Tackle social isolation for the sake of greater cohesion and community ties

Visuel
  Tackle social isolation for the sake of greater cohesion and community ties
Type of text :
Opinion and report
Type of referral :
Own initiative
Working group :
Section for Social Affairs and Health
Date d'adoption
Date adopted : 06/28/2017
Rapporteur(s) :
Photo
Jean-François SERRES
Associations Group
    Overview
    Présentation

    One in ten French people is in an objective situation of isolation, which means s/he only meets up with other people (family, friends or neighbours) on rare occasions. The proportion is much greater in terms of people whose network of relations they can rely on is tenuous: all it takes in this case is a severance of ties for them to become isolated.

    Underpinning the mechanisms of social isolation are a number of interacting factors, including age, socio-economic level, gender, family situation and health. Not only does social isolation more swiftly bring about a loss of independence in the elderly, but it is also an aggravating factor in situations of frailty and mental vulnerability and, what is more, it plays a part in people forgoing medical care. It more deeply entrenches inequalities and forms one of the main causes for people not exercising their rights. It therefore carries major implications for social cohesion.