Helping the Lonely at Christmas

The John Lewis advert is officially here! The Christmas season can officially begin! Shopping for gifts, ordering the turkey, making our Christmas lists – the excitement never ends! But wait, have we forgotten something? Or more importantly, someone? This year’s advert shows that we should all be helping the lonely at Christmas, and you can watch it below.

Being lonely at Christmas can be as damaging as the effects of smoking, which is shocking but proves how important it is for us all to work towards eliminating loneliness in our elderly.

Here are just a few ways of helping the lonely at Christmas:

Check on your neighbours – Reach out to elderly neighbours and check what their plans are for the Christmas period. They may have a day or two on their own, could you offer to pop in for a cuppa and chat? Or maybe you could watch some Christmas TV together. At this time of year we should all be as generous as we can with our compassion for others. Make sure your neighbours know that you are there for them.
Give your time – Volunteering your own time is a free way to really give back to your community and the elderly who are lonely at Christmas. Get in touch with local churches, community centres and residential homes to offer your time to spend with the elderly or lonely during the Christmas season.
Send a card – It may be a time of giving, but that doesn’t necessarily mean expensive gifts. A card or letter would be a lovely surprise for someone feeling lonely. Or you could give a relative a phone call if you can’t see them this year.
Pull up a chair – Have you thought about inviting your elderly neighbour or friend to join you and your family for Christmas dinner? This is a fantastic way of helping the lonely at Christmas and can help prevent people being alone on the big day. Just being asked will definitely brighten up the person’s day.

For more ideas on helping the lonely at Christmas, please read our post: ‘5 Ways To Stay Close To Old Grandparents’.

Have Your Say

What do you think about this year’s John Lewis advert, did it resonate with you?

When it comes to being lonely at Christmas, is there someone you know who is at risk of being alone this year? Is there any way that we have listed above that you could help brighten their Christmas? Get in touch with Careline on Twitter @Careline365 if you’ve got any more tips of how to include the lonely at Christmas.