manchester

christmas

Lonely this Christmas

OLDER men are more likely than anyone else to be spending this Christmas alone, a charity said today.

Age Concern is warning that 1.7 million single older men could be living in isolation in the UK over the festive period.

Its figures indicate 289,000 of these men are also living in poverty.

The charity believes men are more likely to be isolated at Christmas because they lack the contacts and social skills enjoyed by their female counterparts.

Age Concern also says many older men lack practical skills such as shopping or cooking and may find themselves at a loss if they have a partner or parent who dies before them.

The problem is particularly acute for white, black and mixed-race older men because elderly Asian men tend to have better social networks through their cultural traditions, the charity believes.

Gordon Lishman, Age Concern's director general, said: "Older men are fast becoming the forgotten members of our society.

"They often experience terrible loneliness in old age but are afraid to speak out as pride gets in the way. Bereavement, illness and disability all add to older men being socially isolated.

"More has to be done and in particular there is a definite need for existing services to be aimed directly at older men to tackle issues such as financial security, affordable transport and opportunities for employment.

"Age Concern is calling on local authorities to make sure that their services target and involve older men to help prevent isolation and give older men the skills they need to integrate themselves fully in society."