Around 590,000 people aged over 65 in the UK won’t see or speak to anyone on Christmas Day and 1.4 million will eat dinner on their own, new figures show.
Age UK says loneliness and social isolation are year-round problems but particularly tough over the festive period when one in 10 older people will be alone on 25 December.
The charity says about a million older people report feeling more isolated at this time of year than any other.
For Rose Hayes, this Christmas will be particularly difficult as it is her first without her husband, who died in February.
Image: (L-R) Friends Carrie Walsh and Rose Hayes
She told Sky News: “He always used to buy the turkey… that used to be his Christmas present.”
She said that going out to get one herself will “bring back all those memories”.
Rose will be spending Christmas Day surrounded by her children, two cats and two dogs.
“I enjoy cooking the dinner, putting out all the different foods and they enjoy it… It’s a sad occasion but a joyful [one],” she said.
Rose and her friend Carrie Walsh were among dozens of people who gathered for a festive singalong at St Margaret’s Church in Edgware, north London.
It’s among hundreds of events hosted by Age UK across the country in December.
For Rose and Carrie, it’s a chance to meet other people in the local community, with Rose saying: “I love singing.”
‘I’ll be 80 next year and full of life’
Jenny Horsford, 79, has been a volunteer with the charity over the last nine years.
When her husband suffered a stroke, she spent more than two decades caring for him in his native Grenada.
Image: Jenny and her late husband on their wedding day
After his death, she returned to England to care for her mother. She describes the move as “difficult” but said the charity helped her “find her feet”.
“They were the ones who just sort of guided me through everything,” she said.
Now she regularly volunteers her time, not just with her local Age UK Barnet team, but also with local dementia support services.
“I just feel I’ve grown so much doing it,” she said, adding it’s something that brings her “pleasure, happiness… and exercise”.
“Wherever anyone can help in any way they can, I think it is a blessing… I’ll be 80 next year, and… full of life.”
Image: Jenny at a festive singalong
Age UK’s advice
Fiona Cronin, wellbeing manager at Age UK Barnet, told Sky News Christmas can be a particularly challenging time for those who’ve lost a loved one.
“It’s so common,” she said. “And yet people don’t talk to each other about it.”
“If they just reached out to each other, we’d probably have a big impact on reducing social isolation… It’s sobering to think that one in 10 older people will be alone on Christmas Day.”
Image: Fiona Cronin from Age UK
Her advice to people struggling is not to place too much emphasis on the day itself.
She said: “Everything is not just about the 25th of December… I think it’s helpful for people to go to lots of different events and not concentrate on one day of the year.
“Lots of our members at Age UK Barnet tell us that events like… our carol concerts or even our discos are like a series of little Christmases.”
Fiona also recommends looking out for local volunteer opportunities: “It could be something that you might make as a New Year’s resolution to carry on through the next year… It’s a really good way to address loneliness.”
This time of year, people are reminded to check on older neighbours and loved ones.
Fiona said: “Make a call or a video call to somebody maybe in your family that lives far away… Be brave and just say hello… That could be the first step to making a lovely relationship.”
Age UK runs local befriending services as well as a Silver Line Helpline which operates 365 days of the year.
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