Information & advice

One in five people over 65 are alone for more than 12 hours a day

Britain’s older people are living in isolation‚ with those over the age of 65 twice as likely as other age groups to spend over 21 hours of the day alone.  These findings are released today as Age Concern is launched as the Tesco Charity of the Year 2005.

The NOP survey of 1‚000 people found that one in five people over 65 spend more than 12 hours of every day on their own. These people are more at risk of depression and ill-health caused by isolation and loneliness.

More than a quarter of people over 65 do not have a best friend‚ which is higher than any other age group. A third of people over 65 see their local supermarket as somewhere to socialise and get out of the house and one in five people eat their meals there rather than at home.

Gordon Lishman‚ Director General‚ Age Concern England‚ said:

“Over 3.5 million older people live alone and many do not have regular visitors or any opportunity to get out of the house.  It costs £15‚000 to set up and run a local befriending scheme to benefit 50 isolated older people over a year.  The funds that Tesco will raise this year will help Age Concern to reach even more older people and make a real difference to their lives.”

The Age Concern and Tesco Charity of the Year partnership aims to raise over £2 million to combat the problem of isolation and poverty amongst older people.

Chairman of the Tesco Charity Trust‚ Tim Mason‚ said: 

"We are proud to be supporting the valuable work Age Concern is doing in the UK.  We operate in over 1‚000 communities up and down the country and people throughout the Tesco business work hard to raise funds for charities and good causes.  We hope that through our fundraising‚ many practical benefits can be brought to older people in communities around the UK who experience social isolation.''

Tesco stores across the UK will be celebrating the launch at 11am on the 17th January.  The launch will be supported by local famous faces‚ Age Concern staff and supporters.  Annette Crosbie and Doreen Mantle (stars of One Foot in the Grave) will be at the national launch at Tesco Romford to help kick off the partnership. 

To attend a launch photocall or receive the full report and details of the nationwide survey contact ailsa.macfarlane@incredibullideas.com or telephone 020 7940 3800.

Notes for editors

• NOP ‘Generation’ Survey commissioned by Age Concern was carried out during the weekend of 11th & 12th December 2004.
• Every year‚ Tesco adopts a national charity with a strong community presence to be the Tesco Charity of the Year. This becomes the main focus for staff fundraising‚ which receives a 20 per cent “top-up” from the Tesco Charity Trust.
• Age Concern has been chosen as the Tesco Charity of the Year 2005 and together aim to raise £2 million.
• Age Concern is the UK’s largest organisation working with and for older people. Of the 11 million older people living in the UK today‚ 30 per cent live alone and 20 per cent live below the poverty line.
• Age Concern provides vital local services as well as influencing public opinion and government. 
• More than 252‚000 older people benefit from Age Concern services every week.
• In just 30 years time‚ the UK population aged over 60 will have increased by 50 per cent‚ so Age Concern services will be even more vital. 
• There are 12 launches taking place in Tesco stores simultaneously nationwide at 11am on Monday 17th January‚ please see below:

Edinburgh – Corstorphine Extra      

Belfast  – Knocknagoney Road

Cookstown – Orritor Rd

Uttoxeter – Town Meadows Way

Leeds – Leeds Seacroft Extra

Liverpool – Old Swan Liverpool

Stockton-on-Tees – Stockton Extra

Horsham – Wickhurst Lane

Swindon – Swindon Extra

Cardiff – Cardiff Extra

Romford – Roneo Corner

Norwich – Blue Boar Lane

Media contact:

Ailsa Macfarlane
Telephone:
020 7940 3800
Email:
Ailsa Macfarlane