Missing that regular human interaction?

If almost a year of social distancing and travel restrictions has left you yearning for some company, rest assured you’re not alone.

A new survey has revealed that over half (54%) of all adult respondents in Cork admit that they “sometimes” or “often” feel down due to the impact of reduced social engagement during Covid-19.

According to a survey by HaloCare, a software company that enables elderly people to continue living independently in their own homes, the situation is even more pronounced in Dublin, where 61% of respondents said the lack of regular chats and catch-ups had left them feeling depressed.

The survey results suggest that living in Cork could at least make you slightly less likely to suffer the worst loneliness during the pandemic; in total, 57% of Cork respondents felt they were “somewhat” or “very” isolated, considerably less than equivalent responses from Dublin (69%), Galway (66%), or the national average (66%).

When posed with the same questions, almost half (45%) of elderly people aged 65+ nationally claimed they felt down due to the impact of reduced social engagement during Covid-19, while 56% say they have been left feeling isolated.

Use tech to keep in touch 

An impressive 78% of elderly respondents said they were au fait with technology, leading to the opportunity for innovative and intuitive digital solutions to fill this gap.

As another four weeks of Level 5 restrictions gets underway, the Health Service Executive is once again reminding members of the public to protect their mental health.

“During times of stress, friends and families can be a good source of support. It is important to keep in touch with them and other people in your life.” the HSE advises.

“If you need to restrict your movements or self-isolate, try to stay connected to people in other ways, for example, e-mail, social media, video calls, phone calls and text messages.”