Increasing numbers of men are facing loneliness and isolation in old age, suggests research.

Men are often reluctant to join clubs for older people, says the study by the International Longevity Centre (ILC-UK) and the charity, Independent Age.

It predicts the number of older men living alone in England will increase by 65% by 2030.

“When their partner dies, often a man’s social life shrinks,” said Independent Age chief executive Janet Morrison.

The report: The Emerging Crisis for Older Men, says older women will still be more likely to outlive their husbands but, by 2030, growing numbers of men will outlive their wives.

The analysis of recent data from the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing suggests 1.5 million older men will be living alone by 2030 – up from 911,000 today.

‘No visitors’

Older men often also have less contact with family and friends than women of a similar age, meaning they are often more socially isolated once their spouse dies, says the study.

“The house was always full of kids,” 73-year-old John, whose wife died five years ago, told researchers.

“Women keep the family together and people rally around them.

“When women die, people drift away from the man left behind.”

Evidence suggests men and women experience social isolation in different ways, says the report, with men less likely to ask for support.

Widower Dick O’Brien, 77, from Reading, told BBC News he has 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren but they are “busy with their own lives” and he sometimes has no visitors for days.

He has tried going to clubs but says: “For some unknown reason I just don’t fit in. It makes me feel older than I am.

“I socialise best when I am on my scooter, when I’m having a chat to anyone on the road.

“When I’m out people think, ‘He’s a happy old soul.’

“I am, but you are coming back to an empty house.

“It’s very, very lonely. And you think why do I bother? You know it’s worth bothering. Of course it’s worth bothering but it’s depressing. It’s very depressing. It gets to you.”

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Older people are biggest tablet fans

The screen is sharper than iPad’s for reading

“The fastest growing group of tablet users are over-60s,”

Clare Newsome says. “Skype lets them stay in touch with loved ones – and learning new things helps keep brains active”.

New machines such as Samsung’s Tab S (pictured) are great for older users as the screen is sharper than the iPad’s, and great for reading too.

Ali Crossley, Executive Director of retirement home chain McCarthy & Stone said: There is a perception that retirees are less in touch with technology, but that isnt the case anymore.”

Half of pensioners used Facebook and two-thirds said their children had helped them choose a tablet for staying in touch.

Up to 80% of older people say they want a smartphone

Older users even have their own smartphones.

The Doro 740 has large keys and a remote-access function so children can help if it goes wrong. Its makers described it as a “phenomenal” hit when it launched.

Maker Doro said demand for the product was high because 80% of older people said they wanted a smartphone to stay in touch with family.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/how-the-family-stays-connected-with-apps-and-gadgets-072031713.html