Calls are a lifeline for the lonely
We join team bringing hope to elderly
ELIZABETH is just one of the two million older people who will be spending Christmas alone this year.
The pensioner has been housebound because of the pandemic – but a new phone service set up by Age UK is helping to spread some festive cheer.
The charity estimates that more than half of elderly people won’t see their friends or family this Christmas.
So with that in mind, I joined their team of trained volunteers for a day to see how the phone service is helping to combat loneliness among the over-60s.
Elizabeth was first on their list of people to call and it was easy to imagine her face lighting up at the sound of a friendly voice.
In a chat with volunteer Clare, she says: “It’s been a difficult week but I feel so much better today.
“I’m not able to go out and about. I use my iPad a lot to do my shopping because I’ve been completely housebound.
“I haven’t been at church at all either but the vicar brings me Communion here every other week. I’ve been unwell this week so I had to cancel him coming, but he will make up for it.
“I’m going to church on Saturday for the children’s service. They are taking me and coming with a wheelchair.
“It’s for the Christingle, where they have the orange with a candle in it. It’s a lovely service.” Elizabeth may not be able to cook a festive roast with all the trimmings as she once did – or even leave her house to buy a turkey. But her local Age UK is determined she will still get to enjoy a Christmas dinner by delivering one to her door.
“That will be the making of Christmas Day for me,” Elizabeth says.
Clare’s next call is to Brenda, who is struggling to look after her husband since he became bedbound earlier this year.
He recently returned from hospital after injuring himself in a number of falls.
Clare tries to ease Brenda’s anxiety by helping her think about something different. The pair chat about the newsletter she is working on and about her love of wordsearches. After just a few minutes on the phone, Brenda’s mood lifts and she says she now feels ready to take on the day.
Another man receiving a call tells Clare he plans to spend Christmas on the Norfolk Coast.
He says: “When my wife was alive and I drove, we used to go away for the week. We went to quite a few places.”
As Clare puts the phone down, she says: “He’s on his own so I really hope he is able to go away.” She has worked with Age UK for seven years and says that making the calls is the best part of her job. But while those using the charity’s services may have been isolated from their family and friends, some are still looking forward to a very merry Christmas.
One lady called Lucy tells Clare: “I’m just trying to wrap up some bits and pieces. I’ve got so many grandchildren, it’s unbelievable.
“My grandson will pick me up on Christmas Day and we’ll go to the cemetery, as my husband died.
“Then I’m going to my daughter’s as she’s in my circle, or bubble, or whatever you call it. How could they ever cancel Christmas?”
In normal years, the dark nights, shorter days and cold, wet weather make it hard for older people to get out and about and pose more challenges for charities such as Age UK.
But this year, those challenges are even more formidable – and the phone service is a comfort to many.
It can take a few weeks for users to be matched with volunteers for a regular chat. But in the meantime, the charity offers a weekly “Good Day call” that is a welcome distraction from whatever pensioners may face at home.
Clare says: “Whatever happens, sometimes the greatest gift is knowing there is always somebody at the other end of the phone.”
I’m being taken to church for a children’s service..it’ll be lovely
ELIZABETH TALKING TO PHONE FRIEND CLARE