Joanna Lumley leads campaign to combat loneliness among 1.2m older Britons

Dame Joanna Lumley is behind a push to alert Britain the life-threatening scourge of loneliness.

Stark new analysis has revealed the true extent of the hidden ​emergency with 1.2 million aged over 65 set to be blighted by 2034 unless urgent action is taken​ to address the crisis.

It comes as many ​s​ay Christmas magnif​ies feelings of isolation and depression.

Ab Fab actress Dame Joanna, 78, who mounted a successful campaign to provide Gurkha veterans who served in the Army the right to settle in Britain, said: “Christmas is such a special time for so many of us, but imagine not having anybody to even say hello to. It can be such an isolating and lonely period for so many older people, but Age UK is doing everything it can to help stop this.

“Sadly, it’s not all fun and laughter for everyone; it can be an extremely lonely time for many older people who will be spending the festive period completely alone.”

The Age UK ambassador added: “Knowing Age UK is there to help, with its Advice Line and The Silver Line Helpline open every single day of the year – including Christmas Day – is a reason for rejoicing, and it would be really wonderful if we all give what we can to support these important services. Your kindness really could make someone’s Christmas.”

The plea comes after the Express championed the work of The Silver Line, Britain’s only around-the-clock national helpline for older people, which was founded in 2013 by Dame Esther Rantzen, 84. In the decade since its launch it has answered 5 million calls, yet demand​continues to rise.

In a distressing example of the far-reaching, but little-known impact of loneliness in Britain, some 2.3 million older people say they wish they had someone to spend time with at Christmas, and 1.6 million find Christmas Day the hardest day of the year.

For more than 4.2 million struggling older people, Christmas throws up cherished memories of loved ones who have passed away, while one million aged over 65 say the cost of living crisis is going to isolate them more than ever before. The holidays magnify feelings of isolation and loneliness as routine services, on which many rely for help and support, shut down and shops close.

Widowed Alfred Brown went weeks without seeing anyone and came to realise that loneliness kills.

The retired factory worker from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, 90, has lived alone since his wife died eight years ago and no longer leaves the house for anything other than medical appointments.

He experiences bouts of dizziness that have led to falls and with no children, and only one surviving sibling, he had little contact with the outside world until his GP recommended Age UK Wakefield’s befriending service.

He has now been given a new lease of life with weekly visits from volunteer befriender Lauren, who drops by for a cup of tea, a chat and to talk through anything he needs help with.

Alfred said: “Loneliness is a killer in a sense. I didn’t see anybody for days, weeks and months. Everybody’s working, or seems to, and there is no such thing as good neighbours. It was just loneliness.

“Lauren’s broken that loneliness for an hour-and-a-half a week and I’m very grateful for it.

“She comes over, she’s very friendly and sociable. She puts the kettle on, we have a cup of tea, a few laughs about my olden days and she’s astounded at how life used to be.”

Lauren’s visits help Alfred stay connected to a world he would be otherwise isolated from.

He said: “I haven’t been out of the house apart from going to the dustbin for about six months. Lauren’s visits are something to look forward to once a week.

“I’m hoping to gradually sit outside for a bit longer. I’m hoping next year will be a better year.”

The Silver Line, now part of Age UK, is also supported by Dame Joan Collins, 91, an ambassador for the charity, and Queen Camilla, 77, a patron since 2017.

There are now some 1.2 million lonely older people in the UK with 500,000 going five-days-a-week without seeing or speaking to anyone. Half of all people aged 75 and over live alone.

Operating day and night for 365 days-a-year the helpline has become the emergency service for those too proud to ask for help.

Most callers just want to hear a friendly, reassuring voice, or for someone to say good night. For many, it helps keep crippling loneliness at bay when it strikes in the dead of night.

There are now 3.2 million people aged 80 or over in the UK with 600,000 of them 90 or above.

Dame Esther, 84, said: “The number of isolated older people we have supported with our helpline and our volunteer befrienders is proof that hundreds of thousands of older people are left isolated and must grapple with agonising loneliness on their own.

“So many older people tell us there is literally nobody else for them to share a memory with, have a chat with, reveal their deepest feelings to. Some callers ring us, they tell us, because they need to say goodnight to somebody. Others because, they say, they don’t want to burden their families with feelings of loneliness.

“Some really believe they are past their sell-by date and no longer have a role in today’s world. As a society we need to correct this and ensure our precious older people, to whom we owe so much, continue to feel valued.”

Caroline Abrahams, Age UK Charity Director, said: “Loneliness is a year-round problem for many older people, but one that’s often intensified by the shorter, colder days we experience in winter. As this year’s festive season approaches, there’ll never be a better time to renew our commitment to helping older people enjoy their lives, free of the scourge of loneliness. We can do it if we try.”