The Isolation Epidemic- Local Communities Fighting Back Against Elderly Loneliness

Written By George Cooper

 In the corners of towns and villages, the loneliness epidemic engulfing older generations is going unnoticed by most. Loneliness among the elderly has emerged as a silent crisis, with a detrimental impact on physical and mental health. However, there has been a growth in support groups over the recent years to help tackle this issue.

Image Credit- George Cooper

According to Age UK, over 1.2 million elderly people across the UK are chronically lonely, with 49% of people aged 65 and older seeking out company predominantly from pets and television. This issue stems back to before COVID-19. Loneliness in the elderly community is caused by factors such as grief, declining health, mobility issues and societal shifts. With the growth in the digital age, older generations have been feeling a major disconnect from younger generations.

As technology advances, the disconnect only grows. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated this crisis, leaving many elderly people confined to their homes, leaving them cut off from the lifelines of social interaction with family and loved ones. Chronic loneliness is a relatively new condition to be debated. It can lead to depression, anxiety and a decline in social development and skills, which can only emphasise the disconnect that over a million elderly people experience.

Recent statistics from Public Heath state that 50% of individuals aged over 60 are at risk of social isolation, and one-third will experience loneliness later in their lives. However, mental health services are attempting to tackle this issue. Various interventions have been developed, however there has been a lack of consistency in how these interventions are categorised and defined. Whilst some interventions focus on the group including activities, others target in uprooting depressive behaviours and improving social skills and technological literacy. However, despite these efforts, these interventions aren’t a one size fit’s all solution to combatting loneliness. These interventions have been critiqued by the elderly generation as they aren’t easy to source and they do provide a basic understanding of technology, and don’t take into account other pre-existing mental and physical illnesses that may prevent these interventions from being successful. By understanding the nuances of loneliness and social isolation, more targeted and effective interventions can help to improve the well-being of older adults. A prime example of a successful sense of community is the Wicken Knit and Natter craft group.

In Buckinghamshire, planted in the sports and social club of Wicken , small communities like the Wicken Knit and Natter groups are finding ways to come together. The group’s organiser Maria Floyd, explained that the group aims to “break down the walls between generations.” Maria was inspired by her 95-year-old grandmother, who has struggled with loneliness and has recieved little support. Seeing how common this issue was, Maria decided to step up. She started the group to create a space where people of all ages could connect, hoping to tackle the growing problem of isolation in Buckinghamshire.

Maria Floyd highlighted how her group breaks down generational divides, by posing the ability for people with more creative experience to pass down their artistic abilities. The group produce group projects, from creating tactile toys out of yarn for children in specialised education to creating hospital bags and clothing for premature infants. Through these projects, the group has shared knitting patterns and allowed older generations to teach their knitting and crochet techniques. Floyd stated a personal anecdote, one of her group members experiences chronic arthritis in their hands, which has been a massive hindrance in his life. However, being taught how to knit and crochet, has allowed him to find a way of improving his motor skills in his hands and arms. Wicken Knit and Natter’s group members range from children to people in their 90s.

COVID-19 was detrimental to the older community, which caused services and communities such as Knit and Natter to stop meeting. This sparked immense fear in Floyd, as a large proportion of her members are extremely vulnerable and have found great comfort within this community. To prevent her fears from manifesting, she provided online tutorials at their last meeting, explaining ‘Zoom’ so they could keep in contact over the prolonged break in their meetings. Whilst the gratification of an in person meeting wasn’t provided, the connection between the group was stronger than ever, expressing the latest stitching techniques and the friendly dynamic between the group.

Edna Bathe is Knit and Natter’s oldest member. The 95-year-old expressed in a statement “I love being a part of this loving group. My granddaughter, Maria has been a saint, and I am so proud of the devotion and love she has put into this group”. Bathe expressed how in recent years, she has struggled with loneliness after losing loved ones, and she found very little support from the local mental health services and did not know how to reach out for help, due to lacking technological skills. Bathe stated, “This isn’t just a craft group, it’s a creative family.” When asked what this community means to her. Bathe is has been given the moniker of the “Knitting Ninja” due to the speed at which she produces intricate, high quality and beautiful creations, this has led to her having a legacy within the Knit and Natter group.  

There have been some challenges in advertising and the longevity of the group. As COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed, the numbers of the group dropped significantly. This led to the remaining members still meeting a couple of times a year at Wicken Sports and Social Club but primarily joining a weekly craft group of a similar nature. Located in the heart of Buckingham town, Knit and Natter seasons are being held at the library. This has only led to the community increasing their reach as well as increasing their numbers, as it’s more accessible as the original location lacked any viable bus routes so by being in the town centre, it has led to more people accessing this amazing community.