Nearly one in three adults fear they’ll be lonely this festive period, research has found.
A study of 2,000 adults who celebrate Christmas found over the last five years, a quarter feel like their levels of loneliness have increased over the festive period – as 49 per cent worry about getting lonelier as they get older.
Unfortunately, 17 per cent will eat Christmas dinner alone, and 56 per cent won’t get the chance to update friends and family about changes to their life in the last year.
But to help combat loneliness at Christmas time, 37 per cent will send a thoughtful card and a third will invite a loved one they are worried about for a meal.
The research was commissioned by Hallmark, which also created a heartwarming video bringing children to visit older folks in Horsforth Manor Care Home in Leeds, to explore what it's like being lonely at Christmas.
A study of 2,000 adults who celebrate Christmas found over the last five years, a quarter feel like their levels of loneliness have increased over the festive period – as 49 per cent worry about getting lonelier as they get older.
Unfortunately, 17 per cent will eat Christmas dinner alone, and 56 per cent won’t get the chance to update friends and family about changes to their life in the last year.
But to help combat loneliness at Christmas time, 37 per cent will send a thoughtful card and a third will invite a loved one they are worried about for a meal.
The research was commissioned by Hallmark, which also created a heartwarming video bringing children to visit older folks in Horsforth Manor Care Home in Leeds, to explore what it's like being lonely at Christmas.
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FunTranscript
00:00Yes, there can be times when, yes, I have spent some time on my own prior to Christmas
00:08and I'm just wondering whether anybody's going to come.
00:19Margie, what's your favourite thing about Christmas?
00:22What do I enjoy about Christmas?
00:24I like my Christmas dinner.
00:26Well, I like the bit where we all get together.
00:29I like Christmas because sometimes I'm lucky enough to be taken away on holiday.
00:34We get to see our family.
00:36You get to see people that you don't usually see.
00:38There's a big dinner.
00:40Because it's noise.
00:42Why do you think people get lonely at Christmas?
00:45It's not something that you enjoy, being on your own.
00:49If they haven't any relatives or close friends, it's very hard for them.
00:56What do you do when you feel lonely?
00:59If you send a card, it just reminds them that you're still there.
01:04I sit down and start writing letters and sending more cards.
01:08I send a lot of cards to people I haven't seen all year.
01:12I send them a card to say, I hope that you're having a good Christmas and you're OK.
01:18And let me know how you are.
01:20It's a way of keeping, isn't it? It's a nice way.
01:25Merry Christmas
01:28Thank you so much for chatting with us.
01:31Merry Christmas.
01:33I send you all love. Thank you very much.
01:36I will shake your hand. Thank you.