Age UK’s new research reveals just how lonely Christmas is for millions of older people as part of its new campaign

• To highlight the issue and raise funds, the Charity has launched an emotional Christmas campaign, Together, we’re not alone
• The campaign is supported by Dame Judi Dench, Dame Joanna Lumley & Dame Penelope Wilton
• Age UK has also launched a new loneliness report, highlighting the year-round scale of loneliness and the impact it has on older people’s health

To support the launch of Age UK’s Christmas campaign, Together, we’re not alone, the Charity has released some heartbreaking new statistics that show just how lonely this Christmas will be for millions of older people[i], as well as a new report that explores why loneliness is harmful to older people’s physical and mental health. Age UK is calling for urgent donations from the public to change the lives of lonely older people during Christmas and throughout the year.

Loneliness and social isolation are year-round problems but winter, and Christmas especially, can be particularly tough - 1 million older people say they are more isolated at Christmas than any other time of the year. Routine public services winding down, shops closing early or shutting completely, combined with harsher weather conditions, shorter days, and changes in people’s health and wellbeing often make it harder to sustain social connections.

Whilst many enjoy celebrating festive traditions together, Age UK found that a quarter (3.4 million) of all over 65s won’t be putting up decorations at all this year and 1.4 million will be eating dinner alone on Christmas Day. For 2 million older people Christmas is a hard time as, for them, it feels just like any other day.

Age UK’s new report, You are not alone in feeling lonely, presents new evidence about the scale of the loneliness challenge among people aged 65 and over - 270,000 older people in England go a week without speaking to a friend or family member[ii]. It also explores why loneliness is harmful to older people’s health, wellbeing and quality of life:

• Loneliness is linked with acceleration of frailty and increased risk of physical and mental illness, including a 29% increase in risk of incident coronary heart disease, a 32% increase in risk of stroke[iii] and a 25% increased risk of dementia[iv].
• Loneliness is linked with increased risk of mental illness including depression and anxiety[v].
• Nine in 10 older people who say they're often lonely also say that they're unhappy or depressed, compared to four in 10 of those who are hardly ever lonely[vi].

For most older people (10.9 million), Christmas is also a reminder of fond memories. This is the case for Eva, age 74, who has lived alone since her husband David died a few years ago.

Eva said: “The first Christmas without David was horrible. When you think you’ve had 40 Christmases together, and then all of a sudden, for the rest of your life, there’s somebody missing. He will always be missed, and nothing can change that. All the presents in the world wouldn’t change it. I don’t like Christmas now.”

Eva got in touch with Age UK who suggested she signed up to the Charity’s Telephone Friendship Service. When asked about her experience of it, Eva said: “My life’s changed with the Telephone Friendship Service because it’s an interest. During the week, if I do something, I used to find I’d got no one to tell, but now I’ve got Lorraine.

“If it hadn’t been for Age UK, I never would have thought about talking to a stranger… there are things me and her can talk about, that I don’t talk about with my family because it’s too painful for them. My advice to anyone who is suffering with loneliness is to get in touch with Age UK. You’ve got nothing to lose and a lot to gain.”

Age UK’s research has found that well over half of the older population (7.4 million) hope to receive a call from someone on Christmas Day and 3.5 million older people (a quarter) say they feel comforted knowing there are helplines and services available if they need a chat or some support over Christmas.

This is why it has never been more important to donate to Age UK’s Together, we’re not alone campaign, as funds raised will help the Charity to continue its work in tackling loneliness amongst older people by supporting its free national services which are crucial for those who have no-one else to turn to. These include:

• Age UK’s Telephone Friendship Service, which matches older people with a volunteer who shares similar interests so they can really get to know each other through weekly calls. Age UK volunteers made over 11,000 minutes’ worth of Telephone Friendship Calls on Christmas Day and Boxing Day alone last year.
• The Silver Line Helpline, founded by Dame Esther Rantzen and now part of Age UK, is free and available 24 hours a day, including Christmas Day, for any older person who would like a friendly chat. The Silver Line Helpline answered over 4,000 calls during Christmas week last year.
• Age UK’s free and confidential national Advice Line, which supports those who may be struggling with costs this winter and need some information and advice. It’s open every day of the year, including Christmas Day, providing friendly and expert advice on issues like loneliness, bereavement, and benefits, as well as challenges with mental and physical health and social care. The experts staffing the Advice Line picked up over 2,000 calls during Christmas Week last year.

