Extra support for chronically lonely welcomed
Help is on the way for chronically lonely older people, with additional funding for a home-based intervention service.
Age Concern New
"We're glad that this funding has been secured." Ann Martin said today. "Age Concern AVS is a proven and effective home-based health intervention for the loneliest people in our communities."
"We're pleased that the Minister has recognised the health implications of chronic loneliness and social isolation. And, in particular, for offering assistance towards Age Concern services that provide regular visits by trained volunteers to people in the most need.
"This will most certainly enable us to offer at least one Visiting Service in each DHB." 
At least 45,000 older New Zealanders are severely lonely. Chronic loneliness has severe health and psychological impacts. Overseas research shows that it is as big a health risk as smoking.
"Chronic loneliness is New Zealand's hidden health epidemic," Ann Martin said.
"We work with people who are so terribly isolated that they count brief visits by delivery people as the best social interaction they have.
"New Zealanders are increasingly choosing independent lifestyles – but if people don't maintain effective social networks this can lead to chronic loneliness and related increased health costs.
"Age Concern Visitors provide positive social relationships for older people who haven't been able to maintain these networks."
Loneliness has been identified by older people themselves as one of the "Big 4" most serious issues facing them (along with income, health and social attitudes).
"Age Concern wants to hear from volunteers who have time to spend with older people," Ann Martin said. "Becoming an AVS Visitor is such a worthwhile thing that people of all ages can do."
The service has been operating for over 20 years with the aim of improving the health of older people living in the community by reducing social isolation and chronic loneliness.
> READ more about the Accredited Visiting Service
> READ our updated Briefing to the Minister of Health (late-April 2010) [opens small PDF file]
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