Warning signs that your older neighbour may need your help this Christmas

Read the article in Glasgow Live

Amid the hubbub of Christmas, the last-minute shopping trips and visits to and from relatives, it’s sometimes easy to lose sight of vulnerable members of the community.

Winter can be one of the most difficult times of the year for older people.

The weather alone can bring serious challenges, leaving people housebound for days on end. There are concerns over heating and finances and loneliness can bite, particularly among those who are alone on Christmas Day – which is nearly 110,000 people over the age of 65, according to charity Age Scotland’s latest research.

As Sheona Dorrian, Community Connecting Development Officer at Age Scotland explained, a small friendly gesture can make the greatest impact.

“It means the world to them,” said Sheona. “It can change their whole outlook. They could be feeling really low and then someone chaps the door and that could be the turning point. Someone just simply asking ‘how are you doing?’ could save their life.

“What seems like the smallest gesture to us could mean everything to them.”

As the leading charity representing older people in Scotland and supporting their rights and interests, Age Scotland provides practical advice and support for people all year round.

Through their workers and helpline they are in tune with the real challenges that older people face and how they are mirrored across the country.

Here Sheona and her colleague Sam Longden, Senior Advisor on the Age Scotland helpline, highlight the warning signs that someone is having a hard time and how you can make a difference this Christmas and New Year.