This guidance offers information and advice on choosing and using a scale to measure the impact of your services on loneliness in older age.
Recently, Age UK, reported that there is a lack of good evidence on the impact of different types of services on loneliness.
Feeling lonely is linked to risk of an earlier death, depression, dementia and poor self-rated health (Note: see references to studies within this guide). We need to know more about ‘what works’ to prevent or alleviate it.
Loneliness has a negative impact on our quality of life, and mental
and physical health. Measuring loneliness will help you to show the positive impact of certain services on the way people feel about their relationships and connections – and give you a more detailed understanding than a wellbeing measure can.