France Faces Rising Social Isolation Among Elderly

France Faces Rising Social Isolation Among Elderly
…………….

A recent study by the CSA Institute for the charity Les Petits Frères des Pauvres reveals that severe social isolation among France’s elderly population has surged by 150% over the past eight years. Currently, an estimated 750,000 seniors, or roughly 4% of those over 60, live in what the organization describes as “social dying,” with little to no contact with family, friends, or community organizations.

The study, conducted every four years since 2017, tracks seniors’ engagement across family, social, neighborhood, and organizational networks. Compared to the 2021 report, which was conducted amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of socially isolated seniors has risen by 42%, up from about 300,000 in 2017. The report notes that demographic aging and disrupted social habits during the pandemic have compounded the issue, particularly for the most vulnerable.

Personal testimonies highlight the human impact of isolation. Eighty-three-year-old retired trainer Michèle S. said she turned to alcohol after losing her parents and having no children or close social contacts. Seventy-seven-year-old Daniel L., a former chemical technician, described losing contact with friends and relatives following his wife’s death.

The research also found that around 1.5 million seniors have little to no contact with children or grandchildren, while 3.2 million have no descendants. Factors contributing to isolation include the absence of close family, limited income, loss of independence, and low digital engagement.

The charity emphasized that social isolation significantly affects mental health, with suicide rates among those aged 85–94 nearly double those of the general population. Les Petits Frères des Pauvres called for increased support and community initiatives to address the growing crisis.