‘Loneliness is devastating. It’s like a jail sentence’
Age UK, Britain’s leading charity for older people, provides information, support, friendship and advice for those most in need. Even before this year’s cost of living crisis, 15 per cent of UK pensioners were in poverty – equivalent to 1.7 million people.
Meanwhile, 1.2 million older people often feel lonely. Michael, 72, who lives alone in London and has little contact with his family, knows how vital a phone call can be.
“Loneliness is devastating,” he said. “It feels like a prison sentence. Before Age UK came along, I’d have nobody to talk to or see because I never get any visitors.
“The council decided that because I’m a disabled, vulnerable adult they’d move me to sheltered housing where there’d be a lot of people to talk to. But unfortunately nobody wants to talk to you.” Age UK’S support includes its Telephone Friendship Service which matches older people who are feeling lonely with a trained volunteer befriender for a weekly chat over the phone.
At a local church, Michael met a woman who thought he might benefit from the service. “Out of the blue, my phone rang,” he said. “It was Age UK and they put me in touch with my first telephone friend, Gemma.”
Michael and volunteer Gemma have been chatting regularly for more than five years. “It has made a lot of difference to my life,” he added. “I’m thankful that there’s a voice at the end of the phone.” Without those calls, Michael said, “I would have been banging my head against the wall.”
Age UK’S Advice Line is another valuable source of support – and this year it has received an almost 40 per cent surge in calls about older people’s benefits. Paul Farmer, the charity’s chief executive, said: “We expect a sharp increase in calls from older people who are distressed and in crisis. Age UK is here for those that need us – but we will struggle to answer every call without more funding.
“Being part of the Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal will help to ensure that we can continue to be there for every older person.”