In amongst all the joyous carols, festive classics and novelty singles we hear throughout December, there’s one popular Christmas song that always strikes us as terribly poignant. “Lonely This Christmas” by ‘70s rock band Mud may tell the tale of a broken-hearted lover on his own at Christmas, but the tone of the song itself captures the very real feeling of one of the season’s biggest social issues.

While many of us look forward to a Christmas surrounded by friends, family and (of course) festive tunes, for others it can be a wildly different story. With loneliness affecting more and more people in the UK each year, it’s important to remember loved ones and neighbours who may be facing the holiday at home alone.

Loneliness at Christmas time can affect anyone, but is certainly a common occurrence amongst older members of society. According to recent figures from Age UK, almost a million Britons over the age of 60 feel lonely at Christmas. Varying situations like family members living far away, recent bereavements or other undesirable circumstances can leave many feeling isolated at what should be a time to celebrate together.

When alone, it’s easy for people to reflect upon sad or painful memories from the year gone by. Such sadness can even end up being made worse by thoughts of missing out the festivities and hearing those happy Christmas songs on a seemingly endless loop.

We all tend to have an idealistic view of Christmas each year, which – when it doesn’t live up to expectations – can leave us feeling blue. There are several things we can all do, however, to make sure that neither our loved ones nor we feel alone during the festive season.

Keep connected

We live in an era where people are living longer, families are becoming more widespread and loneliness among older people is growing. However, it’s also the era of technology, and it’s never been easier to keep in touch with each other across long distances.

Staying connected with friends and family via Facebook or Skype can be useful when it’s not practical to communicate in person. Video calls or instant text messaging are great ways to join in with the Christmas gathering, even if you or a loved one can’t be there physically.

Not everyone has access to the internet, though, and those who do may even feel a little unfamiliar with it. In this case, regular phone conversations are still a great way to provide somebody with company when they’d otherwise be completely alone.

Stay positive and active

The stresses and pressures that come with Christmas occasionally bring negative aspects alongside the positives. Lack of company, financial woes and the season’s cold darkness can cause quite a bit of strain on our mental health.

It’s important to keep active around this time of year to hold off any feelings of depression. Visiting community groups or attending church services are wonderful for social interactions, as well as keeping spirits high.

For older members of society who may struggle to get out of the house, planning some indoor activities like listening to music, doing puzzles or reading a novel are great for keeping yourself occupied. Going back to technology, many services like Audible contain thousands of audio books to choose from, allowing loved ones listen to their favourite novels or biographies on demand.

Do your best to enjoy the season

Sometimes, being alone at Christmas can’t be helped, but it’s important to recognise the distinction between solitude and loneliness. There may be times when somebody might actually enjoy bit of breathing space during what can be a busy and manic period.

However, it’s vital that we remember to check on our neighbours and loved ones to ensure that they’re managing well, and to offer company at times when it’s needed. Even just sitting with them for an hour or two, relaxing with a mince pie and a cheeky glass of sherry can do a world of good!

Levels of loneliness across the country are continuously rising, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year as well. It can be difficult to keep on top of this as time goes on, but as long as we remember to offer company and a bit of loving treatment to those on their own, nobody need feel truly alone at this joyous time of year.

For further information, check out the Age UK campaign: “No one should have no one at Christmas” http://www.ageuk.org.uk/no-one/