The Abbeyfield Society offers a helping hand to older people at Christmas

Housing and support charity for older people, The Abbeyfield Society are running a campaign to help prevent older people from being lonely and isolated this Christmas.

The Coping at Christmas campaign is in its fifth year and was launched again in November this year, it involves hundreds of Abbeyfield homes across opening their doors during a 6 week campaign this winter to any older people who may be spending their Christmas alone.

The Abbeyfield Society are providing free events, overnight stays and Christmas meals for anyone who doesn’t want to wake up alone on Christmas day.

Loneliest time of their life’

Chief executive for The Abbeyfield Society, Natasha Singarayer, said: “Abbeyfield absolutely believes that older people should not have to spend Christmas alone. Christmas is supposed to be about joy and happiness yet for so many older people it can be one of the loneliest times of their life.

“Coping at Christmas offers a lifeline of warmth and companionship to the millions of older people who would otherwise be facing the festive period alone.

“If you or anyone you know is worried about being alone over Christmas, please get in touch with Abbeyfield and join in the many free Christmas events and celebrations we have taking place throughout the country right through the extended festive period.”

YouGov has produced research highlighting that almost 50 per cent of older people say that company at Christmas is their most desired gift. It is estimated that of 11 million older people in the UK, this year almost 500,000 over 65s will spend Christmas alone.

Some of the Abbeyfield homes offer events such as carol singing, Christmas quizzes or three course meals as well as overnight stays.

Invitation to older people

The Abbeyfield Society offer the invitation to older people to help reduce social isolation during the Christmas period, as people may not have family to visit them or they may be in another country.

Ken Greatholder from Staffordshire was faced with the prospect of spending Christmas alone last year after receiving a cancer diagnosis, but spent Christmas day surrounded by friendly faces as part of the The Abbeyfield’s Coping at Christmas campaign.

Mr Greatholder, who is now in remission said: “It was a very hard time for me. I was dreading another Christmas by myself, just dreading it. The biggest thing is the loneliness. It’s terrible when you’ve got no one to talk to, especially at Christmas.

“If I’d been at home on my own I wouldn’t even have had a Christmas dinner. It would have been a very lonely time.

“That Christmas bucked me up so much. I dressed up in all my Christmas gear with my silly hat on and sang and danced with the residents and just enjoyed having some company. It kept my mind occupied and took my thoughts off the cancer. I made some great new friends who I still keep in touch with today and I’ve become an official volunteer for Abbeyfield.”

The campaign was launched by Aled Jones, singer of The Snowman theme, Walking In The Air, commonly associated with Christmas. The Abbeyfield Society invited Mr Jones to be part of the campaign to ensure that all older people have a memorable and social Christmas.

Helping bring joy to so many

Mr Jones said: “I’m proud to be lending my support to Coping at Christmas and to helping bring joy to so many older people who will be welcomed at Abbeyfield’s houses and homes up and down the UK for free festive meals and overnight stays. Please join me in supporting Abbeyfield’s Coping at Christmas campaign and help spread the word so that older people in our communities don’t dread the prospect of spending Christmas 2014 alone. “Enjoying a fun-filled Christmas surrounded by family and friends is something many of us take for granted. But it’s heartbreaking to think that for millions of older people across the UK, Christmas is a time of crushing loneliness and isolation. “With only the radio or television to keep them company, what so many older people simply want over Christmas is company and to be surrounded by friendly faces - which is what Abbeyfield’s Coping at Christmas campaign is all about.”

In addition to Coping at Christmas, The Abbeyfield Society has launched the Big Christmas Knit campaign to create new friendships for older people over Christmas and into the New Year.

The Abbeyfield Society have established ‘knit and natter’ clubs within a number of their homes to ensure that people are welcomed into a warm and friendly environment to chat together whilst they knit, forging friendships that last into and beyond the New Year.

Speaking about The Big Christmas Knit initiative, Ms Singarayer said: “At Abbeyfield, being part of the community has always been central to us, but at Christmas it becomes even more important to reach out.

“Our figures show that almost three million older people aren’t looking forward to Christmas while six in 10 people aged over 65 say Christmas is the hardest time to deal with the loss of family and friends.

“Both the Big Christmas Knit and Coping at Christmas provide ways for Abbeyfield residents, volunteers and staff to offer warmth and companionship for lonely older people and simply to make time for them throughout the festive period and beyond.”

The Abbeyfield Society is comprised of more than 500 homes, in the UK, ranging from sheltered housing and specialist dementia care and provide support for over 8,000 older people.

For more information Coping at Christmas, visit: http://www.abbeyfield.com/get-involved/coping-at-christmas/ or call The Abbeyfield Society on: 01727 734 066.