The breakdown of traditional communities is making life harder for the growing number of older people living on their own.
New research from the Families Commission's Superu agency has found 18 per cent of New Zealanders face at least three forms of disadvantage.
Older people living on their own and younger people with dependent children often face greater hardship. Around 50 per cent of single parents experience disadvantage in at least three parts of life.
Superu Deputy Chief Executive Vasantha Krishnan said they also tend to have fewer people to count on for support, if they're unwell or feeling down.
Ms Krishnan said strong communities are particularly important for our aging and increasingly isolated population.
"The challenge is really: How do you create, foster and facilitate communities and networks so those supports and buffers are there for people?"
Ms Krishnan said sole parents who are employed have more people to rely on, but it's unclear why that is.
"Do sole parents who are in work have access to broader networks, or do those who have broader networks tend to be in work?"
Ms Krishnan said young families face the most disadvantage in housing and material wellbeing.
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