• The number of elderly people dying alone in Wales with no relatives has been highlighted in figures obtained by WalesOnline.
• By Brendan Hughes, WalesOnline
• Aug 21 2012

Older people’s charity Age Cymru warned that as Wales’ population aged, the problem of loneliness was growing, with older men most at risk of isolation.

Figures from Welsh health boards show almost £400,000 was spent over the past four years on holding funerals for patients with no traceable relatives – a problem the Beatles sang about in their 1966 hit Eleanor Rigby.

More than 620 funerals have been paid for by health authorities in Wales between 2008-09 and 2011-12 for patients who have died with no next of kin.

Welsh health boards are required to pay for patients’ funerals if no relatives can be found, or when relatives are unable or unwilling to make their own arrangements.

Campaigners for the elderly have described the issue of loneliness among older people as “incredibly sad”, and have called on the Welsh Government to “take the problem of isolation seriously”.

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales Sarah Rochira said she would make tackling isolation one of her key priorities.

“I am not surprised by the increase in the number of older people dying alone, as reflected in the figures,” she said. “Older people across Wales consistently raise with me issues of isolation and loneliness. For all too many older people, loneliness can be and is simply devastating. Within Wales, addressing loneliness and isolation are quite simply not the priorities they should be. We must get better at this.

“As Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, this will be a key priority for me over the next four years.”

“There are many examples of good practice around Wales of individuals, groups, schemes and organisations focussing on providing friendship, love and support to older people in need, many of whom are living on their own. I pay tribute to all those carrying out this vital work and encourage more people to keep an eye on older people in their communities who may be isolated through a lack of family or friends nearby. She added: Older people often ask for so little, just a little friendship and a sense of hope – not a lot to ask and something that we as a society should be able to provide.”

The figures were uncovered following a series of Freedom of Information requests to Wales’ health boards.

Aneurin Bevan Health Board, which covers South East Wales, spent the most on Eleanor Rigby funerals at a total of £149,294 over the past four years.

The health authority spent £44,937 in 2011-12 – an increase of almost 60% on the £28,347 amount required in 2008-09.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which covers North Wales, revealed 358 funerals were paid for by the authority from 2008 at a cost of £70,286. The board said the majority of its funeral costs related to miscarried or stillborn babies, rather than elderly patients.

Cardiff and Vale Health Board spent a total of £21,127 last year on holding funerals for patients with no traceable relatives – more than double the £10,122 spend in 2010-11.

Over the past three years, the health authority spent almost £50,000 on funerals for deceased patients.

The number of funerals within Hywel Dda Health Board increased seven-fold over the past year from 12 in 2010-11 to 84 in 2011-12. The authority, which covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, said the total four-year cost of £55,182.15 included burial and cremation of foetuses.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, which covers Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea, has experienced fluctuations in the number of deaths over the past four years, costing the authority £54,827 in total.

Cwm Taf Health Board, in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil, spent £17,805 on 18 funerals since October 2009, but officials were unable to disclose how many funerals were paid for in each year.

Most authorities were able to recoup some proportion of their funeral costs through deceased patients’ estates.

Age Cymru’s director of influencing Victoria Lloyd said: “We find it incredibly sad that these people are dying without next of kin or others in a position to take responsibility for their funeral arrangements.

“There could be a number of reasons for this which include the current economic climate and loneliness and isolation in older people. We know that 64% of people are concerned about loneliness as they age. Older people are vulnerable to loneliness due to life factors like retirement, ill health, loss of mobility, widowhood and caring obligations. “With our ageing population in Wales and the UK, particularly the increase in the numbers of older people over the age of 80, loneliness is likely to increase in future years.”

“Loneliness has negative impacts on quality of life for the individual, and there are huge benefits to the wider community of reducing loneliness and social isolation. People of all ages must feel at home in their own communities. We would urge everyone in touch with older people to look out for signs of loneliness and isolation. There are some fantastic projects that are taking place in communities across Wales that address isolation. Good Neighbour and befriending schemes, lunch clubs and social activities all provide a life line for many older people who would otherwise may not see anybody for days on end.

“We need more of these services to be available and we need to make sure older people know that they are there.”

Dr Ed Bridges, WRVS public affairs manager for Wales, said: “The issue of older people in Wales living out their final years lonely and isolated is a very serious and worrying one. Recent research by WRVS shows that older men in Wales are the loneliest in Britain and the figures released today, which suggest more older people in Wales are becoming more isolated and are dying alone, are very concerning.

“The Welsh Government needs to take the problem of isolation seriously. Loneliness not only has a serious knock-on impact on health and well-being, but can also lead to older people dying alone. Organisations such as WRVS can provide services like befriending and meals on wheels, which not only go a long way to reducing loneliness and isolation, but also means we can signpost people for whom isolation is becoming a serious problem to the relevant authorities.”

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