Gilbert, MP for St Austell and Newquay added:
"Earlier this year Lib Dem ministers Steve Webb and Paul Burstow hosted the first ever summit on loneliness amongst older people - and we intend to join them in highlighting the importance of this issue both in Cornwall and in Coalition Government.
Andrew George, MP for St Ives, said:
"With increasing emphasis, not to say budgetary incentives, to enable more older people to be able to stay in their homes rather than institutional care, the risk and problems of loneliness is greater now than ever before. We must do more to provide people with the social contact they need to stay physically and mentally well."
Lib Dem Minister for Care Services Paul Burstow MP said:
"Loneliness is one of society's unspoken problems. Far too many people live alone, without day to day contact with friends, family and neighbours.
"Not only is it morally right that we reach out to each other and make sure no one lives in isolation, but research shows that loneliness has as direct an influence on mortality as the effects of alcohol and tobacco."