No one to turn to

As Age UK launches its No one should have no one to turn to campaign, new YouGov research for the Charity has found that 2.65 million older people feel they have no one to turn to for help and support.

The campaign kicks off  (7 Nov) with a powerful new film highlighting some of the challenges that people often have to deal with in later life but which are so much harder to bear if you are facing them alone. These include coping with bereavement, tackling loneliness, getting the social care you need and managing health problems like dementia.

The survey found that almost a quarter of older people in the West Midlands who felt they had no one to turn to said this left them feeling lonely (24 per cent), whilst nearly one in five felt isolated (19 per cent) and one in six felt depressed (17 per cent).

That’s why Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch & Wyre Forest is urging people to support its campaign and donate to help ensure that the Charity’s essential services, such as the its free Information & Advice service, can continue to be there for older people facing the challenges of later life alone.

The Charity’s new film tells an honest story about how its national Advice Line can help older people who are struggling and features one of Age UK’s trained advisers, there to provide a calm, reassuring voice and expert support.

Almost nine out of ten (88 per cent) people aged 65 and older, from the West Midlands, who took part in the survey said that being free of financial hardship is important in later life, which is reflected in the high number of enquiries the national Advice Line received about money and benefits last year.

Supporting Age UK’s latest campaign, Actress Dame Judi Dench, said: “We all know that ageing is inevitable, but it’s heart-breaking to think of older people who feel they have no one they can turn to. Age UK is working hard to change this, and by supporting their ‘No one should have no one to turn to’ campaign you can help them to be there for older people who might have no one else.”

Green Goddess Diana Moran, TV personality, journalist and ambassador for Age UK, said: “I visited Age UK’s national Advice line recently and it really is such a lifeline for older people and their families. Many of the calls I heard were from people who just didn’t know where else to go. Luckily, Age UK is there to offer specialist advice on everything from paying for care to claiming benefits and are only a phone call away - every single day of the year.  Age UK’s work is vital, so I’m encouraging everyone to support this campaign so that older people and their families have someone to turn to when they need it most.”

Sam Humphray CEO at Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch & Wyre Forest, said: “We have a rapidly ageing population and it is heart-breaking to think that more than two and a half million older people feel they have no one to go to for help. The fact is that getting older can be really tough and however resilient you are it’s important to know someone will always be there for you, come what may. That’s what we aim to be for older people at Age UK and we know it makes a huge difference, especially for those with literally no one else they feel they can ask for help.”

Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch & Wyre Forest is encouraging people to get behind its campaign and to donate to help ensure that the Charity’s essential services and support can continue to be there for older people and their families. To find out how you can support Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch & Wyre Forest by donating go to: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/brwf/get-involved/donate/ or call 01527 570490.

Anyone who needs support or is worried about an older relative or friend can get in touch by calling our Information & Advice service on 01527 570490, the national Age UK Advice Line on 0800 055 6112 or visiting www.ageuk.org.uk/brwf/