Elderly loneliness in Spain

Efforts to address social isolation among Spain’s elderly population have moved from local municipal initiatives to broader national research. In Valdemoro, the City Council launched a study in collaboration with the Community of Madrid to analyze unwanted loneliness among residents over 59. This project aims to identify risk factors and create a municipal action plan through a diagnostic process involving approximately 400 participants.

Broader national data has since highlighted the scale of the issue. Research from the IDIS Foundation and Sigma Dos indicates that 58.3% of people aged 65 or older living at home report feeling lonely with some frequency, while 46% of those in residential care report similar feelings. Additionally, the Verisure Foundation’s ‘Desoledad’ report found that 25% of individuals aged 60 and over feel lonely even when accompanied by others. These findings suggest significant vulnerability, with 8% of the sample at high risk of unwanted loneliness due to a lack of support networks and meaningful activities.