Based on GP prescriptions, loneliness is a risk factor for everyone in Sheffield with Alzheimer’s, depression, high blood pressure, anxiety, and insomnia.
The loneliest areas in Sheffield are Ecclesall, Endcliffe and Ranmoor and Stocksbridge, according to prescriptions for conditions in that area.
Loneliness increases the likelihood of mortality by 26% and 3.9 million older people in the UK say the television is their main company according to a 2018 study by Age UK.
B:Friend is a Sheffield-based charity set to combat the damaging impacts of loneliness and isolation.
The Sheffield-based charity was set up by Mike Niles in 2017 after seeing how extensive the issue of loneliness and isolation was in the older population in London.
Originally setting up in Doncaster, the charity has since grown to cover the whole of South Yorkshire and parts of Derbyshire with over 800 older neighbours engaged in the project.
The organisation recruits volunteer befrienders and pairs them with neighbours over 65 years old who are socially isolated.
The volunteers then pledge to drop in to just spend an hour chatting, listening and supporting someone that may otherwise have no one.
Speaking on the website Norah, a user of the service, said: “I feel that my life has become richer since I have a befriender. I feel better having contact with other people, everyone needs that. It is nice to be interested in others, and have someone else who is interested in you.”
Norah’s befriender Harvir said: “Norah has not only given me amazing friendship these past few months but has shared wisdom, knowledge and compassion in such a unique way.”