Lonely at Christmas: what to do if you’re alone during the festive season and how to help others

While Christmas is a time filled with presents and family get-togethers, not everyone is so fortunate to spend the festive period with their nearest and dearest.
By Claire Schofield
Published 20th Dec 2019, 14:19 BST
Updated 20th Dec 2019, 14:32 BST

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For some, Christmas can be the hardest and loneliest time of the year.

Lonely at Christmas

Half a million older people in the UK expect to feel lonely over the festive season and don’t look forward to it, according to a new survey by Age UK, with those who have lost a loved one struggling the most.

For many, Christmas is the loneliest time of the yearFor many, Christmas is the loneliest time of the year
For many, Christmas is the loneliest time of the year
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The charity’s research found that more than three-quarters (77 per cent) of people aged over 65 agreed that the first Christmas after losing someone you love is the hardest, with up to 170,000 elderly people soon to face their first Christmas without their spouse.