Policies to address unwanted loneliness
Unwanted loneliness is a social and health problem that affects a growing number of people worldwide. It is a source of suffering, limits the right to participate in society, and has negative consequences in multiple aspects of life, such as physical and mental health, generating social costs, as reported by the State Observatory of Unwanted Loneliness .
The fight against unwanted loneliness requires raising awareness and engaging the rest of society. Social awareness demands strategies and policies that contribute to a greater understanding of this problem among the public.
Unwanted loneliness, what are we talking about?
At the community level, this represents a serious problem, as it weakens close-knit networks, especially those found in neighborhoods, spaces where people typically maintain contact and carry out basic daily activities. Therefore, interventions must be implemented at different levels: regional, local, and community , as outlined in the guide "How to Combat Unwanted Loneliness in Older Adults?" (Nagusi Intelligence Center, 2023).
In Spain, at the national level, there are currently no specific, nationwide policies aimed at combating unwanted loneliness in a comprehensive and planned manner. The IMSERSO (Institute for the Elderly and Social Services) is leading the development of a national strategy against unwanted loneliness, which is still pending.
However, growing concern about the phenomenon has led to unwanted loneliness being placed on the political agenda. As a result, initiatives are emerging in regional and provincial public administrations, local entities, and in an increasing number of actions and projects from social initiatives.
In this regard, in April 2022 the ONCE Foundation launched the State Observatory of Unwanted Loneliness (SoledadES) , with the support of other entities such as the Red Cross, the Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities (CERMI), the Platform of Older People and Pensioners, ONCE, the Third Sector Platform, the Volunteering Platform, the Network Against Unwanted Loneliness, the European Network for the Fight against Poverty and Social Exclusion, the General Union of Workers, the Platform of Patient Organizations, the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces and the Spanish Youth Council.
The Observatory promotes the idea that interaction between public administration, the private sector, organized civil society, and citizens is key to combating unwanted loneliness. Therefore, it aims to be a key player in generating and disseminating knowledge about unwanted loneliness at the national level, with a view to mobilizing organized civil society.
SoledadES brings together information on studies, European and international experiences and regional, local and social entity experiences, with the aim of connecting and inspiring the social change needed to address the problem at hand.
Strategies deployed with the support of the third sector
The autonomous communities are joining the push for regional strategies and policies to combat the problem of unwanted loneliness. Addressing this issue goes hand in hand with other strategies already in place regarding active aging and care for the elderly , as well as the fight against depopulation affecting some provinces, stemming, among other causes, from the growing aging population.
To illustrate, the specific strategies against unwanted loneliness recently approved in Castile and León and Murcia are noteworthy. Andalusia has a Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Older People, one of whose strategic lines is dedicated to unwanted loneliness. Also worth mentioning are initiatives such as the Aragonese Observatory on Loneliness, created by the Ombudsman of Aragon and the Department of Citizenship and Social Rights, among others.
Jordi Ramon Rizo
It is common for these plans to be designed, supported, and implemented in collaboration with third-sector associations and organizations, thus seeking maximum involvement and participation from all social stakeholders. These initiatives are developed by city councils, neighborhoods, or local associations. Many cities have some type of strategy or project dedicated to addressing loneliness. Here, we will highlight the strategies of the two largest Spanish cities by population, although an increasing number of cities are creating specific plans to address this issue.
In Madrid , the strategy of the municipal plan to prevent, detect and alleviate unwanted loneliness is to contribute to reducing the feeling of loneliness of older people through strengthening the friendlyness of the city of Madrid, raising awareness among citizens, detecting risks and intervening on loneliness and its consequences.
In Barcelona , the City Council has a municipal strategy with four strategic lines and 25 objectives, led by the Department for Children, Youth, Senior Citizens, and People with Disabilities. The lines of action include raising awareness and generating knowledge about the impact of loneliness in the city and on people's well-being; deploying resources and services to prevent, detect, and address loneliness; restructuring the city and its areas into community spaces; and adapting the functioning of the municipal organization to the new challenges posed by loneliness.
This article was originally published in the Guide for Supporting Older Adults Experiencing Unwanted Loneliness. San Juan de Dios Solidarity.
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