When 96-year-old Georgina goes off to meet her friends, it’s a joyous occasion. She steps out of her home with a little touch of make-up, her hair in a pretty style, and an elegant matching hat and coat. But all this effort is for a good reason: not only does it happen just once a month, it’s also her only opportunity to interact with people and to have a social life.
In a video by Amazing Humans, the story of Georgina and her peers really hits home. Georgina has no one. Her husband has been dead for 16 years and as Georgina says, she still “misses him.” She has no remaining relatives. Thankfully, she can rely on the generosity of volunteers of a UK-based charity called the Campaign to End Loneliness, which help to arrange these monthly tea parties to gives her something to look forward to, but also takes her out of her home that can become a “prison.”
Georgina’s situation is not unique. According to Pew Research 32 percent of women over the age of 65 are living alone. That’s a lot of elderly people who can feel isolated, scared, and incredibly lonely. The program has changed Georgina’s life so much that she’s even joined the cause, as Chairperson for Scotland, giving interviews and helping to promote their work to the world.
“Being sociable is a massive part of our mental health,” one of the other volunteers says. In the video, Georgina explains that when she goes through the door to meet up with her peers, she suddenly “has a life,” saying she “simply loves it.” She describes the monthly meetings as an “absolute lifesaver” and believes the reason “I’ve been asked, and allowed, to live to 96” is to help people.
The video is so worth watching to see the joy on these elderly people’s faces as they mingle and chat and feel excited to be alive. It also is a great reminder to reach out to those in our own communities who might be feeling isolated and offer them some company.
And today we celebrate...