London, Oct 13: A new study has found that men are more likely to face loneliness in old age than women.
According to a recent research conducted by the International Longevity Centre (ILC-UK) and the charity, Independent Age, by 2030 the number of older men living alone in England would rise by 65 percent, the BBC reported.
As per the study, males feel hesitant when it comes to joining some club for older people, and Independent Age chief executive Janet Morrison said that a man’s social life often becomes limited their once their batter halves have passed away.
A 73-year-old man named John, who had lost his wife five years ago said that it was her who used to keep family members together, and the house used to be always filled with kids and chatter.
Another 77-year-old widower, Dick O’Brien, added that though he has 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, they were “busy with their own lives” and he sometimes has no visitors for days.
He said that he does chat up with people when he’s on out, but coming back to an empty house is very depressing and lonely.
The study said that the ways men and women experienced social isolation were different, and men were less likely to seek support, as they had always depended n their wives for maintaining contacts with family and friends.
Laura Ferguson, director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, said the results were “worrying” as it posed risk to a person’s mental and physical health, and there was a need to come up with local activities that were more suited for their interests and needs.
