Help others feel less lonely

If you’ve ever felt lonely, you’ll know how difficult it can be, which is why we’re encouraging you to think about others who might be going through the same thing.

Age UK recently revealed that the elderly have endured their loneliest and scariest ever Christmas, with more than two million having been alone on the big day.

It’s not always obvious when someone is lonely, so here are some little things you can do to brighten someone’s day and make them feel more connected.

Make a call

If you know of someone who is isolating or simply staying at home more than usual, make a conscious effort to connect with them more.

You could make a regular call to them. You could see if they need any shopping or medications collecting. It can be as simple as a quick five minute ‘hello’ on the phone, but it could really change their week.

Stop and say ‘hello’

If you’re passing neighbours in the street, always offer a friendly ‘hello’ from a safe distance. You could offer to swap numbers and give each other a call at an arranged time. Many streets have set up WhatsApp groups to chat and help each other out.

Volunteer

It’s difficult to volunteer in person at the moment, but you can still do it from a distance. You could volunteer as an Age UK telephone befriender and be helping people, not only in your neighbourhood, but across the country feel less lonely.

If you’re the one feeling lonely, check out our recent blog post on mood-boosting activities to help beat loneliness here.