Retraite Plus, an organization that advises the elderly in their search for a retirement home has just published a report on the rate of loneliness of residents in retirement homes at Christmas. These figures were collected from 9,600 retirement homes spread across the country. They show that it is in Normandy (where 25% of retirees do not receive visitors for the holidays), in Pays-de-la-Loire (24%) and Ile-de-France (21%) that retirees are the most isolated.
On the other hand, with 70% of residents who receive visits at Christmas and 19% who spend the day with their family, it is the Hauts-de-France region which shows the greatest solidarity between generations. This region is closely followed by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (69%) and the Provence-Alpes Côte d’Azur region (72%).
Almost 20% of the elderly remain lonely
Nationally, 19% of elderly people in retirement homes do not receive any visits, even at Christmas. “These are mainly people who lack autonomy and resources, people who do not have children or whose family is geographically distant” emphasizes the Plus retirement study.
This loneliness of the elderly has repercussions on health. The French Federation of Cardiology estimates that the increased risk of mortality caused by loneliness is comparable to that of smokers.
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