Loneliness at Christmas widespread amongst thousands of older people in Wales

• Christmas Day is the hardest day of the year for many older people  
• Age Cymru launches its fundraising campaign the hardest day of the year 

The Age Cymru Partnership has released new research as part of its Christmas campaign, the hardest day of the year, to highlight just how lonely and isolating everyday life is for thousands of older people across Wales, especially during the festive period. 

According to research from the Partnership nearly 85,000 people aged 65 or over in Wales say they will eat Christmas dinner alone this year. 

More than 112,000 older people, equivalent to more than one in six, told the Partnership that Christmas Day is their hardest day of the year, while nearly one in five said they wish they had someone to spend time with at Christmas. 

For many older people being alone at Christmas may be the result of their loved ones having passed away, they may have become housebound due to ill health, or their family and friends have moved further away.  

From another survey we also heard about the impact of the pandemic on loneliness as some people seemed less inclined to socialise. One respondent told us “The most significant issue is loneliness and isolation post Covid. Relationships have changed. People seem less willing to interact.” 

Age Cymru’s chief executive Victoria Lloyd says “The Age Cymru Partnership is working hard to help alleviate loneliness throughout the whole year by providing vital friendship and support services to those who need it most. 

“Last year more than 48,000 enquiries were dealt with by the Partnership’s information and advice services.  “While more than 11,000 older people benefitted from its various friendship services that are especially important during the festive season. 

“However, our research clearly shows we need to do a lot more.  And we can only do that with the public’s support. So, if you can donate or organise a fundraising event this Christmas please do so and help us to reach out to more older people.” 

To donate visit www.agecymru.org.uk/christmas or call 029 2043 1555  

Explaining how the donations will help, Victoria Lloyd says “Your support will enable us to continue providing both Friendship and Information and Advice services so older people can benefit from much needed companionship through group activities, social events, and contact from our volunteers.  

“It will also help ensure that older people will not go without the support they need with a range of issues that are often heightened at Christmas such as dealing with the loss of a loved one, affording household costs, getting care and support, or understanding what support there is in the local community.” 

Age Cymru publishes a guide called More Money in Your Pocket that provides information about a range of benefits and how to go about claiming them. It also has a full range of money guides that are available free of charge from Age Cymru Advice. 

If anyone wants advice about entitlements or any of the activities the charity organises, call 0300 303 44 98 (charged at a local rate) Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm. You may also email advice@agecymru.org.uk or visit www.agecymru.org.uk/advice.” 

Ends. 

Notes to editors 

Yonder conducted online and telephone interviews with a weighted random sample of 129 people aged 65 or over between 14 and 17 October 2023.   Yonder is a founder member of the British Polling Council and abides by it rules.  For further information see http://www.britishpollingcouncil.org/  

The figures were derived by calculating the responses into percentages and setting them against the baseline figure of 662,000 people aged 65 or over living in Wales. 

The Age Cymru Partnership consists of Age Cymru, Age Cymru Dyfed, Age Cymru Gwent, Age Cymru Gwynedd a Mon, Age Cymru Powys, and Age Cymru West Glamorgan.