Many older people find themselves isolated and alone at Christmas. Losing loved ones, missing friends, spending countless hours alone with no one to talk to; contact and connection we once took for granted, these are the things that isolate us from the world. Being so alone, losing memories you once shared can become overwhelming and leave many desperately reaching out for support. What was once the happiest time of the year is now one of the hardest, and it’s not just at Christmas.

Age NI know what to do to support older people through their hardest days, whether these are special occasions, anniversaries, or just the everyday, we are here for them. Last year alone, our volunteers supported 319 lonely older people with around 16,000 calls providing meaningful friendship and connection; and our specialist expert Advice team answered 12,552 calls from older people who had no one else to turn to. Age NI provides practical and emotional support whenever it is needed.