The Scotsman

Iconic actress Lumley warns new technology is leaving older people lonely

- By ANGUS HOWARTH

Actress Joanna Lumley has warned technology in modern life has “intensifie­d” the loneliness felt by elderly people.

The actress, 71, said the art of “everyday chit-chat” is at risk of dying out, pointing out that people on Tube trains tend to be “staring at their screens, not looking at each other”.

Lumley, who said she counts herself as “an old person”, said she does not use self-service checkouts in the supermarke­t as she prefers to queue at the till for “the pure joy of the human contact it involves”.

She said: “My friends and I have often spoken of a plan: rather than reach the stage where we’re old and alone, we’d prefer to live together; to buy a big house, bring in a housekeepe­r to look after us all, and enjoy our twilight years in good company. ‘Let’s not get old alone’, we have said.

“But so many people do. And as modern life has become ever more digitised, the loneliness of the elderly has intensifie­d. The advance of technology makes many of us feel more connected, but for those who don’t use it, it’s a different story.”

She added: “If you want to do banking now, you’re encouraged to do it online, where in the past it seemed so easy just to write a letter to your bank manager. What do grannies do when they want to send a birthday cheque to their grandson in a world where everything is online?

“Making bookings tends to happen largely on the internet now, too. Those who still wish to carry out their business by telephone will frequently be left hanging on for so long they’ll start worrying about their phone bill skyrocketi­ng.”

Lumley said public debate was full of “young people’s issues”.

She said: “Somehow the present passion for youth has stolen today’s headlines. So where do old people fit into this society? Those who are grandparen­ts have their designated part to play, but what about those who are not?

She warned these are often the people who don’t know how to make contact with others and feel vulnerable and lonely. “This, in turn, makes them less likely to go out and make friends,” Lumley said.

 ??  ?? 0 Joanna Lumley: loneliness of the elderly has intensifie­d
0 Joanna Lumley: loneliness of the elderly has intensifie­d

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