Loneliness TV Doc

Daytime telly is not the most exciting, oldkranky, but you can watch a lot of non-daytime progs on BBC i-player and similar online sites.

What are your neighbours like? Are any of them just as bored as you and Mrs OK? There might be combined outings to do together.

Thanks for all your kind thought folks. But have not mentioned it before - for various reasons - just had 36 year wedding anniversary. She is in the same boat a me ie: "bored silly" since i had to give up driving 2 years ago.
One daughter in Brighton phones weekly - all my family are gone and minimal contact with the wifes family. Bubblepop etc on the tablet fills a lot of her day. I do watch tv on pc with headphones but after a hour my ears burn.
Whats on to watch - not into football\soaps\daytime telly etc: I quote a well known PM "entertainment for the mindless masses". Have contacted Age Concern with no successful outcomes. Its too out of town here.
Sorry to drivel on about my probs - i know, from the documentary, there are
more than enough out there in the same situation. Happy Monday all

No idea where you live but here Age Concern Cymru are very supportive , they drive people to medical appointments, take them shopping or do the shopping, arrange friends groups, have advocates to support housing problems, advise on disability Aids. Have you contacted them in your area ? If not do ring them.

Thinking about the younger people's stories in the programme reminded me that many people volunteer with a befriending scheme to minimise their own isolation. Often by seeking contact via a befriending agency two people are helped. Perhaps worth a try? Loneliness is proven to be a trigger for all sorts of ill health. Take care. I'm sad there seems to be no one close to you.

Another thing to consider is a befriending scheme. There's lots of organisations now offering befriending opportunities for the elderly. Google is your friend here!

Usually you pair up with a volunteer who either rings you for a chat, visits you at home or drives you places. You don't have to use your own scooter in a lot of places either because they provide them. In some towns you can rent one so you can get about.

The tea and bingo groups could open up a network for you to try new things. It's hard I know, but a little effort on your part might go a long way to getting out and about doing things you like.

Have you thought of trying headphones for the telly, then you can turn the volume up as loud as you need without annoying the neighbours.

Is there a local group of Gransnet anywhere close that you could join?

Have you no family to care about you oldkranky?

Jane10 thanks for reply. I am partially deaf so TV is out (try watching tv with subs sometime - it misses lots out and has sync probs). Have tried to get other things to do but being in a small villiage is very limiting. Get through 2 sometimes 3 books a day. Luckily the net is available so there is an infinite amount of ebooks downloadable.

2 hours in town is better than nothing. The tea and bingo might not be your scene -could you suggest that some of the people there play Scrabble instead? Or cards? The organisers might think that bingo is all anyone there wants to play.
I'm pretty busy but absolutely love my e reader and watching TV. Could you try writing? Contribute pieces to writers websites?

Jane10 - The main point was the getting out and about - where to?
The buses do not take mobility scooters on them. Taxis are out of my price range. There are a couple of older persons meeting groups locally - but tea and bingo are not my scene. There is a shopping bus run by the local council that takes scooters, but you only get 2 hours in town before returning. I look forward to getting a paper in the mornings and saying hello to the newsagent - pathetic or not. I look forward to medical appointments
as a change of scenery. There are a lot of older persons in the same boat as me. Ebooks are a blessing - 4 to 5 hours a day reading fills time.

It was difficult to watch at times. The issues raised do not apply to me at present but it did give me food for thought regarding the future.

You'll feel better when you get your teeth sorted. You don't have to be lonely with Gransnet and Silverline. Maybe you'll be able to get out and about a bit more in the spring? I hope so!