Although estimates for the number of older people who spend Christmas alone can vary widely – in 2013 Age UK said 450,000 over 65s faced the prospect of Christmas alone, whilst Royal Voluntary Service said it was 230,000 – research and anecdotal evidence is clear that Christmas is a particularly painful time for older people who experience loneliness throughout the year.
On the 25 February 2014 the Campaign to End Loneliness and Independent Age brought together over 40 charities, care services and neighbourhood groups to talk about loneliness at Christmas, and to start to think about what we could do in 2014.
Period
25 Feb 2014
Event title
Understanding Loneliness: the challenge of Christmas