Which? Legal hosts Bristol coffee morning for local older people

Which? Legal are hosting a coffee morning in Bristol’s Elmgrove Centre on Thursday February 7th for older people in the Bristol area, in partnership with Contact the Elderly, to meet local residents and help tackle loneliness among older people.

Serving many residents in the South West, Which? Legal is inviting older people based in or near Bristol to the event, which will include a raffle, home baking, gift bags, and a chance to socialise with the local community and the Which? Legal team.

Guests will also have to opportunity to speak to experts from Which? Legal and receive advice on any legal or consumer rights queries they may have.

Recent research from Which? Later Life Care found that 44 per cent of those over 65 said they feel lonely on at least some days. 40 per cent said they don’t have regular contact with a family member, and over half of those who feel lonely most days or every day said they haven’t talked about feeling lonely to anyone.

Loneliness can have a number of detrimental effects on an older person’s health. Which? Later Life Care has a care services directory where people can search for local support groups for older people and their carers.

Which? Legal are partnering with Contact the Elderly – a charity dedicated to tackling loneliness and social isolation in older people for more than 50 years – to host the coffee morning. Residents from local care homes have also been invited to the event.

 

Darren Stott, Managing Director of Which? Legal, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome Bristol’s older residents to meet the team behind Which? Legal, and to do our bit in working to help combat loneliness among people in later life in our community.

“We look forward to working closely with the Bristol community in the future, and hope this event paves the way for many more.”

 

Meryl Davies, Chief Executive of Contact the Elderly, said:

“Loneliness is the reality for many of the two million people aged 75 and over who live alone in the UK. At Contact the Elderly we provide social gatherings for more than 6,000 isolated people across the UK each year.

“The older guests who come to our groups in Bristol love their regular afternoons of conversation and companionship and tell us that it gives them something to look forward to each month so I’m delighted to hear that the Which? Legal team are hosting a coffee morning for their local community.

“Anyone who is interested in volunteering or referring an older person can contact us via our website or call freephone: 0800 716543.”

 

Notes to editors:

  1. If you would like to have a reporter or photographer attend the event, please contact Hannah Burke on the contact details above.

  2. Which? surveyed 1,239 people aged 65 and over about their experiences of loneliness from 3rd–12th December 2018.

  3. Which? Later Life Care is a free and independent source of practical advice and guidance for making care choices across the UK.

  4. Which? Later Life Care has a range of advice for older people on how to get help for loneliness: https://www.which.co.uk/later-life-care/home-care/loneliness/how-to-get-help-for-loneliness-avwgk8f93mym

  5. Founded in 1965, Contact the Elderly is the only national charity solely focussed on relieving the acute loneliness and isolation of older people who live alone through regular face-to-face contact.

  6. Contact the Elderly currently has over 800 groups throughout the UK, providing a regular, consistent and vital friendship link every month to 6,200 older people aged 75 and over.

  7. For more information visit: www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk

Press Release