Urgent action need to contact isolated elderly people

URGENT action is needed to reach older, isolated people in the Warrington area, according to charity group Contact the Elderly.
Groups of volunteers that organise monthly tea parties for isolated people aged 75 and over in the Warrington area are struggling to reach older isolated people in their communities, according to the charity.
Residents are being asked to spread the word about the tea parties to encourage older people in their areas who live alone and have little contact with family and friends to sign up to attend the groups.
Contact the Elderly’s North West Regional Development Officer, Gwen Lightfoot, said: “It is increasingly hard to reach isolated older people. They are so often feeling trapped in their homes – not getting out a lot and not speaking to a single person for days.
“Everyone knows someone on their street or in their local area who could do with getting out of the house and socialising. We urge residents in the North West to think about someone who would benefit and ask them to get in touch with me. Our volunteers pick guests up and take them to a Sunday afternoon tea party, often the loneliest time of the week for many people.”
Contact the Elderly operates by forming small local groups made up of guests and volunteers.
One Sunday afternoon a month each group meets for tea, cake and company.  Hosts take it in turns to welcome guests, usually once or twice a year and volunteer drivers take guests safely to the tea party and then home again.  This is a free service.
Contact the Elderly regional development officer Gwen Lightfoot would like to hear from anyone interested in joining the groups as a guest and can be contacted via 01925 728 969 or [email protected]
*The Lymm and Thelwall group of Contact the Elderly have organised a fund-raising jazz concert by the Chicago Teddy Bears at Grappenhall Community Centre this Friday.