Loneliness and Social Isolation JSNA (2025)

The Loneliness and Social Isolation JSNA was completed in 2025. It highlights loneliness as a significant and growing public health issue. National evidence suggests up to 18% of UK adults feel lonely ‘always or often’ and this is linked with early mortality, poor physical health, mental ill‑health, and cognitive decline.

This JSNA focuses on residents aged 55+, and aims to define loneliness and social isolation, understand prevalence, explore contributing factors, and identify effective support options across Cheshire West and Chester.

The terms loneliness and social isolation are often interlinked however the definitions vary. AGE UK define them as -

• Loneliness is a feeling, related to whether the social contact we have is meaningful to us and meets our emotional needs.
• Isolation is being alone, whether or not that's what we want.

Someone can be isolated but not feel lonely – and someone can feel lonely even when they're surrounded by people.

The Older Peoples Loneliness dashboard was created to support the work of this Needs Assessment. The dashboard highlights geographic areas and population groups at heightened risk of loneliness based on multiple indicators. It supports targeted, ward‑level understanding of loneliness prevalence. 

The mapping of services to provide social activities and places to prevent residents feeling at risk of being lonely or socially isolated is detailed on the Live Well Cheshire West platform.