Ensuring that you have enough money in retirement is a critical part of any financial plan. But a holistic approach to planning your life beyond the workplace should focus on your social connections as well. Loneliness in retirement is a big problem, and your social life needs careful thought before you finish full-time work. The problem of loneliness has attracted a lot more attention in the past few years. Research by Age UK has shown that the number of people over the age of 50 in the UK who could feel “often lonely” could pass two million this decade. “Loneliness is a negative feeling people experience when the relationships they have do not match up to those they would like to have. When this feeling persists it can have a negative impact on well-being and quality of life,” the study notes. This is a widespread problem. A review supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) found that, across 29 countries, on average one quarter of people over the age of 60 reports feeling lonely. For adults above the age of 75, that goes up to one third.
The effect on wellbeing
The impacts this has are significant. A 2014 paper in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research found that because humans are social species, a lack of meaningful relationships can have material impacts on our health. “Loneliness can lead to various psychiatric disorders like depression, alcohol abuse, child abuse, sleep problems, personality disorders and Alzheimer’s disease,’ the paper notes. “It also leads to various physical disorders like diabetes, autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and cardiovascular diseases like coronary heart disease, hypertension (HTN), obesity, physiological ageing, cancer, poor hearing and poor health.” Significantly, loneliness does not have to be only as a result of isolation. Even people who participate in social activities can still feel lonely if they feel that their conversations and interactions aren’t meaningful. In thinking about ways to address loneliness, it is therefore important to go beyond what might seem like obvious solutions. It’s necessary to understand the circumstances leading to loneliness, and identify ways to mitigate them.
There is a financial aspect
Importantly, one of the factors that Age UK identifies as potentially reducing older people’s ability to maintain or establish meaningful relationships is concerns about money. This manifests in different ways. Someone who feels ashamed about their financial circumstances, for example, might be more likely to withdraw from what they perceive as scrutiny from others. They may believe that the best way to avoid being judged, is to avoid being seen at all. Alternatively, older people who are worried about their finances might feel that they can’t afford to participate in any activities. They therefore simply don’t explore their options. This highlights how financial planning for retirement, and the quality of relationships that one can sustain in retirement are often closely linked. A holistic approach needs to take this into consideration when planning for later life.
Ways to address loneliness in retirement
Fortunately, as the issue of loneliness is becoming better understood, there are a growing number of organisations in the UK offering solutions, particularly for older people. Here are some examples:
- Age UK has friendship centres in England and Scotland that provide regular social activities. It also offers “telephone friendship” where older people can sign up to receive a weekly phone call from one of their volunteers.
- Re-engage offers free social groups and activities for people over the age of 75 in different parts of the country. These encourage developing relationships both between older people and the organisation’s volunteers.
- u3a is a collection of charities providing a range of ways for people no longer in work to come together and find both companionship and stimulation. These cover everything from sports activities to learning groups and workshops.
There are also many simple things people can do on their own to feel less lonely:
- Plan a weekly diary, with an activity on each day. These need not cost anything. A walk in the park, a visit to the library, or a trip to the museum all create opportunities to not only meet and interact with others, but also to stimulate your mind and senses.
- Take advantage of free public transport for older people. Simply travelling to a different environment can create new opportunities for interaction.
- Volunteer with organisations like Home-Start or Sure Start to not only share your experience and knowledge with others, but gain from the opportunity to feel valued and appreciated.
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