Approximately 3 million older people also rely on clubs or social groups for company all year round, according to Age UK, including over half a million (550,000) at Christmas time specifically. This is provided across the country through the 120 local Age UKs, many of which host social activities and groups, friendship services, festive lunches, parties and more throughout December and beyond.

Paul Farmer, CEO at Age UK, said: “Our research has found that around 10.6 million older people – which is the equivalent of four in five – think spending time with loved ones is one of the best parts of Christmas. Yet the reality is so many are facing this festive season alone.

“At Age UK, we work tirelessly to campaign on behalf of older people, provide support and give advice, but sometimes just being offered a listening ear is all that’s needed to lift spirits.

“Ask yourself, could you change what you normally do this Christmas and spend more time with your older relatives, friends or neighbours – especially those who live alone? Could you send a card to show you’re thinking of them, or accompany them to a social event being held by their local Age UK? Or could you donate to Age UK’s campaign so we can spread comfort, friendship and joy to older people when they need it most?”

Dame Judi Dench, Age UK ambassador, adds: “The idea of being completely alone and isolated at a time when so many people are coming together with their nearest and dearest breaks my heart. No older person should feel like they don’t have anybody to talk to, which is why I’m supporting Age UK’s ‘Together, we’re not alone’ campaign.

“Please, donate to Age UK if you can this Christmas time, so that they can be there for older people who are feeling lonely and need to hear that friendly voice. Your donations will truly help to change lives!”

Age UK can’t be there without the public’s support, which is why the Charity is calling on everybody to donate what they can this Christmas. Together, the Charity promises to help change the lives of older people. Together, we’re not alone.

To donate, please visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/christmasappeal. Age UK has also launched a new Loneliness Guide which features the Charity’s latest information and advice on the subject as well as bringing together lived experiences from different focus groups. This can be found here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/loneliness-guide/.

-ENDS-

[i] Age UK calculation based on data (weighted to be representative of the UK population) from Yonder online and telephone polling for Age UK, November 2024 (weighted sample of 2755 people aged 65+ in the UK, between 2nd and 29th October 2024) and ONS mid-year 2023 population estimates (published 8^th October 2024). All statistics are drawn from this polling unless otherwise stated.

[ii] Age UK analysis of wave 10 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, scaled up to the England age 65+ population using ONS mid-year population estimates for 2022.

[iii] Valtorta et al., ‘Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies’, Heart 102 (2016) (pp. 1009-1016).

[iv] Does loneliness contribute to mild cognitive impairment and dementia? A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies - ScienceDirect).

[v] www.gov.uk/government/publications/factors-associated-with-loneliness-in-adults-in-england/investigating-factors-d-withloneliness-in-adults-in-england#what-types-of-people-are-particularly-vulnerable-to-experiencing-loneliness.

[vi] Age UK analysis of data drawn from wave 13 of the UK Household Longitudinal Study (Understanding Society).

Notes to editors:

Additional ambassador quotes:

Dame Joanna Lumley, Age UK ambassador, said: “Christmas is such a special time for so many of us, it’s something that we plan for months in advance to make sure we have the best possible time with our loved ones, 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 they can to help stop this.

“Its Advice Line is there to help, as well as its Silver Line Helpline which is open every single day of the year – including Christmas Day. These are both such wonderful services for those who have no one else. If you can, please donate to support Age UK this Christmas so that they can provide that human connection that too many older people live without.”

