ALONE, the organisation that supports older people, has received more than 27,000 calls for support since March when Covid-19 restrictions were put in place.
The organisation has collaborated with The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) to publish a report examining loneliness and isolation among over-70s during the pandemic.
It focuses on the impact of public health measures like cocooning on the mental and physical health of older people who are struggling with loneliness.
ALONE says current measures, such as social distancing and cocooning, are increasing levels of loneliness and social isolation among many older people, which may have a negative effect on their physical and mental wellbeing.