One in 10 elderly Kiwis could be 'socially isolated', Age Concern says
IAIN MCGREGOR/Stuff.co.nz
Lorna Batchelor, 80, talks about life spent alone at her home of 30 years.
There are days Lorna Batchelor gets so lonely she breaks down.
The 80-year-old spends most of her time alone in her Ensors Rd, Christchurch, home of 30 years.
Two days a week, she interacts with others — either on an Age Concern outing or at an elderly daycare centre, Club 304.
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Batchelor said life sometimes got "very depressing".
"I've sat and broke down into tears sometimes. I say to myself, 'Nobody cares. What am I doing here?'.
"On Christmas Day I never opened my door and I never got dressed. I had something to eat when I wanted to. I just sat and did crochet or knitting or whatever else, just to amuse myself."
IAIN MCGREGOR/FAIRFAX NZ
Lorna Batchelor is one of an estimated 7000 elderly people living a lonely existence in Christchurch.
Batchelor is one of an estimated 7000 elderly people in Christchurch living day-to-day with little to no interaction with the outside world.
Elderly advocates say social isolation among the nation's older population needs to be recognised as a serious issue.
Age Concern estimates that eight to 10 per cent of elderly Kiwis are socially isolated.
The Ministry of Social Development defines "social isolation" as a situation where individuals are emotionally and physically estranged from their immediate family, friends and the community.
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Batchelor's husband died about 20 years ago. She gave up her driver's licence two years ago.
Four of her six children live in Canterbury, but they had "their own lives and their own families".
The children say they became estranged from their mother years ago for personal reasons.
Without the two outings a week, Batchelor said she "would have possibly ended up in a box" before now.
Age Concern Canterbury chief executive Simon Templeton said the number of socially isolated and "chronically lonely" older people was growing.
Some 10 per cent of the national population lived socially isolated and 15 per cent of Canterbury's population were aged over 65 at the 2013 Census.
Age Concern had a 238 per cent increase over the last three years in the number of clients going on their Social Network Service outings.
Last week, the organisation put a third minivan, which was funded by Southern Community Trust, on the road.
The aim of the initiative was to provide "meaningful social connection for elderly people" through group outings to schools, libraries, cafes or local attractions.
"It's as dangerous to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. We are social beings and we know we need social connection to maintain mentally and physically well," Templeton said.
"It links into a lot of things."
When socially isolated, elderly were more likely to be suicidal, suffer cardiac issues, altered brain function or a stroke. The impact on mental health was significant. Vulnerable elderly were at greater risk of being abused and exploited.
Templeton said although the earthquake had exacerbated social isolation issues among elderly, with the movement of people and social networks, it was getting worse.
Presbyterian Support Upper South Island Elder Care Canterbury co-ordinator Valda Reveley said a lack of affordable and accessible transport in the city made it difficult for many elderly to leave their homes or residential care facilities.
"Most people can't afford a taxi and they can't access the public bus system near to them."
Anglican Living director Alison Jephson agreed that for many elderly, getting around was difficult — particularly in the eastern suburbs where footpaths were yet to be fixed.
"Social connectedness is so critical and it has been under recognised and then under resourced in terms of how it is addressed.
"It's about recognising this issue."
Jephson said social isolation would only "get worse" as the average family size decreased and there were fewer familial support networks around elderly.
Grey Power North Canterbury president Miles Jackson said although many elderly were "stoic", they often struggled in silence and were reluctant to seek help.
Jackson cited the Australian Community Visitors scheme, which was introduced in 1991, as a way to alleviate loneliness of isolated residents in aged care facilities.
"It's about time that New Zealand took a leaf out of Australia's book."
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- Stuff
