Christmas should be a wonderful time. Not a lonely one.
But across Scotland, older people are facing the festive season with no one to turn to, dreading a day spent in silence. In fact, over 70,000 over-65s say that Christmas Day is the hardest day of the year.
Alex from Motherwell is one of them. The 73-year-old retired engineer spends Christmas Day alone, with only the TV for company.
Hazel, 77 from Dumbarton shares a similar story. Having lost her parents and her partner, she dreads the run up to Christmas. "Everybody else is happy and they are happy with their families. I see people out Christmas shopping but I don’t have anyone to buy for."
Both Hazel and Alex receive weekly friendship calls from Age Scotland, as well as a call on Christmas Day. Without it, neither of them would speak to anyone all day.
We rely on generous donations from our supporters to make these calls possible. By giving to Age Scotland, you make it possible for us to reach more older people who have no one else to turn to.
You can make an online donation above, or, if you prefer, you can do this over the telephone. Please call us on 03330 15 14 60, and we can assist you with your donation or setting up a regular gift. Our lines are open from 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday.
*A small transaction fee applies to online donations. Age Scotland provides a range of services, and your gift will go where the need is greatest.