700,000 older people 'are lonely'
Over 700,000 people aged 65 or over in the UK say they are always or often lonely, Age UK have said. 3.5 million are not getting any help, support or companionship from neighbours.
Pensioners facing a winter of misery
This winter as many as 25,000 older people could die needlessly because of the cold. Age UK have found that is about 200 preventable deaths a day.
During the winter, isolation can intensify having an adverse effect on physical and mental well-being and some studies prove that feelings of loneliness can this can be equivalent to well-established risk factors such as obesity and smoking.
The colder weather brings with it a massive increase in associated health problems for older people including heart attacks and strokes, respiratory problems, pneumonia and depression.
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