No one should have to face Christmas alone
For Hazel, 69 years old from Dumbarton, Christmas arrives with a sense of dread. Hazel has lost her parents, and her partner has also passed. She will be spending Christmas alone. Seeing people out shopping with families when she has no one to buy for, or watching happy Christmases on TV, hurts her deeply.
People are nice and say Merry Christmas and ask about what I’m doing, but I don’t have anything to do. I am always relieved when the day is over.
73-year-old Alex from Motherwell shares Hazel's situation. With no friends or family to share the day with, Alex spends Christmas Day eating a meal for one and watching TV, waiting for time to pass.
If it weren't for Age Scotland's friendship call, Hazel and Alex wouldn't speak to anyone on Christmas Day.
Last Christmas I got a friendship call on Christmas Day and it was brilliant. It was so lovely to have someone to talk to, someone who asked questions and was open to listening to me
Alex
And they're not alone. Almost 140,000 over 65s say that Christmas Day is the hardest day of the year. Make a donation to Age Scotland today to help us be there for more older people when no one else is.
Please note we have not used a real image of Hazel for privacy reasons.
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