Lonely pensioner finds 'closest friend' through charity service

Two friends from Wirral are encouraging others to support older people and combat loneliness.

Maggie Gaskell and Eileen Dewhurst became fast friends over the past few years; confiding in each other and meeting up regularly.

Their 30-year age gap has not got in the way of the pair forming a bond.

Extra efforts and campaigns are launched every Christmas to stop the isolation and loneliness that affects many of the older generation. However, as the new year begins, it is important to remember that support is as vital now as it was over the festive period.

Age UK Wirral are appealing for more ‘befrienders’; volunteers who will give up some of their time to spend with an elderly person.

Covid doesn’t have to be a restricting factor, with the option of volunteering one day a week to offer company over the phone, also being available.

Befriender and mother of two Maggie has been visiting Eileen Dewhurst, 92, for over two years. She first approached local charity HelpLink, now a part of Age UK Wirral.

Maggie said: “When my father was in failing health towards the end of his life, I was unable to visit him and my mum in East Yorkshire as much as I would have liked.

"I volunteered as a befriender on the basis that I could easily spare a couple of hours a week for someone who was housebound locally.”

Now, Maggie’s visits have changed Eileen’s life for the better.

Eileen said: “I can’t imagine my life without Maggie and I consider her now my closest friend.”

What started as fortnightly visits have turned into more as Eileen has been welcomed into Maggie’s family, going on trips out and visiting her family home.

Maggie said: “Her career as a crime novelist and experience in journalism has provided endless fascinating stories.

"Spending time with Eileen has shown me how society often tends to ignore the elderly instead of respecting and benefiting from their experiences.”

A huge part of Age UK Wirral’s work is about tackling isolation and loneliness. There is evidence that suffering from loneliness can impact on other issues and can contribute towards an earlier death, charity bosses say.

Age UK Wirral’s CEO, Jamie Anderson, said: "The Covid pandemic has only served to heighten people’s experiences of loneliness through the various restrictions. Winter adds to these pressures as the darker nights and the colder weather makes it harder for people to maintain social contact.

"We would encourage everyone to think about the greatest gift they can give - that of their time."

Nationally, ITV Good Morning Britain’s annual campaign ‘1 Million Minutes’ ended last week. In its sixth year of striving to end people’s loneliness, the campaign asked the British public to pledge time to charities looking for volunteers to support those who are lonely.

166,028,640 minutes were pledged overall and the campaign’s success will benefit many across the country who feel alone this winter.

When asked what Maggie brought to her life, Eileen simply said: ‘Warmth.’

If you too would like to bring warmth to someone’s winter then you can find more information here.