Elderly Scots on their own to rise this Christmas

An exponential rise in the number of older Scots eating their Christmas dinner alone is expected this year amid the coronavirus crisis, MSPs have been told.

Age UK in Scotland estimated 100,000 of the country’s 350,000 pensioners ate their festive meal by themselves last year, with the charity claiming this was already the equivalent of one person in every street.

Adam Stachura, the head of polic y and communications at the charity, spoke about the “devastating” impact coronavirus has had on the older generation – in which the majority of deaths from the virus have occurred.

He said: “An action plan for winter is needed so older people can be supported during this difficult period.”

Mr Stachura spoke of the “astronomical level of loneliness and isolation prevalent throughout this year which is only going to increase through the winter months, with shorter days, poorer weather and all the restrictions that are in place”.

He told MSPs the figure for those being alone this Christmas “we imagine will increase exponentially”.

Hi s comments to MSPs on Holyrood’s Covid-19 committee came after national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch said discussions are taking place across the four nations of the UK on what level of family meetings might be possible over the festive period.

Prof Leitch said: “All of us would like some kind of household mixing to be possible and the prevalence rate is the crucial decider.

“We don’ t want people to have to do it surreptitiously or break the rules in order to have some kind of safe Christmas.”