Loved this article!!! Thank you!!!!

Katiesgrammy, I agree that not all of the people that one does not hear from are passed away. So many people just don't bother to keep contact. It is bizarre. People just don't seem to like each other anymore! If people are not on Facebook, some very shallow people will stop communicating even though they are family or friends of 40 years. It is though friendship, family, and human life itself doesn't matter much.
My MIL, who is 89, just does not understand why all but two of her nieces do not ever get in touch with her. They have just disappeared from her life. Where are all these loving families we see on TV ads? What a farce! It just makes people feel all the worse at this time of year.

There are over 70 million aging grandparents in the United States who have been kicked out of their adult children's lives and refused contact whatsoever with beloved grandchildren. We are alienated by the very children we gave life to. We spend all holidays alone grieving over the loss of our beloved family members who are still living. I would like to see more attention given to this growing problem in 21st Century society. Thank you.

Yes, these tips are very helpful and can make a real difference. The challenge, of course, is the strain between family caregivers and their limited time and the very real needs of the aging family member. Loneliness is called the "silent killer" of the elderly and this is a real problem especially during the holidays. Families are already stretched and this situation can be even more problematic if the aging loved one either lives far away or in a nursing home. It is estimated that 50% of people in nursing homes NEVER gets visit. NEVER! There is nothing more meaningful than a real visit from family, but a quality virtual visit is an valuable alternative when visiting in person is either impossible or limited. Whatever method you choose, make sure our oldest family members gets to be part of the holiday spirit.

Very helpful tips which I will be using and passing on. I've found that regular encouragement and reminiscing about memories can really encourage interaction and happy emotions. Sova Health Care have really helped me through these challenging times with a loved one to better understand Dementia symptoms and care support.

I really appreciate this information - I've passed it on to others as well - your parent doesn't have to been in a home or suffering from any illness - we should do this ALL THE TIME :-)

This is a really good reminder to Act, not just read. The holidays can be a really lonely time for many as well as extra stressful. Remember to prioritize so you have time to make the extra effort for your elderly loved ones.

It’s an issue which has been brought up in the media over and over again in recent years, but it’s good to see organisations and blogs (like yourselves) are doing something about it, rather than creating an advert which doesn’t send the right image in my opinion.

My parents aren't lonely - I'm the one with no social life!

These are good tips not only for the elderly. Single people living on their own with familiy thousands of miles away can fall into the same category. You don't have to be old to be lonely and alone. I may volunteer at a soup kitchen or buy an extra TV turkey dinner to share with an elderly neighbor.