Elderly 'dread lonely Christmas'
Updated on 22 December 2008
More than a third of older people dread Christmas, according to a poll.
Feeling lonely, with concerns about money and health, can trigger depression at this time of year, according to Age Concern.
A survey for the charity found 35% of people over 55 did not look forward to the festive season.
More than one in five had spent Christmas alone and almost six out of 10 wished they could see more of their family over Christmas than they currently do.
Depression is the most common mental health problem in later life and it can stop people enjoying time with loved ones, the charity said. But it warned that people should not see depression as just a sign of "getting older" and that help is on offer via GPs.
Age Concern has printed free information leaflets about depression to help people spot it in older friends or relatives.
Gordon Lishman, the charity's director general, said: "While the nation tucks into its Christmas dinners, many older people will spend it alone. Loneliness is a major cause of depression, which can ruin older people's quality of life.
"As part of the usual festivities, we would urge family members, friends and neighbours to be more vigilant about depression in later life and act on any suspicions if they've noticed a deterioration in the mental wellbeing of older loved ones."
More than 1,000 people took part in the survey.
Eight in 10 older people with clinical depression do not get the treatment they need, a study for Age Concern reported earlier this year.
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