Joan Collins pledges to fight for lonely elderly
DAME Joan Collins is to spearhead a campaign to end the epidemic of loneliness among Britain's elderly.
By Giles Sheldrick
The celebrated actress and author told the Daily Express she wants to use her global profile to raise awareness of the work of The Silver Line to ensure it reaches everyone suffering in silence. After hearing how Britain treats older people, she agreed to become an ambassador for her close friend Dame Esther Rantzen's pioneering charity, which is backed by the Daily Express's Respect For The Elderly crusade. Dame Joan, best known for her role as the scheming Alexis Colby in Eighties soap opera Dynasty, said: "I don't worry about being old for a second. I believe you are as old as you look - and I look much younger than I am. The sad fact about the UK is that family has become eroded.
"In countries like Italy, Spain and
India older people have the love and support of their family, friends
and everyone, but too often that is not the case in Britain."
The star and her husband Percy Gibson, were guests of honour at a champagne reception and dinner thrown by philanthropists Sir Sydney and Lady Lipworth at their London home on Sunday night.
The glittering function, also attended by Gloria Hunniford, was held to celebrate The Silver Line's fifth anniversary. Dame Esther, told guests that since she set up Britain's only aroundthe-clock helpline for older people it had been flooded with more than two million calls.
In the past year it has fielded 550,000 - an increase of 10 per cent on the previous year - and is now taking 1,500 calls a day, almost one a minute.
More than half say they have no one else to talk to and only one in five would have a relative to speak to if the helpline was not there.
Dame Esther said: "Dame Joan epitomises the wit and wisdom of the older generation.
"She is strong, fit and beautiful - but she knows how fortunate she is and she is delighted to be able to reach out and support The Silver Line service spreading awareness to those who unlike Dame Joan suffer the pangs of loneliness."
The star and her husband Percy Gibson, were guests of honour at a champagne reception and dinner thrown by philanthropists Sir Sydney and Lady Lipworth at their London home on Sunday night.
The glittering function, also attended by Gloria Hunniford, was held to celebrate The Silver Line's fifth anniversary. Dame Esther, told guests that since she set up Britain's only aroundthe-clock helpline for older people it had been flooded with more than two million calls.
In the past year it has fielded 550,000 - an increase of 10 per cent on the previous year - and is now taking 1,500 calls a day, almost one a minute.
More than half say they have no one else to talk to and only one in five would have a relative to speak to if the helpline was not there.
Dame Esther said: "Dame Joan epitomises the wit and wisdom of the older generation.
"She is strong, fit and beautiful - but she knows how fortunate she is and she is delighted to be able to reach out and support The Silver Line service spreading awareness to those who unlike Dame Joan suffer the pangs of loneliness."
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