Age UK research reveals 3 million over 65s are not looking forward to Christmas

Over 3 million people over 65 are not looking forward to Christmas this year, new research from Age UK has revealed.

• 18 per cent, (540,000) said it was because they were going to be on their own.

• 28 per cent, (840,000 said that Christmas brought back too many memories of those who had passed away.

The research was commissioned as part of Age UK’s Spread the Warmth campaign which urges people to spend time with older neighbours and relatives this winter.

Loneliness and isolation is a big issue for many of the UK’s older people and it can be exacerbated during hard winters and especially at Christmas time.

Around 400,000 people over 65 stated that being lonely over the Christmas period was their main concern during the winter months.

2.1 million people (over a fifth) were worried about not being able to get out and about as much because of shorter, darker days and poor weather conditions.

Michelle Mitchell, charity director general of Age UK, said: “Living in isolation and loneliness is a stark reality for too many people in later life.

“We know that not being able to get out of the house and socialise with others is linked to feelings of isolation and the adverse impact on a person’s wellbeing of feeling lonely has been likened to that of obesity and smoking.

“Age UK’s Spread the Warmth campaign aims to tackle not only the physical but also the emotional issues faced by older people during winter.

“We’re calling on everyone to do their bit to help lessen the impact of winter for older people this year. There is something simple that everyone can do from popping in to check on an older neighbour or relative to making a donation – visit www.spreadthewarmth.org.uk to find out how you really can change someone’s Christmas.”

ITV’s Text Santa is supporting Age UK in its bid to tackle the issue of isolation and loneliness.

Age UK will benefit from a three hour text-a-thon to take place on Friday 21 December, during which Age UK, its local partners and older people who have used the charity’s services will feature as one of six chosen charities.