We must prize older people, says helpline founder Dame Esther
LONELINESS hurts all year round, but Christmas can be especially cruel to older people on their own, Dame Esther Rantzen has said.
The Childline founder (77) set up a special hotline for older people — and revealed it is inundated with callers.
She said: “People have memories of Christmases full of light, laughter, warmth and company.
“Now, to be on your own, bombarded with ‘happy families’ adverts, with a frozen ready meal for dinner, and no one to talk to — the comparisons are so harsh.”
The grandmother-of-five points to her service the Silver Line, which gives over-55s a friendly voice around the clock. The festive season is one of its busiest times.
Since its 2013 launch, it has answered over 1.6 million calls, offering telephone chats and a pen-pal style letters exchange.
Around two-thirds of its calls come overnight and on weekends, when other services are closed. Dame Esther said she
Inspired: Dame Esther Rantzen
was inspired to create the charity after writing about her own feelings of despair following the death of her husband.
The former TV presenter said: “I was greeted with such a huge response, putting something into words people feel reluctant to admit can open the floodgates.
“At 71, I was living on my own for the first time and hating it. Because whatever you did during the day you came home to an empty flat — sometimes cold, always dark, always bereft of any- body. I was used to shouting ‘hello’ as I walked through the door and someone shouting ‘hello’ back. Not any more.”
The track record of Childline paved the way, Dame Esther believes, as people now recognise picking up the telephone can save lives.
But the stiff upper lip attitude of older generations means they are often reluctant to seek help.
She added: “They have so much pride, they hate complaining, the last thing they want to be is a burden.”
Dame Esther said she was tired of negative portrayals of the “ageing society”, saying those past the prime of youth still had lots to offer.
She added: “I’m thrilled David Attenborough is the inspiration behind Britain’s most popular TV programme, Debbie McGee is absolutely wonderful, and excuse me saying so, is anyone going to say the two people in Buckingham Palace are past their sell-by date?
“Absolutely not. So instead of talking about older people as bed-blockers, house-blockers and so on, let’s prize them.”