Increase a person's sense of wellbeing

A person’s health and wellbeing are significantly impacted by their sense of loneliness and isolation

National and international research demonstrates that experiencing loneliness and isolation in older age carries an equivalent risk to health as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. It has a destructive impact on quality of life. There are also significant links between minimal social interaction and the onset of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. (Campaign to End Loneliness).

Providing a one-to-one befriender who is able to reduce the sense of isolation and loneliness a person feels will also increase the general health and wellbeing of that person. Simply having something to look forward to in the week, having someone who is interested in visiting you, someone to talk about things with, cannot be underestimated in its impact on an individual who has been experiencing loneliness.