Loneliness is as harmful for our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and has a destructive impact on our quality of life.There are over 800,000 people in England over the age of 65 who feel lonely all or most of the time.

There are Services and activities that keep people connected are under threat of cuts or closure.

This could lead to further isolation of older people in our communities and put them at risk of ill health.

New local forums for health and care officials are making decisions int he next 6 months that could significantly affect the future of these services.

These forums, called health and wellbeing boards, are there to listen to you. So if you care about improving quality of life in older age, make sure your local decision makers in health understand the need to act on loneliness today.

You could:

• Write to your local newspaper
• Write to your health and wellbeing board
• Contact your local MP
• Invite others to campaign with you

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk/campaigns/loneliness-harms-health, if you don’t have access to the internet, call 020 7012 1409.