There are various factors that have led us to develop Push to Talk.

• A study of 6,500 UK men and women aged over 52 found that being socially isolated is linked with a 26% higher death risk (BBC, 2013)
  
• 55 to 64-year-olds living alone has increased by 50% in the past 15 years (Age UK, 2014)
  
• Around 5M over 65's are digitally excluded (Vodafone, 2014)
  
• 5M elderly people see their family less than once a month (Telegraph, 2012)
  
• Less than 1 in 5 elderly people are in contact with their family, friends and neighbours more than once a week. (Royal Voluntary Service, 2012)
  
• Research shows that loneliness increases the risk of heart disease, blood clots and dementia (Department of Health, 2012)
  
• Socially isolated adults are more likely to be admitted into early residential or nursing care (Department of Health, 2012)
  
• 51% of over 75's live alone - roughly 5M (NHS, 2013)
  
• 1 in 5 patients visit their GP because they are lonely (Campaign to end loneliness, 2013)
  
• The North West England had the highest antidepressant use in 2010-11 (7.2M prescriptions)
  

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Other key factors:

• Huge costs to Local Authority budgets – and this has had a knock on effect on the providers ability to deliver vital services
  
• Most of the population can use either the TV or Phone – it is language agnostic and requires little technical skill
  
• All elderly people should have a basic phone service (part of Local Authority requirement)
  
• If we can get these people reconnected to society, we should have a better understand of their day-to-day activity and wellbeing with the aim of preventative care rather than intervening when it is too late
  

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References:

1. Age UK. (2014). Later Life in the United Kingdom. Retrieved from Age UK: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/Later_Life_UK_factsheet.pdf?dtrk=true
   
2. BBC. (2013). Social isolation 'increases death risk in older people'. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21929197
   
3. Campaign to end loneliness. (2013). Family doctors ill-equipped for loneliness epidemic. Retrieved from Campaign to end loneliness: http://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/11/FINAL-GP-Polling-PR-15.11.13.pdf
   
4. Department of Health. (2012). Loneliness measure to boost care for older people. Retrieved from GOV: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/loneliness-measure-to-boost-care-for-older-people
   
5. NHS. (2013). Loneliness in older people. Retrieved from NHS: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/women60-plus/Pages/Loneliness-in-older-people.aspx
   
6. Royal Voluntary Service. (2012). Loneliness amongst older people and the impact of family connections. Retrieved from www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk: http://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/Uploads/Documents/How_we_help/loneliness-amongst-older-people-and-the-impact-of-family-connections.pdf
   
7. Telegraph. (2012). Five million elderly only have TV for company: Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Retrieved from Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9693973/Five-million-elderly-only-have-TV-for-company-Health-Secretary-Jeremy-Hunt.html
   
8. Vodafone. (2014). Mobile : A powerful tool for Digital Inclusion. Retrieved from Vodafone: http://www.vodafone.co.uk/cs/groups/configfiles/documents/assets/vftst050316.pdf