One million older people in the UK believe they are more isolated at Christmas than at any other time of year. One in 10 will eat Christmas dinner alone, and a quarter of older folk won’t be putting up any decorations.
These stark figures, courtesy of the charity Age UK, paint a picture of loneliness that is hard to conceive. Fortunately most of us take being surrounded by friends and family for granted, especially at Christmas. But this isn’t the norm for some of society’s oldest and most vulnerable people.And while loneliness is tough at any time of year, at Christmas it can be frankly unbearable being surrounded by other people having fun when you’re alone.
It’s shocking to me that in our modern society a million people – that’s a staggering one in 12 of older people – will feel alone. It should give us pause for thought. After all, this could be something we experience ourselves in the future – which makes it all the more important to support Age UK in its efforts to help older people.
At 73, I personally fall under the category of “elderly”. I’m lucky to have a large and comparatively young family and like many others, I don’t tend to think about being alone later in life. But there are plenty of middle-aged people facing loneliness who currently don’t know it. It might come as the result of a broken-down relationship, or a bereavement, or because they simply never settled down or found the right person.
And even if you do have a strong circle of friends and a large family, there’s no guarantee you won’t be alone later in life. Many older people see family and friends pass away, leaving them with no one to spend time with. Changes to society haven’t helped our sense of isolation. Gone are the days when we could rely on a cheery daily chat with the postman, and for those of us who still have milk delivered, it’s organised online so we no longer have a friendly milkman popping by to say hello. Even supermarkets have increasingly installed self-service tills, taking away yet more daily interactions. These might be fine for younger people in a hurry – but not if having a chat at the checkout is something you relish.
The more we stay in and don’t talk to people, the greater our sense of isolation. So I’d ask readers to keep an eye on their neighbours this year. At the same time, be prepared for them to say they’re fine.
Older people tend to be proud. They don’t necessarily want someone poking their nose in.They might be delighted for an invitation to pop round, or for you to do some shopping for them, but they might not feel they need help. So it’s worth offering assistance – but do go about it sensitively.
Age UK has experience in this, and its work – from its friendship services to supporting local community groups – is invaluable. Every £1million raised from the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw in the Lake District will fund two million minutes of vital Age UK friendship, social activity and support for older people.
It’s an incredible partnership and it’s not every day you get to be a part of something that has the power to change lives, both for the lucky winner of the stunning home and for the older people Age UK supports every day. The funds raised through this partnership with Omaze until Boxing Day will ensure that more older people get the support they deserve.
Meanwhile, in your own communities, try and check in on your own older relatives and neighbours. If you’re unable to visit in person there’s still plenty you can do to show that you care – a phone or video call, cards, letters or even small gifts. And encourage them to call the Age UK Advice Line if they need a cheerful chat.
Christmas is a great time to get involved and give your time to charity.Age UK is reliant on the generous support of its telephone volunteers who provide vital companionship to older people all year round. Equally, the charity’s shop volunteers help to raise much needed funds to support its work.
So please think about volunteering if you have spare time. And don’t forget about your neighbours and friends and do what you can to make their lives a little bit better this Christmas. Loneliness is something that’s so easy to combat.A kind word, a quick visit, some shopping or a cup of tea can make it so much better. We’re all in this together.
Call Age UK Advice on 0800 169 65 65. To take part in the Omaze Million Pound Prize Draw in the Lake District in partnership with Age UK, visit omaze.co.uk
