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Marjorie sits alone in her living room, looking a little sad

"For older people like me, this Christmas could be the loneliest of our lives"

By supporting Age UK, you can help give vulnerable older people the comfort they urgently need this Christmas.

At the close of what has been, for many, a terrifying and isolating year, older people are facing a Christmas like no other in living memory.

Living with the fear of coronavirus, and necessary but painful social distancing from friends and family, has placed enormous strain on even the most resilient of the older population. For those living on their own, the stress and anxiety has become almost unbearable.

 

Heart icon Did you know £5 could pay to answer a call to the Age UK Advice Line?

Through our expert services, your donation could help Age UK give vulnerable older people the information and reassurance during the pandemic and beyond.

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Together, we can help older people like Marjorie get through their loneliest Christmas

98-year-old Marjorie’s always been independent. But losing her sight is making her feel isolated and alone. She’s unable to pass the time by watching the TV or reading, and days can seem long.

During lockdown, Marjorie wasn’t allowed to have any visitors. Now, with seemingly no end in sight to the coronavirus outbreak, she expects Christmas to be just as lonely.

Marjorie’s silver lining is her weekly calls from Age UK’s Telephone Friendship Service. She loves the regular conversations, telling us it makes her feel like there are people in the room with her again. It’s also helped to take her back to happier times.

“It is lonely on your own. I'd like to go to sleep on Christmas eve and not wake up until New Year’s Day and miss the whole thing. But I look forward to my befriending calls. It's much more pleasant reminiscing about the past with friends than it is thinking about the virus.”

Age UK is determined to be there for Marjorie and the thousands of older people like her who urgently need someone to rely on this Christmas - but we can’t do this without donations from people like you.

Phone icon 225,000 older people often go a whole week without speaking to anyone

More than 850,000 older people could be spending this Christmas alone

We’re here for you too

If you or someone you know needs support, Age UK is here for you. Call the Age UK Advice Line on 0800 169 6565, 8am to 7pm, every day of the year, or find information and advice on our website.

Age UK provides a range of services and your gift will go where the need is greatest. Age UK is a registered charity, registered charity no 1128267. 

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