Thousands dread Christmas loneliness

This year 23 per cent of those aged over 65 – around 2.5 million people across Britain – suggested the festive season would not be a happy one, according to the study by Age UK.

Nearly 400,000 pensioners said they were dreading the prospect of a lonely Christmas, while 650,000 worried that the festive season "brings back too many memories of those who have passed away".

The disclosure, in the winter study by Age UK, suggested that the effects of loneliness increase during the winter months with 2.1 million people worried about not being able to go outdoors as much because of shorter, darker days and poor weather conditions.

Age UK's findings come after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, earlier this month urged people to show they care by inviting elderly neighbours who live alone over for Christmas lunch.

The Archbishop said his family had done just that.

He added: "Some of the best Christmases we as a family have enjoyed have been when we've invited someone for Christmas lunch who would otherwise have been on their own."

"I'm originally from South Wales, but I married a Shropshire man, and we never had children," she said.

"My sisters have all died now, but I have nieces in Wales who I see around once a month."

Muriel, who is 93, says she often goes several days without speaking to anybody, and says Christmas can be a difficult time of year.

"I will have Christmas lunch with my friend Ann, she is the daughter of a close friend of mine who has died now," she said.

"I will go there around 11am, and I will go home before it's dark, usually by 4pm.

"Christmas is a difficult time, I do feel lonely, but I'm not miserable. I read a lot, and I watch the television."

Muriel, who lives near Oswestry, says the support she receives from Age UK Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin is a lifeline.

"I first read about Age UK when I saw a piece in a church magazine," she said. "I had just come out of hospital, I had cancer, and I was offered services of help in the home, I have had them coming for about 12 years."

Every Friday, Muriel gets a visit from Age UK home support worker Susan Boyle, who does her shopping, and stops for a chat, and helps her with chores. She also gets a weekly visit from volunteer Charles.

"He's a very well travelled man, he's been to America and the Gambia, it's good to have someone to talk to."

She says Age UK's "phone buddies" scheme is particularly important.

The Archbishop's suggestion is one that has already been taken up by Oswestry shopkeeper Gemma Gassin and her family, who said they would be giving up their Christmas Day to put on a dinner for the lonely, the elderly and the homeless.

Gemma, who run A Thousand Ships vintage shop in the town, said she had the idea after an elderly customer told her how much she was dreading Christmas.

"I asked a lady in the shop if she was looking forward to Christmas, and she said she was dreading it," she said.

"She said it's when you see the adverts on television and people buying Christmas presents, that you know it is going to be a lonely time."

Gemma said she and a team of volunteers were planning to cater for up to 50 people at The Centre in Oak Street on Christmas Day

Anybody able to help can contact Gemma on 07539 062297.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, said today's figures were a timely reminder of the scale of the issue of loneliness.

She said: "People's social networks often shrink due to life-changing events such as retirement and bereavement which can increase the risk of feeling lonely."

More than 11 million people are aged over 65 in the UK for the first time in history, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Age UK surveyed 1,248 people older people as part of its annual winter survey. In total some 19 per cent — or 2.1 million — were worried about not being able to "get out and about as much because of shorter, darker days and poor weather conditions".

The charity says it is everybody's responsibility to ensure that people who live alone are given support over Christmas.

But loneliness isn't just an issue over the festive season, and with the population of the UK getting older there are increasing numbers of widowed people who do not see another human being for days at a time. There are ways in which people can help alleviate the loneliness of others.

Age Concern Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin runs a befriending service, where volunteers visit elderly people in their homes for a chat.

The charity also runs a "phone buddies" scheme, where every week elderly people receive a telephone call from a volunteer at a designated time. It also provides home support workers who help around the home. For further information telephone (01743) 233788

And for anyone who feels lonely, there is Silverline, a telephone service set up by television presenter Esther Rantzen last year.

It operates a 24-hour helpline which elderly people can call for information friendship or advice at any time.

The telephone number is 0800 4708090 and calls are free of charge from a landline.