Research carried out by Age UK has found that many older people feel their physical and mental health has deteriorated due to isolation and reduced opportunities to socialise with others over the last couple of years.

According to the study, many older people have experienced loneliness, low mood, decreased health, increased pain and lack of support. This in turn has affected their appetite and diet, causing malnutrition and self-neglect. The study also showed that over the past five years, one in five people have found that their memory and cognitive thinking has decreased.

In response, one local homecare provider, Radfield Home Care, has launched a campaign to recruit more care assistants this summer to help tackle loneliness and isolation in the community.

Christina Maria Tevenio-Steiner, director of Radfield Home Care in Bath and North East Somerset, said: “Older people are going to need more support than ever before to get through the warmer months ahead.

“In recent years there has been an increase in the number of older people that have experienced loneliness and isolation. As a care provider it is often our care assistants who offer companionship and a friendly face for our customers who otherwise would spend a lot of time on their own.

“By increasing the number of care assistants we employ, we can look at what further support we can offer our customers and help reduce the number of those who are experiencing loneliness and a decline in health.”

Chairwoman of Bath and North East Somerset Council, Cllr Karen Walker (Independent, Peasedown) visited the Radfield Home Care offices in Oddown, Bath, to support the launch of the recruitment campaign.

She said: “Older people are going to need more support than ever so I welcome Radfield Home Care’s campaign to recruitment more care assistants for our community.”