Dame Penelope Wilton, Age UK ambassador, said: “Christmas can and should be such a joyous time but, for far too many older people, it’s a period when loneliness and isolation is felt in really quite a stark way. Imagine waking up and there’s nothing and no-one.

“Thinking about this always has a real impact on me, and its why Age UK’s role is so terribly important. So please, donate to Age UK so that they can help fill a gap, create connections where they’re so crucially needed and help older people to recapture some of the magic that Christmas brings. Let’s all do our bit.”

Top tips:

As well as donating to Age UK this Christmas, there are plenty of simple and practical things we can all do to help older people feel included and supported over the festive season.

• Sharing time together: Check in regularly with your older relatives, friends, and neighbours to see how they’re feeling, and find out if there’s anything they need. Invite them round for a coffee or lunch. If you’re unable to visit in person there’s still plenty you can do to show you care – a phone or video call, making homemade cards, letters or even small gifts. 
• Giving out useful numbers: For practical information and advice, encourage older people to use the Age UK Advice (0800 169 65 65), or for a cheerful chat, day or night, they can call The Silver Line Helpline (0800 4 70 80 90).
• Read and share Age UK’s new Loneliness Guide: There’s lots of useful information available on the Age UK website, including the Charity’s new Loneliness Guide which brings together discussions held at various focus groups and covers the topics of what loneliness is, what might help those feeling lonely, what to do if you know someone who is feeling lonely, how to take that next step and the ways Age UK can help. This can be read, here.
• Local Age UKs: The Age UK network of 120 local charities, which reach most of England and also includes Age Cymru, Age NIand Age Scotland, host a variety of social activities and groups including things like walking tennis, cooking, knitting as well as Christmas parties and lunches! To find out what’s on in your area visit: ageuk.org.uk/services/in-your-area/.
• Volunteer for Age UK: Christmas is a great time to get involved and give your time to charityge UK is reliant on the generous support of its telephone volunteers who provide vital companionship to older people all year round. The Charity’s shop volunteers help to raise much-needed funds to support its work. Please note that most of our volunteering opportunities have minimum commitment periods, to ensure we can provide consistent and quality services to older people. To find out more visit: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/volunteer.

Research:

Yonder conducted an online and telephone survey on behalf of Age UK. A sample of 2,755 UK adults aged 65+ were surveyed between 2^nd and 29^th October 2024. Responses were weighted to be representative of the population of the UK. All statistics are drawn from this polling unless otherwise stated. Targets for quotas and weights are taken from the latest ONS Census data (2021/22) and the PAMCO survey, a random probability F2F survey conducted annually with 35,000 adults. Yonder is a founding member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. For further information see http://www.britishpollingcouncil.org/.

About Age UK:

Age UK believes every older person should be valued and included. We’re working locally, nationally and internationally to change the way we age.

Together with our partners, we’re changing the day-to-day experience of getting older through essential services and local support – like help at home, exercise classes and digital inclusion. Local Age UKs deliver these services, using their expert knowledge of their area to transform older people’s health, wellbeing and finances.

Our specialist, impartial advice is changing how older people feel when they face a challenging issue – whether it’s care, money, health or housing. A call to our free advice line, a visit to our website, or a face-to-face appointment at a local Age UK can help change older people’s worries into answers.

Our friendship services are changing the issue of loneliness among older generations. From weekly chats on the phone and local in-person befriending to round the clock support from our Silver Line Helpline, we’re changing loneliness and isolation into comfort and connection.

We’re an expert voice on ageing, changing the way older people are treated and represented in society through research and campaigning. We work with local, national and international policymakers to challenge inequalities and push for the changes that’ll improve older people’s lives.

Through Age International we are changing the lives of older people facing emergencies and long-term challenges in low and middle-income countries.

Your support makes our work possible. By donating, campaigning and volunteering, you’ll help change older people’s lives – now and in the future. 

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and registered company number 6825798). Charitable services are provided through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity’s Community Interest Company (CiC) (registered company number 1102972) which donates its net profits to Age UK (the Charity).