When was the last time you called your grandmother?

“Why am I sitting here in my room and missing company. I hate my loneliness,” says Else, looking out the window at the people passing by.

Ingrid cannot communicate with her loved ones: “I tried but it didn’t work”.

The iPad technology doesn’t work and she can’t hear what she’s saying. When she calls, the movie doesn’t work.

Mage-Brid lives with the mentally retarded Sven. But even among the two, the majesty feels alone: ​​”I see badly, I hear something like that, I don’t smell, I don’t taste. And I can’t chew. You have no one to talk to.”

If you can’t stand anything and get no answer, it’s stupidity, he says.

Loneliness and social isolation are widespread in Sweden, especially among the elderly.

Among people over 85, 15 percent feel lonely. But most other modern countries seem to suffer from the same problem. In Great Britain, a loneliness minister has been appointed and millions are being invested to reduce social isolation. Japan recently established a ministry to reduce loneliness.

During the pandemic, loneliness among the elderly has become even worse. Touching was done behind the plastic with the help of plastic gloves, plastic visor and mouth guard. Hugs and pats were limited. Dinner and joint events are not organized.

People died alone without their relatives.

From a political perspective, there have been several proposals in recent years.

The Christian Democrats want to appoint an isolation minister. The newly formed Loneliness Commission has mapped loneliness through the Loneliness Map.

There is a lot of talk about the role of civil society and urban planning issues when it comes to social exclusion, for example preschools attached to homes for the elderly. Or why not nursing homes with doggy daycares attached?

In an amazing initiative, the residents of Lindebo in Brakne-Hoby managed to open a pub in their accommodation, where they can drink bubbly or have a beer in the evening: “It’s really fun, a nice place,” says Evie. Lives in hostel (P4 Blekinge on 25 November).

Another suggestion is that we measure and report loneliness in the same way we measure GDP. Robots should work in elderly care and home care to reduce isolation. Digital exclusion, resulting from increasing demands for increased digital competence, is another factor to be combated.

But aren’t there limits to what politicians can do? What can the law do? Where does our responsibility really begin?

The welfare state helped us to take care of our elderly by introducing nursing home and home care. Now, in the same way, we want the welfare state to help us deal with loneliness, among other things, after the loss of contact with loved ones.

Of course there are many good and necessary policy initiatives to reduce loneliness.

But what’s most important is the most basic: a friendly voice or a pat or a hug?

Humans cannot be transferred to public. Politicians can do a lot. But loneliness is greatly combated by our collective responsibility when our elders need us.

When was the last time you called your grandmother?