The Years Ahead: When home becomes too quiet

Rafaella MeloReporter·Hawkes Bay Today·3 Aug, 2026 06:00 PM6 mins to read‌Loneliness, and the fallout it causes, is one of the key issues facing Hawke's Bay seniors, Age Concern says. Photo / UnsplashLoneliness, and the fallout it causes, is one of the key issues facing Hawke's Bay seniors, Age Concern says. Photo / UnsplashLoneliness is common in seniors, and its grip on those feeling it can lead to declining health and elder abuse. Rafaella Melo reports for her The Years Ahead series.When Mary’s* husband died, the support was everywhere. Friends checked in, family rallied around. Meals were