Help out a friend in need this Christmas

In the North West, 12 per cent of people who spoke to Samaritans said ‘Christmas is a time when I feel depressed and sad’, and 13 per cent said ‘I feel lonely at Christmas’.

Some elderly people won’t have any visitors over Christmas and the New Year, and charity Age UK is urging people to think about how they could help prevent loneliness in their own communities this winter.

Linda Salazar, health and wellbeing coordinator for Age UK in Lancashire, said: “There are always older people who are socially isolated and sometimes those people may live in towns; they may live around people, but they don’t actually join in anything.

“Sometimes older people might be a bit nervous about going out and going to places on their own.

“Other times it’s because they live in rural areas, and transportation is an issue.”

Natasha Mellor, an Age UK personal advisor, added: “There are a lot of pressures which people can face in the winter months, particularly social isolation, from little connection with family, friends or neighbours, and inability to go out if mobility is a problem.”

The charity is calling on members of the public to offer some company to those facing loneliness this Christmas.

David Ward, promotions manager for Age UK Lancashire, said: “Christmas is a time when families come together, but for many elderly people who perhaps don’t have any family or friends they can visit, it can really be a difficult time of year.