Neil O’Brien, the newly elected MP for Harborough, led a panel of MPs, NGO Chiefs, and refugees as they sought to identify the causes of isolation in refugees and asylum seekers, as part of the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness’ latest project. In the few short months since being elected, O’Brien has already had to deal with many issues related to refugees and isolation in his own constituency. “I’ve been struck by their desire to contribute to our society. To work, to help people, and to learn. But I have also been struck by the many barriers that stop those refugees from doing so. They range from the absence of family networks, the difficulty in learning a new language, and the difficulties of accessing benefits.” Stephen Hale, Chief Executive of Refugee Action, argues that it is critical for both refugees and for wider society that more is done to identify […]
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The potentially harmful effects of loneliness and social isolation on health and longevity, especially among older adults, are well established. For example, in 2013 I reported on research finding that loneliness can impair health by raising levels of stress hormones and inflammation, which in turn can increase the risk of heart disease, arthritis, Type 2 diabetes, dementia and even suicide attempts. Among older people who reported they felt left out, isolated or lacked companionship, the ability to perform daily activities like bathing, grooming and preparing meals declined and deaths increased over a six-year study period relative to people who reported none of these feelings. Writing for The New York Times’s department The Upshot last December, Dr. Dhruv Khullar, a physician and researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, cited evidence for disrupted sleep, abnormal immune responses and accelerated cognitive decline among socially isolated individuals, which he called “a growing epidemic.” As research moves […]
The 10-story building may look like a hotel, but it is thought to be the world’s biggest large-scale house-share, offering modest rooms and upscale services for hundreds of young adults caught in London’s housing crisis. The Old Oak building, situated on a canal bank in northwest London, opened in the spring of last year, and has become a pioneer of “co-living”, a concept that is beginning to catch on elsewhere, notably in the United States. “Today in cities, we don’t know our neighbors, housing is more and more expensive. We’re living behind our devices and this is addressing that challenge,” said Ryan Fix, consultant at The Collective, the project’s developer. This was no niche market, he insisted: “It’s going to be a massive movement in the coming decades.” Ed Thomas, who manages the property for The Collective, offers a tour of the 546-room building and its facilities. “You’ve got a […]