My thanks for your article highlighting the soaring figures of social isolation among the elderly in the UK, with loneliness projected to rise 49% in just 10 years (Study forecasts huge rise in number of lonely over-50s, 25 September).
Seven years ago, to address the huge challenges of loneliness among the elderly, we created Silver Sunday, an annual day of (mostly free) events up and down the country for older people to learn a new skill, meet new people or enjoy some time in a new environment. For Silver Sunday 2018, which falls on 7 October, we will have over 800 events happening nationally, open to older members of the public and their carers to enjoy. We are proud to have events this year at Lord’s, Buckingham Palace, with the English National Ballet and Chelsea FC Foundation, as well as some of the smaller community initiatives.
We have a national day for mothers and fathers, why not one for older people? Please do visit our website and see how impressive our national coverage is. We would love to tell you more about it – and it is still not too late for anyone to host an event or just show some kindness to some older people near you.
Christabel Flight
Founder, Silver Sunday
• It was disappointing to see no reference in your article to the role of U3A (University of the Third Age) in alleviating loneliness in older people. U3A brings retired (third age) people together to pursue educational, social and creative interests on a self-help basis, dispelling the belief that older people always need to rely on the provision of social activities by an outside agency. In your article, Caroline Abrahams of Age UK and Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the wellbeing board of the Local Government Association, rightly drew attention to the dangers of loneliness and isolation in this age-group, particularly after bereavement, and to the loss of services through council budget cuts. However, they did not acknowledge the existence of the very organisation which, since the early 1980s, has been offering a way for older people to help themselves. In the UK there are now over 1,000 U3As and membership is growing fast as more are started. Costs are kept to a minimum and the emphasis is on inclusion, enjoyment and the stimulation of pursuing interests together. No one with a local U3A needs to be lonely.
Visiting www.u3a.org.uk will give an idea of the range of member-led activities that U3As around the country pursue and the enjoyment their members derive from them.
Sara Gray
Malmesbury, Wiltshire
• The ideas in your article (Seven ways to overcome loneliness, G2, 24 September) are far beyond those over 80 years. Volunteering? They often do not have transport. Socialising? The same. They may not be in the best of health, unable to leave their house, with families far away and neighbours, even if friendly, out at work all day.
Those in expensive residential care, such as Diana Athill (Still working at 100, 26 September), are in an entirely different situation. They can “enjoy” their own company, while choosing to meet others nearby.
It is those locked in by age and infirmity we should be helping. Those looking out from their lonely world, unable to join in and longing for human company.
Christina Naylor
St Andrews Fife
• A cure for loneliness? Our lovely 92-year-old lady, now with macular degeneration, continues to come to our very sociable lipreading classes. She makes delicious desserts for end-of-term parties! A happy gathering of different ages.
Jean Jackson
Seer Green, Buckinghamshire
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