Half (47%) of people who haven’t yet retired and experienced lockdown loneliness are now reconsidering their later life plans, research from Audley Villages has found.
A quarter (26%) of people who have experienced loneliness and have not retired plan to stay busy with activities and social groups when they get older, 17% want to ensure they are part of a strong community, 15% will move closer to family and 12% closer to friends to have a strong support network close by.
Paul Morgan, managing director – operations, Audley Villages, said: “The pandemic has sadly given people a new appreciation of what it can feel like to be lonely.
“The key to minimising feelings of isolation is to create a strong support network. Friends, family and people that will check in, either virtually or in person, share hobbies or interests or join you for a walk can make a real difference both mentally and physically.
“We need to be creating housing options that support a sense of community as this is needed now more than ever. It has the potential to change the lives of people across the UK.“
Over a third (35%) of people in the UK say they experienced greater feelings of loneliness through the nationwide lockdown, with this particularly prominent amongst those aged 18-34 (46%).
Many (46%) are therefore worried they will experience loneliness in the future.
