Abuse, loneliness and poverty driving poor health in older people across Wales
More than half of older adults in Wales have experienced at least one serious adversity since the age of 60, including abuse, loneliness, financial hardship or being unable to access health or social care, according to a major new study.
The research, carried out by Public Health Wales and Bangor University, surveyed 1,085 adults aged 60 and over living in households across Wales between February and May 2025.
It found 30% had been unable to access health or social care services they needed since turning 60 — the highest rate of any adversity measured.
One in five (20.7%) had felt lonely or socially isolated.
One in eight (12.5%) had experienced at least one form of abuse.
Around one in five (19%) had struggled financially, and 12.7% had been overwhelmed by caregiving responsibilities.
Taken together, 53.6% of those surveyed reported at least one of the five experiences.
The study explored how each adversity related to a range of health and wellbeing outcomes.
Loneliness and social isolation showed the strongest links with mental health deterioration.
Older adults who had felt lonely were 4.5 times more likely to have low mental wellbeing than those who had not, and 2.9 times more likely to report suicidal thoughts or self-harm, after accounting for other factors including age, sex and deprivation.
Financial struggle was closely linked to self-neglect.
Adults who had struggled financially were 4.4 times more likely to report self-neglect — defined as not taking care of their appearance, home or
health because they felt it was not worth doing.
They were also 2.3 times more likely to report low life satisfaction.
Abuse showed the strongest associations with substance use and suicidal ideation.
Adults who had experienced abuse were 4.1 times more likely to report suicidal thoughts or self-harm since the age of 60, 3.5 times more likely to report self-neglect, and 2.5 times more likely to smoke or drink heavily.
The most common form of abuse was verbal, reported by 8.4% of participants, followed by physical abuse (4.6%) and financial abuse (2.9%).
Of those who had experienced abuse, over a third (37%) reported suicidal thoughts or self-harm, compared with 9.4% of those who had not.
The study also found that those experiencing one adversity were significantly more likely to be experiencing others.
Among those who had experienced abuse, 42.6% had also felt lonely or socially isolated, compared with 17.6% of those who had not experienced abuse.
Half of those who had struggled financially had also been unable to access health or social care.
Despite strong links with several outcomes at the bivariate level, being unable to access care showed weaker independent associations once other factors were accounted for — remaining significantly linked only to self-neglect (doubled odds) and low life satisfaction.
The researchers note this may reflect that unmet care needs often occur alongside deeper adversities such as abuse or poverty, rather than acting as a standalone driver of poor health.
Deprivation shaped several adversities sharply.
Financial struggle was reported by 34.7% of those living in the most deprived communities, against 5.9% in the least deprived.
Being unable to access health or social care ranged from 38.7% in the most deprived quintile to 22.2% in the least deprived.
The study was led by Prof Karen Hughes of Public Health Wales, in collaboration with Bangor University and Liverpool John Moores University.
It was part-funded by the ACE Hub Wales, which is hosted by Public Health Wales and funded by the Welsh Government.
Prof Hughes said: “Older people make an essential contribution to Welsh society, and with an ageing population there is increasing reliance on older adults to be well and economically active.”
“However, a substantial proportion of older people in Wales report adverse experiences in later life that can affect their health.”
“Findings here highlight strong, independent associations between abuse, poverty, and loneliness or social isolation and poorer health in later life.”
“Preventing these experiences and supporting those affected by them should be a priority.”
Louise Hughes of Age Cymru said: “We know that too many older people in Wales experience some of these adversities, but this research really highlights the serious health impacts of abuse, loneliness, social isolation and financial difficulty.”
“These are all issues that can, and should, be addressed.”
The researchers note that the figures likely underestimate the scale of abuse and adversity because the survey covered only community-dwelling adults who were cognitively able to participate.
People in care homes, hospitals and other residential settings were not included.
Check live fuel prices near you before you set off.
Spotted something? Got a story? Email news (@) deeside.com
NEW: Add Deeside.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Latest News
