Thank you for helping us be there
With the help of kind supporters like you, we are working hard to be there and offer support to lonely older people up and down the country. Hear about the difference we’re making in people’s lives.
Florence met her husband Albie when she was 15, and was married to him for 60 blissful years.
When they went to hospital for Albie to have a small operation, they weren’t prepared for the devastating news. ‘The doctor came in and said, “I can’t do anything for you, your lungs are full of asbestos.”’
Florence pauses. ‘We walked out of that hospital like a pair of zombies. It knocked us for six.’
Florence was experiencing a delayed reaction to her change in circumstance, which is very common. Thankfully, she reached out to Age UK.
‘It was lovely contacting Age UK. I went to a bereavement group. I like to hear how other people feel, if they feel the silly things I do, and I was amazed how much I enjoyed it,’ Florence explains. ‘Going to the Age UK group gives you more confidence and a lighter heart.
'The support from Age UK is enormous. If you feel a bit low or miserable, you can pop in and have a cup of tea and there’s always someone there to talk to.’
92-year-old Len got in touch with his local Age UK to enquire about their befriending services and is now visited by volunteer befriender Ivor.
In this video, Len and Ivor talk about their growing friendship, and how Age UK's befriending service has made a difference.
They spend an hour each week chatting about a range of topics, and they have developed a strong friendship.