Representatives of the private social care and healthcare sectors warned of the effects of 20minutos at a forum hosted by soledad no deseada on older people in Spain on 3 November 2026 and called for urgent action. During the discussion, moderated by Pablo Segarra , participants described loneliness as an urgent public health issue and called for systematic expansion of prevention, early detection, and closer links between health and social services.
The discussion was prompted by findings from the Fundación IDIS. The report “Salud y soledad en personas mayores”, presented on 30 September 2026, shows that nearly six in ten people aged 65 and over who live in their own homes feel lonely at least occasionally; the proportion is significantly lower in care homes. It is often difficult to identify loneliness because stigma discourages people from talking about their feelings of loneliness.
Experts at the forum confirmed these findings. Marta Villanueva of Fundación IDIS, Elena Urdaneta by San Juan de Dios and Sema Pérez from the operator DomusVI described soledad no deseada as a “silent pandemic” that can lead to a range of health risks, from depressive symptoms to increased use of medical services. They also stressed that loneliness is experienced in many different ways and requires tailored support.
Specific proposals included accessible screening tools in primary care, training for staff in pharmacies and GP surgeries, a wider network of day centres and individual support in the community. Digital contact services could also help, participants said, but would need to be designed for older people and supported. The question of how to establish binding arrangements for funding, quality standards and responsibilities across the public sector, private providers and the third sector remained unresolved.
Taken together, the latest IDIS survey and the public debate show that loneliness among older people is no longer a marginal issue in Spain. Demographic change is increasing the pressure to act. In the short term, the priority is to identify loneliness early and reach those affected without stigma. In the medium to long term, strengthening local care structures and building cross-sector partnerships with clear funding commitments are likely to be crucial. Political decisions on this are still pending.
Editor: Clara Simonichek (Article created with AI assistance).