Hundreds of thousands of older people in the UK are going without meaningful social interaction for days, even weeks, at a time, new figures have revealed.
As Loneliness Awareness Week starts on Monday (June 15), research highlights that around 270,000 people aged over 65 go an entire week without speaking to a friend or family member, while over one million can go over a month without meaningful social contact. This has led to approximately 940,000 older people reporting that they often feel lonely.
The survey of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by Sentai, found that 65% are concerned about an older relative feeling lonely, with 41% citing it as one of their biggest worries. However, despite this concern, many families admit to being slow to act, with nearly half (46%) saying they have never accessed any kind of support for an older loved one. This lack of support can result in what experts are now calling "silent days" – long stretches where older people may go without meaningful interaction.
Meaningful contact is essential for creating a sense of connection, routine, and being listened to. Without it, the effects can quietly build, and research shows that loneliness and isolation are linked to a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, depression, and cognitive decline. The health impact of loneliness can be comparable to smoking or obesity, with severe loneliness costing around £9,900 per person each year due to its impact on health and wellbeing.
For many families, the challenge is not recognising loneliness but knowing how to respond without overstepping. Sentai's research found that 48% say the biggest barrier is resistance from the older person, with many reluctant to accept additional support or more regular check-ins due to fears of losing independence or becoming a burden.
Peter Otto, CEO at Sentai, said: “Loneliness isn’t always obvious, and it’s not something a quick call can always fix. What we’re seeing is that families care deeply, but often don’t realise how easy it is for those longer gaps in conversation to build up. The earlier you can make connection part of everyday routine, the more natural it feels – and the less likely those silent days are to happen.”
