Unfortunately for many older people in Scotland, Christmas can be the loneliest time of the year. But if you donate to Age Scotland, you can help an older person and bring them comfort this holiday season.
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A lonely Christmas for some older people in Scotland
Imagine being cold and lonely at Christmastime. No family to gather around the tree, no one to enjoy a festive meal and no one to even have a chat with.
This is the sad reality for many older people in Scotland who live alone and have no one to spend the holidays with. Christmas day is just another day spent alone with only the television for company.
However, Age Scotland is working to fight loneliness and isolation in older people. Read on to learn more about Age Scotland’s helpline, and how even with a one-off, £5 donation, you could make a real difference to someone this holiday season.
Caroline’s story
As the days grow shorter and the nights darker, thousands of older people in Scotland are struggling like Caroline. A growing number of older people are facing agonising choices between heating their home and eating well.
Caroline called the Age Scotland helpline this year after her husband Harry passed away suddenly. Faced with higher food bills and the rising cost of energy on a tight budget, Caroline was growing concerned about how she was going to cope in winter.
“I was really panicking,” said Caroline. “My husband usually dealt with the bills. He’s not here anymore and I don’t have any family to help. My pension was already stretched and I’d cut back on my food shop. I really worried about how I was going to pay my bills this winter”.
Caroline spoke to Simone, a helpline advisor from Age Scotland, who carried out a full benefits check to identify what additional money Caroline could be entitled to. Simone managed to secure more financial support to ensure Caroline could heat her home and stay warm over winter.
“It was life changing,” said Caroline, from Fife. “I felt so alone and worried, but Age Scotland’s helpline really supported me”.
Are you or do you know someone over 50 who is alone and struggling with making hard decisions surrounding the cost of living this winter? Please call the Age Scotland helpline and speak to one of the incredible staff.
Graham’s story
Graham is older and lives in Scotland. He called the Age Scotland friendship line earlier this year. Having lost his wife of 45 years in 2021, Graham was feeling isolated. Graham chatted with Isobel, a friendship line volunteer. They shared stories and memories and soon, Graham found himself laughing for the first time in years.
Now he gets a weekly friendship call. “Monday night I go to my bed and I think, ‘I’ll get a phone call tomorrow’.” said Graham.
“It’s the highlight in my week. Every Tuesday morning, I sit and wait for my phone call. Being guaranteed someone to talk is like a lifeline to me. It’s a joy to have someone to talk to when I feel lonely.”
Donate to Age Scotland and fund a friendship call this Christmas
The Age Scotland helpline and friendship line are there to help older people at Christmas and throughout the year, but Age Scotland needs your help to be able to offer these lifeline services to those in need.
Each week the helpline receives hundreds of calls from older people in search of urgent advice about the soaring cost of living or who are desperately lonely and just want someone to talk to. Demand for their services is rising rapidly and the lines are nearly at breaking point.
With vital donations, Age Scotland can support older people, tackle loneliness, and be there for people who have no one else to turn to in later life. Just £5 funds a friendship call to a lonely older person, giving them someone to talk to when they are feeling alone or worried about the days ahead.
As Graham and Caroline’s stories show, older people need your help now more than ever. Please donate today so that the volunteers and staff at Age Scotland can continue to be there when they are needed the most.
Learn more about how you can donate to Age Scotland and bring a older person comfort and joy this holiday season. You can also call 03330 15 14 60 or donate by post to FREEPOST RSBS-KEHC-GBBC, Edinburgh, EH9 1PR.
