Loneliness a silent and unnoticed epidemic, says Age Concern

Loneliness is being described as ''a silent and unnoticed epidemic'' with one Tauranga social agency saying some elderly people are going weeks without having a visitor.

Age Concern Tauranga said it could not take referrals to visit older, lonely people in Te Puke, Katikati and Omokoroa because of a lack of volunteers.

The news comes as the Tauranga Budget Advisory Service also reports seeing a 20 per cent increase in pensioners seeking help last year compared to 2016 due to the rising cost of rents and food.

Pat Duckmanton from Age Concern Tauranga said she had to turn down referrals
from Te Puke, Katikati and Omokoroa for its Accredited Visiting Service and ''we could easily double the number of visits we are contracted to make''.

Duckmanton said many clients ''had gone for weeks without talking to a single human being'' before they were matched with a volunteer.

There was a variety of reasons older people were lonely, but living longer was the primary factor.

''They are outliving their partners, siblings and their own children, so they have nobody left. We are also finding a lot of people that have immigrated to New Zealand with their partner and their partner has passed away.''

A family dispute or huge disconnect going back decades ''where too much water has gone under the bridge'', could also be a factor.

Duckmanton said when people got older their physical health and mental health started to decline.

''So that starts happening and when we become socially isolated, and we are suffering from loneliness, we can become even more unwell both mentally and physically.

''The visiting service helps bring about a change in the individual's spirit to help get them engaged and talking with people again.''

The service had more than 80 clients mostly in their 80s and just shy of 100 volunteer visitors, she said.

''We have only been open for the new year for two weeks, and I've already received another eight referrals.''

St John Central Region Community Programmes manager Julie Taverner said: ''It is often said that loneliness is a silent and unnoticed epidemic that runs through our communities.

''Nobody deserves to be lonely, and living on your own may mean you miss out on a vital part of belonging – someone to chat to and have a laugh with.''

Its Caring Caller programme, a free telephone friendship service for people of any age, had been in Tauranga for at least 17 years with about 50 volunteers and 30 clients.

Salvation Army Tauranga Major Heather Kopu said it had also started a programme Volunteer Friendship Support for the Elderly.

''The numbers being brought to our attention are staggering, and with the increasing numbers coming to Tauranga to retire, the demand is only going to increase.

''To look after our elderly community, we need to keep an eye on our elderly neighbours.''

There was a need for more funding for services to support the elderly in the community, but ''we also need everyone in the community to pitch in where we can'', he said.

Earlier this week in Britain a minister was appointed to help tackle the loneliness suffered by an estimated nine million adults.

Age UK reported 200,000 older people had not had a conversation with a friend or relative in more than a month.

Want to volunteer?
* Age Concern Tauranga needs people for its Accredited Visiting Service
* The commitment is visiting once a week for one hour
* Volunteers urgently needed in Te Puke, Katikati, Omokoroa and Papamoa
* Contact Age Concern on 578 2541or go to their Facebook page

Bonding over opera

Age Concern volunteer, Phil Waters visits Gerda Gielen, once a week. The pair have formed a great friendship. Photo/John Borren

Sharing a laugh and going to the opera are two pastimes Gerda Gielen and Phil Waters enjoy but this friendship was not forged in the usual manner.

The pair were introduced by the Age Concern Tauranga Accredited Visiting Service six months ago and have bonded through their similar interests and senses of humour.

Phil stepped up to plate after Gerda's last volunteer visitor moved out of the region and says although she has a supportive family she liked to socialise.

''I like the company and the moral support. We go to musicals together at the Tauranga Opera Forum or for walks and coffee.''

The 83-year-old said she looked forward to the visits and ''it is nice to know he is coming once a week''.

A former London policeman, Phil said being a volunteer visitor ''is the best thing that has happened to me since I moved here, it's just the joy of meeting other people''.

He joined the volunteer service two years ago and recently hit the 200-visit mark - and Gerda was the fourth person he had been matched with.