‘I miss people terribly’: the growing pain of older people’s isolation

Many older people are in lockdown alone, and some of them feel they are wasting valuable time

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“I don’t think I’ll be able to keep doing this for much longer, I won’t be able to stand it,” said Mary Fletcher, 81, who is in her ninth week of lockdown in her flat in London. “I’m starting to feel that having Covid-19 might be preferable to isolation. Next week I think I’m going to break it and see my family. I’m now prepared to take that risk.”

Many older people in the UK are in lockdown alone. Being apart from family and friends, and often unable to leave the house because they are “shielding”, has left many struggling with isolation.

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