Age Cymru warns local authorities that isolation and loneliness will be the result of further cuts

Now is the time to safeguard public services for older and vulnerable people, according to charity Age Cymru, who believe that more cuts might result in a scale of social isolation never before seen in Wales.

In a survey of adults over 65, Age Cymru finds that 25 per cent of people (146,000) feel lonely at least sometimes, with 7 per cent (41,000) feeling lonely often or always. The charity also finds that 64 per cent of people fear becoming lonely as they get older.

Chief executive, Ian Thomas, is particularly concerned that day centres, public toilets and public transport do not become victims of local authority cost-cutting.

He comments: “None of us want to imagine that we – or any of our family members or loved ones, will end up being lonely or feeling cut-off from society when we’re older.

“But unfortunately, as these figures show, this is the reality of life for tens of thousands of older people across Wales today.”

Mr Thomas continues: “With our ageing population, it is vital that we are able to provide services that meet the needs of older people – both today and in the future.

“These are difficult economic times – everyone accepts that, and we realise that local authorities are in the difficult position of having to make savings.

“We are concerned that, as a result, many services that older people rely on such as day centres, public toilets and buses – will be lost across Wales.

“This will leave even more older people feeling lonely and isolated and, with recent research indicating that being lonely can be more dangerous for your health than obesity, we’ll be storing up even greater demand upon our health and social services in the future.”