The biggest divide in Britain ISN’T over money
TODAY is a bank holiday — time for a leisurely family lunch at home or a trip to the pub with friends, a walk in the park or along a beach. Perhaps a bit of DIy or gardening.
For millions, though, the only human contact will be a disembodied voice on the television, the snuffling of the dog or the purring of a cat. Bank holidays emphasise two-tier Britain — made up of people who exist side-by-side and yet have little contact. The haves and have-nots divisions which have nothing to do with wealth.
The richest people in our society have a strong circle of friends, who they can talk to daily, consult in times of crisis, and look to for support. The poorest might have relatives who phone or email intermittently (or when they feel guilty), but no friends. These poor souls are out of sight and out of mind.
We leap into action to raise money for starving children in Africa, we bake cakes to build wells and supply fresh water to the Third World, we run marathons to fight killer diseases, and yet — and who can understand why — we seem strangely reluctant to confront a massive problem on our own doorstep. loneliness.
A survey has revealed that two in five elderly people (about 4.3 million nationally) rely on their TVs or pets for companionship, not another human being. One in eight feels cut off from society and one in ten says they always feel lonely.
More than a million sad people who spend hours each day looking through their windows at another world of bustle and busy people, lonely singletons who talk to their budgies and shuffle to the supermarket to get a paper and a pint of milk, just to be able to speak a few words at the checkout, to exchange a few pleasantries about the weather, even if the other person is totally disinterested. With council cutbacks, the number of elderly people going to day centres and lunch clubs has halved, so millions sit in their homes most of the day.
loneliness is bad for our health — it can lead to dementia and heart disease, shortening life, and yet we don’t consider it a health risk like cancer.
last year, Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, said loneliness was ‘ a national shame’ and we had ‘ utterly failed’ to deal with the problem.
That’s even more true today — and it’s Government spending cuts that are forcing councils to make tough decisions about services that directly affect the elderly.
Now, 15 minutes with a carer or a cleaner, a quick wash and a spot of perfunctory dusting might be the highlight of many people’s day — a disgrace in the 21st century. We’ve all got a senior citizen living within 50 yards of our front doors — but do we ever say hello? Offer to get their shopping or have a chat about the news?
Near me in london, there’s a charitable housing trust for the elderly — but they hardly ever use their garden, preferring to sit indoors in their own small flats.
SURELY the answer is to copy Germany and mix young and old together. There, ‘multigenerational’ houses allow small children and the elderly to enjoy social activities together.
We could group together existing services like Sure Start centres, using church and village halls. Older people could have exercise and dance classes, and read stories to pre-school children. Both groups would benefit. It’s not rocket science, but a simple way of teaching children social skills, allowing older people to contribute something useful, using their knowledge and life experience.
Britain is full of buildings that are under-used — but we need the power to cut through red tape and health-and- safety rubbish to kick-start a radical solution to loneliness.
As we live longer, more pensioners live alone. Spouses might have died or gone off with someone younger. These singletons are relatively fit, mentally sound and represent an under- used resource. Millions are a long way from needing a care home — and yet we allow their quality of life to wither and shrivel up.
yes, many are proud and won’t ask for help. But we’ll be in their shoes before too long. We need a national campaign on the same scale as Comic Relief. We’re brilliant at raising funds to fight cancer — so let’s take on loneliness.