The Silver line

Did you know 15,000 older people rang Silverline in the first 2 months of its launch ?

What does that say about the elderly in the UK? It is sad to think that so many of them are so lonely, however the facts don’t lie.

More than half of all 75 year olds in the UK live alone and one in ten suffers “intense” loneliness but is reluctant to ask for help.

In a poll conducted to mark the national launch of The Silver Line on 25 November 2013, 9 out of 10 older people told researchers that “a chat on the phone” is the most helpful solution when they feel lonely.

However 1 in 4 said they never or seldom have someone to chat to on the phone.

The Silver Line is the confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK* open every day and night of the year. Their specially trained helpline staff:

Offer information, friendship and advice
Link callers to local groups and services
Offer regular befriending calls
Protect and support those who are suffering abuse and neglect

Esther Rantzen, Chair and Founder of The Silver Line said:

“It is tragic that older people are so undervalued and isolated that they believe life is not worth living and that they are no longer part of the human race .”

If you know someone who would benefit from talking to someone at Silver Line please let them have this phone number