Press Release

One In Four Adults Too Busy To See Their Older Fathers

Tuesday 10 June 2008

Help the Aged and Zurich Community Trust encourage adults to contact their older fathers this Father’s Day.

Statistics released today by Help the Aged and Zurich Community Trust reveal that one in four (3 million) adults admit to being too busy to keep in touch with their older fathers.1

As the number of older men living alone reaches over one million for the first time in Britain, a 21 per cent increase since 2004, the survey also finds that one in five adults (2.5 million) do not contact their older fathers at all.2

With Father’s Day just around the corner the findings, carried out by ICM Research, reveal that two in five adults (around 5 million) will not visit their older fathers this Sunday. This week as part of Help the Aged and Zurich Community Trust’s joint work to support lonely isolated people, both organisations are encouraging people to contact their older fathers this Father’s Day, Sunday 15th June.

Other key findings from the survey include:

One in five adults feel guilty about not seeing their older fathers more regularly;
Almost 50 per cent of adults would like to keep in contact with their older fathers more;
Two in five adults live too far away from their older fathers to see them often.
 
Amy Swan, policy officer for Help the Aged, explains:

“Loneliness needn’t go hand-in-hand with ageing, yet for around 400,000 older men in the UK it is their only constant companion. Losing a loved one, poor health and even leaving work can all lead to social isolation and feelings of confinement. Today, tragically half a million older men feel trapped in their homes.3

“Nothing can substitute human contact to combat isolation and loneliness. Whether it’s setting up a regular phone call, visit or even sending a letter – we can all play a part in helping alleviate the social isolation felt by so many older people in the UK today.”

To provide a safe and comfortable environment for older people to maintain social contact, Help the Aged and Zurich Community Trust, run a number of telephone befriending projects where regular phone calls are set up between a programme participant and an older person. Many older men access this service as it provides them the freedom to control the timing, length and nature of communication.

Jane Boulton, programme manager and befriender from Zurich Community Trust, comments:

“Through our work with Help the Aged, we have found that a simple phone call for a well-being check or a chat can go a long way in helping older men maintain social contact and foster a sense of independence. Often just that little bit of contact and support makes a person feel empowered and able to retain choice, control and dignity in their life.

“We also know that Sunday is particularly difficult for older people as it’s traditionally seen as the day when families spend time together. Which is why, with Help the Aged, we’re encouraging all adults to get in contact with their older fathers this Father’s Day.”

Help the Aged also believes that mobility is key to empowering older people to stay independent and involved in family, social and community networks. Its manifesto for lifetime neighbourhoods entitled Towards Common Ground calls for improvements in transportation services, the quality of pavements and even provision of benches to enable older people to stay mobile and connected.

Anyone interested in donating to Help the Aged to help ensure it continues its work in supporting older people living in social isolation can call 0207 239 1983 or visit www.helptheaged.org.uk/donate