Loneliness has no age bracket. It affects anyone from young children to the older generation.
We wanted to use this blog as an opportunity to highlight the negative impact loneliness has, particularly over the Christmas period. But we also want to give our readers some advice on how to help those around you that may be more susceptible to loneliness and to recommend some activities they can enjoy this festive season.
We’ve gathered some eye-opening statistics on loneliness that can be seen below:
- Age UK research has shown that 928,000 older people feel lonelier at Christmas.
- Recent studies have shown that loneliness and isolation can lead to a list of health problems.
- Adults can struggle to stay connected to friends and relatives, leaving them feeling lonely, isolated and cut off.
- Women of all ages report higher levels of loneliness then men do – however, reports suggest that single men are now finding themselves more vulnerable.
- Reports have shown that 11% of men feel lonely every day and 35% at least once a week
- In a 2017 survey, almost two thirds of 16-24 year olds admitted to feeling lonely at least some of the time.
We have a close knit community here in Northwich and we’re lucky enough to have a whole range of events and activities to attend in a bid to combat loneliness this Christmas.
ACTIVITIES FOR THE OLDER GENERATIONS
AGE UK Cheshire host a whole variety of activities aimed towards the 50+
Men in Sheds:
There are currently four sheds in the Cheshire area including Hartford, Ellesmere Port, Crewe and Chester. The ‘sheds’ are essentially a youth club for the over 50s where men meet to undertake a range of activities such as woodworking, metalworking, art and computers.
Women in Sheds:
The plans for this initiative came after the successes of Men in Sheds. Women over the age of 50 are invited to come along and make crafts, furniture, acrylic pens, woodworking, seasonal projects and computer sessions etc. Or they can simply pop in for a cup of tea and a biscuit.
Age UK also provide a range of coach trips, day activities and outdoor activities for people to enjoy.
Visit the Age UK website for more information.
Northwich Library is a popular haunt for daily activities that attract a range of audiences
The Ranger Walk:
Every week on a Wednesday a Ranger takes attendees on a walk around Northwich’s green spaces for around an hour from 12:30pm – 1:30pm. It’s a great way to meet new people and get out in the fresh air. Refreshments are available in the library afterwards.
Craft and Chat:
Bring your own craft projects along and get tips and advice from fellow group members. This group also supports and makes items for ‘Handmade for Dementia Northwest and UK,’ e.g. twiddle muffs and cannula sleeves. All items are donated to local care homes and hospitals.
Educational Sessions:
The library hosts various sessions covering topics such as scams and online safety, tablet and smartphone tuition, English conversation classes and employment assistance.
There are also coffee mornings to attend, adult colouring group classes and Lego/Scrabble clubs to join.
The Odeon silver Cinema
‘Catch up with friends and enjoy the magic of film.’
ODEON Silver Cinema is a series of film screenings for guests over the age of 55. Tickets are just £3 each and include tea, coffee and biscuits before your film. More importantly, it provides an opportunity to meet and speak with other people.
Enjoy Christmas Dinner at Redwalls Nursing Home this Christmas
Do you know of someone who might be spending Christmas alone this year?
The family-owned firm has issued a ‘Come Dine with Us’ invitation for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day at all 25 of its elderly care homes around the country.
Pensioners are being invited to ring Redwalls Nursing Home and reserve a space subject to availability; they will be invited to lunch and afternoon entertainment with the residents.
Activities for children and teenagers
There are a range of local events for children and young teenagers to enjoy such as the Northwich Christmas Extravaganza and The Festive Festival at The Plaza.
There’s a whole list of events you can take them to on the Visit Northwich website.
As great as social media is with regards to building connections it can also have a negative impact on the wellbeing of the younger generations. Building face-to-face human relationships is a fundamental human need and some young people struggle to form meaningful friendships and relationships.
So this festive season we suggest encouraging your children to spend some time enjoying everything that Northwich has to offer.
