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Lily’s story is one which is all too common amongst older people in today’s society. 

Lily‚ like many people was looking forward to a long and happy retirement with her husband of many years‚ who she absolutely adored. They had moved to a small bungalow in a new area and were excited about their new life together. 

Tragically‚ shortly after relocating‚ Lily’s husband died.  Lily was utterly grief stricken.  She had lost the love of her life and her best friend.

Life alone...
Struggling with her loss and sense of emptiness‚ Lily found it increasingly difficult to gain any meaning out of what remained of her life. 

She would spend days and nights alone‚ often going for weeks without any contact with another human being.  Having only recently moved to the area she did not know anybody.  Through a mixture of the shock at her husband’s death and several infirmities she became more and more housebound.

A new hope...
Thankfully‚ Lily’s housing association realised she needed immediate support.

Each week someone from the local Age Concern visits Lily to help with the housework and do some shopping for her.  This has made a tremendous difference to Lily’s life. 

She is able to live in a clean and tidy home that she feels proud of.  Her weekly visit from Age Concern has given Lily some hope back in her life where as before she felt she was merely existing.

• 80% of women aged 85 and over are widows (ONS‚ Census 2001)
• 42% of men over the age of 85 live alone (ONS‚ Census 2001)
• Social isolation can lead to severe depression and at its most extreme - suicide

Your gift today could help us find and train more volunteers to befriend lonely older people and continue the other vital work which we carry out on behalf of older people.