New campaign launched to help elderly feel less alone

More than 40 individuals and businesses have signed up to the Rotherham Less Lonely campaign, which is encouraging members of the public to support charity Age UK’s work in making a difference to isolated people.

Figures released by the charity indicate that some 4,000 elderly people in Rotherham feel lonely every day, with a further 13,000 pensioners being affected by loneliness at least one day a week.

MP John Healey said: “You can’t legislate or spend to end people’s feelings of loneliness.

“The only thing which counts is human contact, which is why it is so encouraging to see so many agencies in Rotherham coming together to offer their support for this critical cause.”

The campaign aims to encourage people in Rotherham to donate money to support services which help lonely people in the district, or else give up their time to regularly call in on a lonely older person or volunteer for a community service.

Rotherham Less Lonely also aims to encourage people to organise events that bring pensioners together to meet people and raise awareness of the scale and impact of loneliness on the lives of elderly people,

Age UK Rotherham chief executive Lesley Dabell said: “It’s hard to imagine a day when you don’t see anyone – no phone call, no email, no text.

“For thousands of older people in Rotherham that is their reality, every single day of their lives.

“Words are one thing, actions are another. That’s why we need everyone in Rotherham to come forward and give their time, their money or whatever they can afford to help end loneliness in our town.”

Laura Ferguson, director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, added: “Loneliness is a serious social issue.

“It is also a serious health risk as research demonstrates that it has a detrimental impact on mortality, similar to that of lifelong smoking.

“We are therefore very pleased to see Rotherham Less Lonely bringing together different organisations to tackle loneliness and social isolation.”