Five million elderly only have TV for company: Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt Almost one in five older people are in contact with family, friends and neighbours less than once a week, and just over one in ten are in contact less than once a month. Mr Hunt said: "Tackling loneliness, by giving people better care and improved services, is another step towards making the UK one of the best places to live in Europe for older people. I want the highest standards of treatment and care in our hospitals, in our care homes and in the community - and that means looking at whatever is needed to drive improvements. We need a measure of loneliness to shine a light on this problem and to know what we are dealing with. Once we have this solid evidence, local communities will have new tools to come up with the right, targeted solutions to the problem. Research clearly shows that loneliness increases the risk of heart disease, blood clots and dementia, and makes them more likely to exercise less and drink more. Socially isolated and lonely adults are also more likely to be admitted early into residential or nursing care. Laura Ferguson, director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, said: "Loneliness is a major health issue. An effective measure of isolation and loneliness is an important step to improving the lives of the hundreds of thousands of older people who are chronically lonely. This national measure can only help those making local health and care decisions to prioritise loneliness as a health issue, and one that they will tackle. Ms Rantzen said: "Loneliness creates a loss of confidence, an erosion of self-esteem, so that the front door becomes as solid as a brick wall and as impossible to break through. And yet there are many varied projects and organisations all over the UK, often staffed by volunteers, who could break through this life-threatening isolation, if older people knew whom to contact. That is why we are in the process of creating a special helpline for older people, The Silver Line, which pilots from the end of November for three months and will launch nationally next year, and which will offer advice, information and friendship. "Our slogan will be, "No question too big, no problem too small, no need to be alone."