LISTEN: Forfar pensioner says loneliness and isolation made her feel 'useless'

She spoke as the Scottish Government gets ready to launch a new national scheme to tackle the problem

Published 16th Jan 2018
Last updated 16th Jan 2018

A Forfar woman, who would spend almost all her time alone, says an increasing number like her are experiencing loneliness and isolation.

74-year-old Elizabeth Anastassiou suffers from health problems which affect her mobility, and can't even make her way to the local shop.

That means that up until recently, the only person she would see regularly was her cleaner who came for an hour once a week.

She spoke to our reporter, Hazel Martin as the Scottish Government is putting together a new national strategy to help an estimated 120,000 over 65s living in isolation: