Penny first contacted Age NI because she was feeling lonely and isolated.
Widowed and living with a long-term condition that severely limits her mobility, she is often confined to her home. Days can pass without seeing or speaking to anyone. After talking with the Age NI advice line, Penny was matched with a Check in and Chat volunteer who now phones her every week for a friendly call.
Penny shared: “The regular calls have made such a difference to my life; we get on like a house on fire. It really perks me up. It’s so lovely that someone cares enough to phone me and treat me like a human.”
When Gwyneth became a Check in and Chat volunteer, she didn’t expect a weekly phone call to change two lives.
She was matched with Margaret, who had recently lost her husband.
"Gwyneth came into my life at my lowest ebb."
What started as a volunteering role grew into a lasting friendship between both women. Even after Margaret moved on from the service, Gwyneth continues to visit her in her care home, often bringing her young children along.
Brenda, Age NI's Head of Advice, shares the outcome of a couple who recently contacted the advice line.
“I took a call from a gentleman who was enquiring about a blue badge due to ongoing health issues and reduced mobility. During the conversation it became clear that his wife was also living with poor health.
With my support, he and his wife were both awarded the higher-rate Attendance Allowance, increasing their income by £11,481.60 per annum. I also helped them secure the blue badge enabling them to stay mobile and independent."
Stories like this are the reason your support matters so deeply. We provide a range of vital services to help reduce loneliness, keep people connected, and improve the quality of life for older people.
Last year, Age NI:
- Directly supported 4,157 older people
- Made 8,773 friendship calls
- Answered 9,071 advice line calls
- Identified £1,020,206 in unclaimed benefits
While we are proud of all we have achieved, the need in our community continues to grow. While others enjoy brighter days, family time, and holidays, many older people face life alone. With your support, this doesn’t have to be their reality.