I get lonely at night when there’s nobody to chat to
ASTRID Austin-Smith said she never thought she would be someone who relied on a charity like The Silver Line but now admits that she could not imagine life without it.
She found out about the service at her local dancing club and has been receiving a call each Wednesday lunchtime for the past three years.
Like hundreds of thousands of older people, widowed former civil servant Astrid, 90, from Enfield, north London, has struggled with loneliness and craves interaction.
Her regular calls from The Silver Line have become a lifeline.
Astrid, who has lived alone for 30 years, said: “Although I have always gone out and done things, a lot of it has come to an end.
I do get lonely, especially in the evenings when there is no one to share the TV with or talk to
“I am not as agile as I would like and I have had a few falls so it’s not easy to get out.
“I do get lonely, especially in the evenings when there is no one to share the TV with or talk to.
“The Silver Line has helped me because it’s an extra thing in my life.
“I look forward to Wednesdays when I sit down, have a coffee and wait for the phone to ring. It’s exciting.”
Contact the elderly campaign to combat loneliness
David, her volunteer caller, rings to talk about “what I have been doing and what he has been up to.
I know about this family and he knows about my family.
I feel like I have built up a relationship with him.
We spend about half an hour on the phone.
“There are so many people worse off than me and I didn’t think I would ever rely on a service like this but it’s not easy for some people to get out and about. The Silver Line has become part of my life.
“Although I have got family they are not next door or around the corner. In days gone by neighbours were more friendly and everyone knew each other. This generation is not like that.”