Elderly in Norway face increased summer loneliness

Elderly residents in Norway are experiencing increased loneliness during the summer months as family visits decrease and public services are scaled back. Grete Herlofson, Secretary General of the Red Cross, noted a heightened demand for social activities and physical movement to help maintain routine and combat isolation.

In Vang, Hamar municipality, the local Red Cross has addressed this need by utilizing a dedicated bus to provide free excursions to local museums and cafes. This initiative, which is currently fully booked, aims to provide meaningful engagement for home-dwelling seniors.

A study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) supports these observations, indicating that a third of home-dwelling elderly people receiving home services feel they have little control over their lives and participate in fewer meaningful activities compared to those in care homes.