You can be a lifeline for the lonely

Please note: this post is 164 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

Flipping through the newspaper yesterday, we noticed some disturbing, but not unsurprising, statistics…

In the Times article about a new national telephone service being developed by Esther Rantzen to help older people feel more connected, we came across a lot of the emotions that are increasingly common amongst older people -- loneliness, isolation, dislocation, and sometimes fear.

And we also encountered the following stats:

• For the first time in history, there are now over 14 million people in the UK aged 60 and above -- and a projected 20 million by 2031.
• About 3.8 million older people live alone -- 70% of those are women.
• Just over 700,000 (7%) of people aged 65 or over in the UK say they always or often feel lonely. 12% of older people feel trapped in their own home.
• 36% of people aged 65 and over in the UK feel out of touch with the pace of modern life.
• 12% of over 65s said they never spent time with their family.
• 12% have less than monthly contact with family, friends and neighbours.

At North London Cares, we believe it doesn't have to be that way.

That's why we're putting together a really exciting programme of activities for people to socialise with their neighbours throughout the summer -- at BBQs, Film Nights, News Clubs, Lunch Clubs, Care Home visits and more.

If you can help support your elderly neighbours -- whether by helping people with low-level tasks like shopping or getting to the GP through our Love Your Neighbour project, or by volunteering to help out at our Social Clubs, let us know.