Loneliness can damage your health.

In a recent survey by Age UK they discovered to their dismay that 41 % said that their TV or pet was their main source of company, this is equivalent to some 4 million people across Britain This included people living in care homes or those who looked after sick people. Lonely people are more likely to develop dementia, and heart disease, and recent research has found that loneliness increases the risk of an early death by 14%  twice the effects of obesity. Due to government cut backs there are less people going out to day centres, thereby increasing the sense of loneliness. The director of the Campaign to End Loneliness Kate Jopling said that these research findings should be taken "very seriously as they lead to public health issues". Other research findings have suggested that loneliness is akin to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. In my opinion these savings are financially myopic as the savings in one departmental budget means extra pressure on another like the NHS. In terms of  'cost benefit analysis on a longitudinal basis' this is not a good use of public money. In other countries like Germany they do things better and more creatively. Having three generations living either in close proximity or in one home together. There are more than 500 multi-generational homes now in Germany. The elderly act as a social hub - there is less stigma associated in Germany to being alone by this arrangement. This is therefore a 'win win' for all concerned, the elderly get a new social life and the young get interaction with the elderly plus a 'bed time story'.