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Michael at home

No older person should ever have to feel alone at Christmas

You can help us solve the crisis of loneliness affecting older people.

There is a crisis hiding in plain sight: loneliness.

Most people won’t notice. They won’t see the days spent alone, in silence. They won’t realise the risks – like lonely people being 25% more likely to develop dementia. They won't understand that, for so many, the phone never rings – not even on Christmas Day.

Michael, Brenda and Sandra know the pain of feeling alone and isolated, as they explain in their stories below, but also what it’s like to get the help needed to solve the crisis. 

Almost a million older people will face loneliness this Christmas.

Help us solve this crisis.

Donate now

Christmas25 Michael TY hero (500x300).jpg“Loneliness is devastating”  

Michael, 75, lives alone with mobility problems, and often had to go days without speaking to another person, even at Christmas.

But since the Age UK Telephone Friendship Service paired him with Gemma, his telephone befriender, Michael has felt less alone – at Christmas and all year round.

“Knowing there is always a voice at the end of the phone has been life-changing,” he says.

From our 24-hour helpline and weekly friendship calls, to home visits and social activities, our expert services bring comfort and connection to lonely older people across the UK. 

Brenda_500x300_6.jpg“I don’t talk to anyone at all during the day” 

Brenda, 89, has felt lonely since her husband died 20 years ago – but she's felt even more isolated since her eyesight and mobility problems have worsened.

The Age UK Telephone Friendship Service was able to help Brenda by connecting her with Jasmine for a weekly chat.

“Jasmine’s calls mean an awful lot. They help cheer me up.”

Together, we can make the UK a better place to grow older in the future – one where every older person is supported, included and valued. 

Christmas25 Sandra phone.jpg“I don't know what I'd have done without Sarena” 

When Sandra lost her husband Don after being together for 43 years, she struggled with grief and loneliness. “It was like a piece of me had been taken away,” she said.

But after finding the Age UK Telephone Friendship Service, Sandra was matched with Sarena for a weekly chat. The connection has helped Sandra feel less alone.

"She kept me going in those very bad days.”

This Christmas, help us tackle the loneliness crisis that's hiding in plain sight.

Donate now

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We're here for everyone who needs us

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 use the links below to find out more about how we could help.

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