Unpaid carer from Glasgow shares experience of loneliness
Anne, 60, was a full-time carer for her mum and mother-in-law for the last decade.
She said: "Being a carer for someone living with dementia was very isolating.
"I gave up my career in financial services to be a full-time carer for my mum and moved into her house.
Alex (Image: Suppleid) "It's been a very lonely journey no matter who is around you physically and my husband and I feel very broken emotionally and physically."
Anne shared her story as Age Scotland revealed in its latest research that almost half of over-50s in the country feel lonely all or some of the time.
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The survey of 1,287 people also found that 41% of unpaid carers experience 'crippling loneliness'.
Alex, 71, from Motherwell, also shared his experience.
He said: "I've lived on my own since I came back to Scotland.
"I don't have any family or friends around now.
"The reality is that so many people fall away from your life as you get older.
"And before you know it, you're on your own."
Age Scotland believes that more investment is needed to tackle loneliness, as it could have severe health impacts on the nation.
Katherine Crawford, chief executive at Age Scotland, said: "Scotland is in the grip of an epidemic of loneliness with chronic levels of loneliness not going anywhere.
"It is heartbreaking to think that the equivalent of one older person on every street in Scotland feels lonely all or most of the time."
She added that loneliness can significantly impact health, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia, as well as causing mental health challenges.
Age Scotland's friendship line encourages those in the older community struggling with loneliness to call for free on 0800 12 44 222.
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Anne, 60, was a full-time carer for her mum and mother-in-law for the last decade. She said: "Being a carer for someone living with dementia was very isolating. "I gave up my career in financial services to be a full-time carer for my mum and moved into her house. Alex (Image: Suppleid) "It's been a very lonely journey no matter who is around you physically and my husband and I feel very broken emotionally and physically." Anne shared her story as Age Scotland revealed in its latest research that almost half of over-50s in the country feel lonely all or some of the time. Read more: Homes in two busy areas in darkness after being hit by power cut Hollywood legend pictured visiting beloved gastropub Land where Margaret Fleming was murdered sold after price slash The survey of 1,287 people also found that 41% of unpaid carers experience 'crippling loneliness'. Alex, 71, from Motherwell, also shared his experience. He said: "I've lived on my own since I came back to Scotland. "I don't have any family or friends around now. "The reality is that so many people fall away from your life as you get older. "And before you know it, you're on your own." Age Scotland believes that more investment is needed to tackle loneliness, as it could have severe health impacts on the nation. Katherine Crawford, chief executive at Age Scotland, said: "Scotland is in the grip of an epidemic of loneliness with chronic levels of loneliness not going anywhere. "It is heartbreaking to think that the equivalent of one older person on every street in Scotland feels lonely all or most of the time." She added that loneliness can significantly impact health, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia, as well as causing mental health challenges. Age Scotland's friendship line encourages those in the older community struggling with loneliness to call for free on 0800 12 44 222.
