General Chat

There is an epidemic of lonliness within the elderly

Esther Rantzen has a new national helpline


08004708090

I think this is a fantastic idea

Good Luck To Silver Line

I agree Mersey........ a brilliant idea and could be a life-saver for many. :-D

It does not surprise me at all and think this is an excellent idea. Although it is not just the elderly - there are those younger whose health makes them housebound and they live alone.

Its is just starting out, but I really do hope it is successful and can help many <3 <3

A very good idea. I often wonder how many of those who frequent GR's message boards do so as a way out of loneliness as much as an interest in genealogy.

This is true Jonesy

This is a fantastic idea, however, The Samaritans are always there 24/7 365 days of the year, not just for the suicidal but for anyone wanting someone to talk to.

They certainly are Paula, and what a fantastic job they do!!!

:-) <3 <3

~~~~~~~ @ Mersey xxx <3

Fantastic idea.

I do wonder and worry a bit how either of us will cope when left to be on our own

No-one knows how lonliness can really feel apart from the lonely, it does not matter or how this has happened but to help in a small way makes all the difference....who are we to question??

Young or old it happens as many other things do......life can be hard and for someone to make it that little bit easier, in anyway possible can make all the difference <3

A gentle nudge <3

When I started working with cancer patients I was naive. I thought everyone had someone. I found out very quickly that sadly this isn't true :-( I cried when an elderly lady told me she hadn't been hugged or touched with affection since her husband had died five years before :-( I will never forget that moment and it has made me very aware.

You do a wonderful job Sue <3 <3

I think it's a great idea to have the Silver line and there will be opportunities for people to have regular call backs too with someone they can get to know a bit so will feel like somebody cares.

I do think those who can't use the internet suffer more than those of us who can communicate with others as we all do here, it must make a difference altho nothing makes up for seeing a friendly face or hearing a cheerful voice.

My cousin of 76 poohpoohs the internet and anything to do with it, but does get lonely when she closes her curtains at night especially now the days are shorter. In summer she can walk down to the sheltered housing complet more easily to visit others or share in an activity, or sit out in her garden with her rabbit playing round her feet but now the dark evenings are here the rabbit stays in her hutch and my cousin is shut inside. We do chat on the phone sometimes but there's only so much news to talk about so it's not that often.

I know my Mum used to get lonely even tho she had lovely neighbours who would go in during the day, she missed company in the evenings. I used to take my son up after school sometimes and we would have a meal with her, that's something else people miss, having someone to share a meal with and the washing up afterwards. It meant my son was up a bit late some evenings but at least it filled Mum's evening for her and gave her things to think about after we left about 8pm

Hope the Silver line is as successful as Childline.


Lizx

Its being talked about on This Morning now

'We're born alone, we live alone & we die alone. Only through our love & friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone'.

Orson Welles (1915-1985).

Objective for this week - get to know my elderly & semi-reclusive neighbours either side of me & give them a good opportunity to get to know me.

I know my mum gets very lonely since my Dad died. That's despite me visiting twice a week and phoning her most nights (Lol thing is if I ring when Emmerdale or Coronation Street is on I get told off )
The telephone line is a sound idea and worth the lottery grant it received which should fund it for a fair time :-)

When our daughter was having chemo we took her every two weeks to the hospital for her treatment . Both she and I are very talkative and we did get some "looks" some times cos we were laughing and joking with the staff.

We did befriend an elderly lady tho who lived by herself and was brought in by ambulance for her chemo. Poor soul sat all alone and was very insular ,didnt open up at all. somewhere along the line we did get her to speak and then relax with us as the chemo was being done. we used to have her in stitches too and her sense of humour was a bit raucous.

She ended up finishing her chemo before our daughter and on her last day she came over to us with tears in her eyes and said "thank you both it made everything more bearable and I will miss you" we said take care ,maybe we will see you in clinic ,but we never did .

Sad really cos we have both said wonder how Edith was doing

You can feel alone in a room full of people. When my husband died I was surrounded by loving friends, family and colleagues. On the first Christmas without him I stayed at my sisters pub. There was no chance of being alone there, especially on New Years Eve which was my husbands favourite time. At midnight when the world was going crazy, I have never felt so alone in my life. <3 <3