Half of Scotland’s over-65s want a phone call from a friend or loved one for Christmas

New figures show that what half of Scotland’s over-65s want for Christmas is a phone call from a friend or loved one.

Age Scotland, our partners in the Big Braw Community campaign, say the cost-of-living crisis and continuing stresses of everyday life are continuing to affect our most vulnerable, making them feel more isolated and alone than ever before.

Experts warn loneliness has an adverse impact on health, increasing the risk of dementia, heart problems and strokes by up to 30%, creating a public health crisis for Scotland if we do not tackle the issue.

The new poll for Age Scotland found over 618,000 over-65s are most at risk from feeling lonely, and what would cheer them up this Christmas most of all is a phone call.

Around 360,000 older Scots are feeling so down, they won’t even put up a single decoration this Christmas.

And at least 64,000 of those interviewed will have nobody to exchange presents or cards with.

Katherine Crawford, the CEO of Age Scotland, said: “It’s deeply worrying that while so many of us will be enjoying ourselves this Christmas, hundreds of thousands of older Scots don’t even have someone to share a card with.

“While we are all celebrating with our friends and families, it is easy to forget so many others are actually on their own, and for them, Christmas can be the loneliest time of the year.

“There is no doubt that the Big Braw Community is beginning to make a difference by letting people know just what is at stake if we don’t tackle loneliness. If we do nothing, Scotland will face a major public health crisis.

“But we can all do our own bit to make a change, by reaching out to a neighbour or friend who we know is on their own.”

While all of us can make a difference by calling someone on their own, Age Scotland is always looking for volunteers to train for their friendship scheme.

Katherine said: “We can all think of someone on their own, so why not lift the phone and make their day with a call. It only takes a few minutes to do, but the beneficial effect has a lasting impact.

“We find our callers get as much from making that connection as the person receiving the call too. Our volunteers get specialist training, and they report back that they feel happier knowing they have made a difference in someone’s life.”

Scotland’s leading expert on ageing and dementia Professor Terry Quinn said: “There are direct health consequences of social isolation. Every day in hospital we see older adults who have fallen and remained on the floor for days, as they couldn’t get up and no one came to check on them.

“The pain of loneliness is especially sharp during the Christmas period. I would encourage anyone who can, to give an older adult a phone call or pop by.”

This Christmas could be my last, but Age Scotland call will make my day

© Andrew Cawley

Alex Wilson, from Motherwell, fears this Christmas may be his last after being told he has terminal heart disease.

Despite the devastating news, the 71-year-old is determined to remain cheery.

What will make his Christmas Day so special is a call from one of Age Scotland’s friendship volunteers.

It will be the second year this has happened for Alex, a retired engineer who returned home to Scotland after spending his working life overseas.

He said: “I’ve spent years working abroad in places like Saudi Arabia.

“When I returned home, I discovered I’d lost touch with all my old friends, so life has been quite lonely.

“My grandfather lived until he was 109 despite drinking a half bottle of whisky every day and smoking 20 full-strength cigarettes.

“I think he was too pickled to become ill and that is why he lived to that age.

“Unfortunately, I’ve not been so lucky.

“I have COPD and was recently given a diagnosis of terminal heart disease.

“I’ve come to terms with that, and I’m determined to enjoy what I have left of my life.

“The specialists cannot tell me if I have weeks or months to live, so I don’t have time to be miserable.

“This Christmas could be my last, so I’m going to make myself a nice dinner and I will look forward to the friendship call I know I’m going to get from Age Scotland.

“It will cheer me up and make my day.”

His health issues mean Alex is not as able to get out and about as he once did, but getting that call makes a huge difference to how he feels.

He said: “Last Christmas was my first call, and it really cheered me up to know that someone else was thinking about me.

“Without that call, my only real company is the television.

“Last Christmas Day it made all the difference to hear another voice, someone who was open to asking questions and listening to me.

“Someone at the hospital suggested I call Age Scotland. They arranged for me to get a phone call once a week, and it’s so nice to have that connection. I look forward to our chats.

“Before I developed heart problems, I was a keen gardener. But I can’t do that now and I really miss it. It’s one of the things we talk about on the phone, that and classical music which is another passion of mine.”

Alex used to sing in a church choir alongside his father before he passed away.

The retired engineer admits he now often leaves the television on just to make some noise in his house.

He said: “I put on that noisy box, and that helps break the silence. But the weekly phone call is what keeps me going. It sets me up for the weekend. Getting that conversation makes the weekend more tolerable when I know I won’t see anyone else.

“It is such a wonderful thing for people like me with no family or friends to talk to someone. Getting these calls from Age Scotland has meant the world to me.”

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Be a Friendship Caller Volunteer. Call 0333 32 32 400 or email volunteering@agescotland.org.uk