The Silver Line Helpline

Thursday, 09 May 2013

Nobody prepares you for the loneliness of old age. I rang John over Christmas. Aged 79, he had contacted our new befriending helpline, The Silver Line, and mentioned that he would welcome a call over Christmas Day. When I rang on the day itself, I asked him "How's it been so far?". "To be 100% honest," he said, "You are the first person I have spoken to all day." And when I rang to check a few days later he told me that I was the only person he spoke to on Christmas Day. Me, a stranger, on a helpline. Read more