Millions of over 60s are facing a Silent Night – and day – this Christmas, with one in 10 not sure they will speak to anyone between December 15 and January 1. The statistic comes from Asda ’s new Christmas Community report – which surveyed 1,000 over 60s.
Last Christmas, almost one in five said there were days when they didn’t speak to a single soul, and during the two-and-a-half week spell running from mid-December to the end of the year, 15 per cent said they got used to not conversing with other people.
One in 10 over 60s said they’d gone to a supermarket simply to speak to another person. 79 per cent said they’ll rely on the TV for company, 29 per cent said they’ll depend on their pets.
This Christmas, Asda is encouraging over 60s to visit their local Asda store and enjoy a ‘Winter Warmer’– a soup and a roll, with the new addition of a hot drink – with others of their age. The supermarket is aiming to transform their in store café’s into ‘Chatty Cafes’ – where senior citizens can come together, eat and drink, and make new friends.
Star of Gavin & Stacey Larry Lamb visited an Asda superstore to launch the new concept. Asda’s Winter Warmer initiative will run across all Cafés until the end of 2024. There are three soup flavours to choose from and the addition of unlimited tea or coffee – all for £1.
Larry said: “I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by friends and family this time of year, but that’s not the case for everyone, and it’s so important that we all club together and help combat loneliness. It’s heartbreaking to think that so many over 60’s in Britain might not speak to anyone at all over the extended Christmas period.”
Asda colleagues will also be donning ‘Happy to Chat’ badges, checking in on older customers in-store when delivering home shopping orders. And the Asda Foundation will deliver £600k of grants tackling loneliness amongst the elderly, boosting activities in local communities, funding Christmas celebrations to bring people together as well as supporting with funding daily essentials.
David Hills, Chief Customer Officer at Asda, said: “Our mission this Christmas is to provide everything customers need at our famously low Asda prices. Christmas is a time to enjoy time with loved ones and the fact one in ten of our older generation is facing Christmas alone is genuinely sobering. That’s why, alongside The Asda Foundation, we’re proud to invest almost £1 million through our in-store initiatives and grants to do what we can to tackle loneliness and isolation in the communities we serve.
“Our teams do incredible work to support communities all-year-round, and I’m so proud to be able to launch the Chatty Cafés initiative today, alongside our renowned Winter Warmers deal, which we know is a lifeline to many. We’re pledging to bring people together this festive season and encouraging people across the nation to check in with the elderly in their communities this Christmas.”
Anyone wishing to get involved can reach out to their community champion at their local Asda store for more details of events near them.