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The impact of the COVID19 restrictions on the mental health of caregivers in our communities, many of whom are caring for family members with demintia, is the subject of new research.
Stats NZ's most recent Wellbeing Statistics report shows more people than ever are feeling lonely.
That's despite zoom, skype, facetime and social media. Let's face it, they can never replace a hug.
Professor Vanessa Burholt has been studying loneliness during Covid-19 Photo: Supplied
Professor Vanessa Burholt from the University of Auckland's School of Nursing has spent more than quarter of a century researching aging, with loneliness being one of her specialist areas.
As well as the research into how the lockdowns affected many caregivers, Vanessa has contributed to an international research paper into the impact of COVID-19 on people's experience of loneliness.
One of the key findings is a disturbing though not surprising three-fold increase in participants' reporting of severe loneliness, compared to how they felt before COVID-19 struck.
First Vanessa defines how the researchers define loneliness.
Prof Burholt is an advisor on two websites set up to offer advice to lonely Kiwis, https://loneliness.org.nz and https://letsendloneliness.co.nz/