No jingle in oldies' steps

STRUGGLE: HOLIDAYS CAN BE ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT FOR ELDERLY SINGLES

- Cathy Grosvenor

DEAFENING SILENCE. For many elderly people who have no family or close friends nearby, this time of the year can be depressing and challenging.

(iStock)

The holiday season is often wrapped in images of family gatherings, shared meals and warm traditions. Yet behind the festive cheer lies a quieter truth: for many single residents in retirement villages, this time of year can deepen feelings of isolation and loss.

As families travel, routines change and familiar companions are absent, the weeks meant for celebration can instead become a stark reminder of who is no longer there.

These emotions are common, often unspoken and deserving of far greater attention, say members of NPO Rand Aid Association's therapeutic team.

Social worker Karen Griessel of Thornhill Manor says while the festive season is widely associated with togetherness, many older adults experience the opposite.

"For those without nearby family, the absence of loved ones can feel especially difficult," she says. Loneliness does not always present as overt sadness.