Hong Kong study records 33% rise in elderly people struggling with loneliness

The joint study involved interviews with more than 300 people aged 60 and above living in the community and at care homes, with researchers asking respondents to grade their sense of loneliness out of six.

The average score from respondents stood at 3.56, compared with a score of two from the previous survey conducted in 2018.

The survey also found that the proportion of elderly people who experience moderate or severe feelings of loneliness had risen from 35.3 per cent to 68.3 per cent in the interval between the studies.

Respondents without children or a spouse experienced more intense feelings of loneliness than those with families, according to the 2024 survey.

Mann and Salvation Army project manager Chan Ho-Kong said the increase in elderly people suffering from loneliness was due to a lack of support resulting from factors such as the recent migration trend, the ageing population and the low fertility rate.

The charity said it had also trained 26 social workers to help improve the mental health of elderly residents through therapeutic activities under its acceptance and commitment therapy group programme.

The five-week initiative launched in late December of last year and aimed to boost the mental elasticity and self-esteem of participants.

“The scheme helped me to build up a mindset of positivity and I have set different goals for myself,” said Wang Suk-Yin, who took part in the scheme.

“I now practice singing and dancing when I join regular activities held by a centre.”

Wang, 77, said undergoing surgery two years ago and coming to terms with her son leaving Hong Kong had left her struggling with loneliness.

“I was extremely frustrated as I could only stay home and have random thoughts,” she said.

Clinical psychologist Mann said: “[The scheme] shows that acceptance and commitment therapy can help the elderly to cope with their mental health.”

Support for the elderly and those looking after them has become a growing concern, with the government telling lawmakers on Wednesday its designated carer support hotline had received 16,490 calls as of March.

A breakdown of the figure found nearly 40 per cent of callers had sought emotional support, while more than 20 per cent were inquiring about community support services.

The 24-hour hotline is operated by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and launched last September. The service currently comprises 30 phone lines handled by more than 100 social workers.