Why loneliness is affecting so many older people in Switzerland

More than 800,000 people aged 60 and over want more company. That figure places loneliness among Switzerland’s major social policy concerns, even though most older people remain connected to family, friends, neighbours or community groups.

The figures come from Pro Senectute Switzerland’s survey, “Relationships among older people”, reported on October 1, 2026. Thirty-six percent of respondents said they lacked enough social support at least from time to time. Around 140,000 people said they frequently lacked contact with others.

Those findings describe different experiences. Wanting more company does not necessarily mean a person has no relationships. Someone may speak with relatives regularly and still lack the companionship needed for everyday activities, conversation or practical support. The survey also shows that living without a partner does not automatically produce loneliness. Around half of single respondents ruled out a new relationship on principle, indicating that some older people choose single life.

The issue matters because social connection shapes how people participate in daily life. Contact with others can come through family ties, friendships, neighbourhood networks, voluntary work or local groups. When those links weaken, affordable and accessible meeting places become more important, particularly for people with limited income or mobility.

Widowhood and separation sharply increase the risk of frequent social isolation. The Pro Senectute survey found that 11% of widows and widowers often lacked social contact, compared with 3% of married people.

The difference reflects the role a partner can play in ordinary social life. A spouse may provide daily conversation, accompany someone to appointments, maintain links with friends or help sustain routines outside the home. When that relationship ends through death or separation, several forms of contact can disappear at the same time.

Switzerland’s older population also includes many people whose social networks have changed over decades. Friends may have moved away, become ill or died. Adult children may live in another canton or abroad. Retirement removes a workplace routine that once supplied regular interaction. None of these developments guarantees loneliness, and the survey does not present age alone as the decisive factor. It points instead to living conditions and the strength of a person’s surrounding network.

Partnership status therefore offers an important warning sign, not a complete diagnosis. Support that begins after bereavement or separation can help people rebuild routines before isolation becomes entrenched. Local clubs, peer groups, social meals and volunteer activities can provide regular contact without requiring someone to seek a new intimate relationship.

Low income can narrow the routes into social life. Pro Senectute’s survey links modest financial circumstances with a greater lack of company and a stronger feeling of exclusion among older people.

The finding is significant in a country where many social activities carry direct or hidden costs. Transport, meals outside the home, club fees and cultural events can all become difficult to afford on a limited pension. Even small expenses may discourage someone from accepting an invitation or travelling to meet friends. Financial pressure can also affect housing choices, access to mobility and the ability to remain close to relatives.

Income does not determine whether someone has friends. It can, however, shape how often a person can see them and which activities remain available. A person who stops attending a regular group may lose both the activity and the informal conversations around it. That gradual withdrawal can be hard for neighbours or relatives to notice.

The survey supports a practical response: social opportunities must be affordable as well as available. Pro Senectute director Alain Huber called for “simple and affordable opportunities” to meet, interact and take part in shared activities. Subsidised meals, low-cost transport, accessible meeting rooms and free community events can reduce the financial barriers that turn ordinary social contact into an occasional luxury.

Pro Senectute is expanding the kind of support that can turn occasional contact into a routine. The organisation offers group activities and meeting places intended to encourage older people’s participation in social life.

That approach matters because loneliness rarely has a single cause or a single remedy. A meeting place can offer conversation, but it can also help someone discover a walking group, a volunteer role or practical advice. Regular activities create predictable points in the week, which can be especially valuable after retirement, bereavement or a move.

The survey identifies several sources of connection that communities can strengthen: family relationships, friendships, neighbourhood ties, community groups and voluntary work. These networks do not all serve the same purpose. Family may provide care, while a local group offers companionship without placing the full burden on relatives. Volunteering can restore a sense of usefulness and responsibility after paid employment ends.

Access remains central. Activities need to be close enough to reach, affordable for people on modest incomes and welcoming to those who do not already know anyone. Clear information also matters. People experiencing loneliness may lack the confidence to make the first contact, so referrals through municipalities, doctors, social services and neighbourhood organisations can help connect them with an appropriate group.

Switzerland’s response will depend on treating social connection as part of ordinary local infrastructure. The Pro Senectute figures show a large group of older people who want more company, alongside a smaller but important group who frequently lack contact with others.

Municipalities, cantons and community organisations can use that distinction to target support. People facing bereavement or separation may need early outreach and peer networks. Older residents on limited incomes may need free activities and transport support. Others may benefit from volunteering, neighbourhood groups or regular social meals. The survey does not identify one national programme that fits every situation.

The data also cautions against equating loneliness with living alone. Some single people choose that arrangement, while some people living with a partner may still feel socially excluded. Effective services therefore need to ask about a person’s actual contacts, routines and sense of support rather than relying only on household status.

The World Health Organization has described loneliness as a global health issue, with one in six people worldwide affected, according to the linked Swissinfo.ch report. In Switzerland, the next step is practical and local: make it easier for older people to find affordable activities, maintain relationships and enter a welcoming room without needing a crisis to justify the visit.