Through Philippe Roudeillat
Published on
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The numbers are staggering. According to a report published by the association of the Little Brothers of the Poor, nearly 530,000 people over the age of 60 and over are considered to be in a situation of “social death”.
This last notion includes people who in France never or almost never meet other people from family, friends, neighbors, associations.
And their number would have almost doubled in just 4 years.
“This is one of the highlights of the second edition of the barometer” Solitude and Isolation when you are over 60 years old in France in 2021 “which shows an alarming worsening of the situation of isolation of the elderly since 2017”, underlines association.
From 300,000 in 2017 to 530,000 in 2021
Thus, the number of elderly people in a situation of social death would have increased from 300,000 to 530,000. Over the same period, the number of elders isolated from family and friendly circles increased from 900,000 to 2 million.
For the association, there is a real urgency to bring “lasting answers concerning the financing of aid to autonomy and to make the fight against the isolation of the elderly a major axis in the construction of public prevention policies. loss of autonomy.
The health crisis has highlighted the flaws of a society which for twenty years has not been able to respond to the consequences of the aging of the population, however announced. “
“No decisive reform”
For Alain Villez, the president of the Little Brothers of the Poor:
“No decisive reform that fully meets the challenges has been implemented, the abandonment of the Great Age and Autonomy law is a deep disillusionment in the face of the immense challenges of the demographic transition. “
About sixty volunteers in Saint-Germain-en-Laye
In Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where the association has been established since 1956, the members of the Little Brothers of the Poor work tirelessly to fight against the growing isolation of this part of the population.
The team, made up of around sixty volunteers, is committed over the long term and covers the following municipalities: Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Le Pecq, Le Vesinet, Marly-le-Roi, l’Étang-la -ville, Noisy-le-Roi, Le Mesnil-le-Roi, Mareil-Marly and Chambourcy.
“To be alongside the Saint-German elders”
“The volunteers are committed to supporting and being alongside the most isolated Saint-German seniors who experience difficult aging in loneliness, sometimes abandonment, alone in the face of illness and dependence. Old friends accompanied, as the volunteers affectionately call them, stay at home or live in nursing homes. The action of the volunteers, who operate in pairs or trinomial teams, is reflected, among other things, by visits to “old friends” and by the organization of convivial and fraternal collective times: cine-club, musical afternoon, shows hosted by high school students, board games. “
The association, which is looking for volunteers to strengthen its ranks, is also working on the organization of the Christmas dinner which had to be canceled last year. It will take place on Friday, December 24th.
Key figures from the barometer
Here are the key figures of the 2021 Solitude et Isolation barometer, concerning people over 60 in France:
– 530,000 elderly people experiencing social death in 2021 vs. 300,000 in 2017, an increase of 77%.
– The number of seniors isolated from family and friendly circles has more than doubled (+ 122%), from 900,000 in 2017 to 2 million in 2021.
– In 2021, 1.3 million elderly people never or almost never see their immediate family (children and grandchildren) compared to 470,000 in 2017.
– 3.9 million elderly people have no or hardly any friendly relations (1.5 million in 2017).
– 36% of elderly people, i.e. 6.5 million people, often feel lonely (31% in 2017). 14% (11% in 2017) or 2.5 million people, feel lonely every day or very often.
– 3 million elderly people have suffered from loneliness for at least several years.
– 6.5 million people aged 60 (4.7 million in 2017) and over have no one to talk to about private matters.
– 3.6 million elderly people in digital exclusion.
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Practice
The Little Brothers of the Poor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 10, rue Maurice-Berteaux, 78112 Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Rens. : [email protected] or 01 34 51 08 06.
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