Geography of Loneliness

Living alone is a frequent choice among young people and a growing trend among the elderly. The rise of singlehood in an aging Europe is a deep change that redefines priorities in welfare and housing

Those who live alone have special mobility needs, which are often overlooked. Digitalization, on-demand transportation and flexible networks can reduce isolation and make travel more accessible, inclusive and sustainable. But integration between new modes of mobility and new forms of participation is needed

With the growing incidence of aging and disability, caring for the non-self-sufficient elderly becomes a social and economic challenge. Long Term Care (LTC) insurance, designed to cover the costs of home and hospital care, can be part of the answer, but collective insurance policies are needed for affordability

Epidemiological evidence confirms the negative correlation between solitude and health and calls for public policies that integrate social factors and health aspects to combat the loneliness epidemic

Stock management, organization of sales spaces and proximity: these are the three strategy drivers to address the target of single households, whether it’s the young or the elderly living alone, as Roberto Eretta, Managing Director for Sales and Logistics at Lidl Italia, explains

For seniors, purchasing a good or participating in an activity is more than a financial gesture: it is an opportunity to stay connected, feel recognition, cultivate belonging. We need more empathetic marketing and retail spaces that promote inclusion