The latest research from over-50s property specialists, Regency Living, reveals that almost half of over-50s in the UK feel lonely during the Christmas period. With Christmas just around the corner, a survey of over-50s*, commissioned by Regency Living, has revealed that many suffer due to loneliness over the festive season.
The survey reveals that as many as 27% of over-50s live alone all year round.
As a result, almost a quarter (24%), said they would be spending this Christmas alone, whilst a further 20% will be spending some, but not all, of the Christmas period with family and friends.
With so many over-50s spending at least some of the Christmas period alone, it’s no surprise that loneliness is an issue for almost half of them, with 44% reporting feeling lonely at Christmas.
A lack of contact with friends and family at Christmas isn’t the only contributing factor to loneliness amongst over-50s. 38% also profess to feeling an increased sense of isolation over the festive period, as those within their local community aren’t around as frequently as they might be at other times of the year.
Sales & Marketing Director at Regency Living, Tim Simmons commented:
“Christmas is a time of year that many of us look forward to with great anticipation, not least because it’s an opportunity to spend quality time with family, friends, and loved ones that we just don’t get all year round.
Unfortunately, an awful lot of people don’t get to enjoy this period with their families, and this sense of loneliness is particularly common among over 50s and retirees. Those who don’t spend Christmas with loved ones are often dealing with an even more intense sense of isolation when all of their neighbours go away for the festive period, thus removing some of the most important points of companionship and contact people who live alone often have.
Of course, loneliness isn’t only a festive problem. There are too many people who experience it all year round and it’s simply heightened at this time of year. It’s one of the reasons that park home living is growing in popularity among over-50s and retirees. Residential park home sites offer a safe haven within a ready-made community of like-minded people of a similar age.
Being surrounded by friends and companions gives a huge boost to our quality of life, which itself boosts both our mental and physical health well into our later years. So we would encourage anyone who is worried about living alone or being lonely in their retirement to chat with us and explore the possibility of moving to a park home community.”
Survey results
