New research highlights hidden loneliness among older adults in Meath

A NEW local research project carried out in part in Co Meath has highlighted key insights into the lived experience of loneliness among older adults in Ireland.

The research, undertaken by Unofficial Media and Training as part of the European-funded RECONNECT project, involved a survey and phone interviews with older adults from Meath, Cavan and Laois has found that while many older adults remain active and socially engaged, a significant number face a ‘hidden loneliness’, a type of emotional and psychological isolation that isn’t always visible on the surface.

“You can be surrounded by people and still feel completely alone,” said one participant. “It’s like you’re there, but you’re not.”

Over 52 older adults, mostly living in rural areas, contributed to the survey, and eight then shared their personal stories through confidential telephone interviews. Many respondents identified key emotional losses, including a loss of confidence, purpose and emotional safety, as core to their experience of loneliness. Health-related anxiety was also on the rise, yet older adults are often perceived as “strong” and less vulnerable than younger adults, leading their emotional needs to go unnoticed or unacknowledged.

Key findings from the RECONNECT research in Ireland include that loneliness is tied to identity, not just isolation. For example, older adults reported missing a sense of purpose, affection and emotional connection more than physical company. It also found that health anxiety and emotional suppression are significant factors in the loneliness experiences by older adults. Older adults, especially men, tend to keep their fears hidden, with one participant describing how “emotions are not man talk.”

Bereavement, retirement and relocation were major triggers for loneliness with one participant noting how she had lost her friends and social connections when she retired. There is also a hidden loneliness and stigma around illness which is not talked about. For example, one participant mentioned how a cancer diagnosis led many in their circle to withdraw from them because they were “too scared to say the wrong thing”, so they just withdrew. Another participant highlighted how incontinence and bowel anxiety has led to withdrawal from social life due to shame or fear.

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While Men’s Sheds and support groups were seen as lifelines, some older adults who participated in this research shared how they have struggled with social cliques or age mismatches in local groups, for example, one participant who was widowed at an early age, in her mid-50s, noted how when she joined a widow support group, all of the other members were significantly older than her.

Despite the challenges, many older people also shared strategies that helped them stay well, such as structured routines, hobbies and community engagement. However, the research has stressed the need for inclusive and emotionally safe spaces that actively welcome older adults, particularly those navigating grief or chronic health conditions.

“This research isn’t about feeling pity, but rather it should be about listening,” said Mike Keegan, director of Unofficial Media and Training. “Older people in Ireland are incredibly resilient, but they deserve spaces where they can talk about loss, illness and emotional wellbeing without stigma.”