For many older people in Scotland, Christmas Day is the hardest day of the year
One of them was Hazel, a 69-year-old from Dumbarton who has lost both her parents and her partner. For Hazel, Christmas comes with a sense of dread as she faces happy families out shopping for gifts while she has no one to buy for. She spends Christmas Day alone, eating a meal for one and waiting for the day to be over.
Alex, a 73-year-old retired engineer from Motherwell, shares a similar story. Without family or friends to speak to, he turns on the TV to break the silence.
One thing they have in common is that both Hazel and Alex receive weekly friendship calls from Age Scotland on Christmas Day. And one special extra call on Christmas Day. The call on Christmas Day helps to alleviate their loneliness. Without these calls, they may not speak to anyone at all
Getting a friendship call on Christmas Day is just brilliant. Otherwise I wouldn’t speak to anyone all day.
Hazel
It was so lovely to have someone to talk to, someone who asked questions and was open to listening to me.
Alex
Donate to Age Scotland today to help us break the silence for more people with no one else to turn to.
Please make a donation today and help Age Scotland offer friendship to more lonely older people like Hazel this Christmas. You can donate online* above, or if you prefer, you may do so 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.
Please note we have not used real images of Hazel for privacy reasons.
*A small fee applies to online transactions. Age Scotland provides a range of services, and your gift will go where the need is greatest.