Thousands of people in Cyprus, including the sick and those with disabilities, but mainly the elderly, are living in absolute loneliness as the new year approaches, according to the Cyprus Elderly Observatory.
It’s a loneliness that hurts them and makes even pleasant memories painful, the organisation said.
“We need to talk about the loneliness that isn’t visible in shop windows. A phone call isn’t enough. We need to remember that whilst lights are on on Christmas Eve and tables are full on New Year’s Eve with fireworks lighting up the sky, some homes remain in semi-darkness. Some people are alone, without voices and festive noise, without a countdown to the new year, without someone to hug them, kiss them and say and be told: Happy New Year,” said Dimos Antoniou, president of the Cyprus Elderly Observatory, who has dedicated his life to elderly welfare.
The holidays smell of cinnamon and cloves in Cyprus, but they don’t smell the same for everyone, Antoniou said. For some elderly people, these days aren’t just decorations and tables – they’re an empty chair, a quiet house, and an unanswered “Will you come round?”.
When the neighbourhood fills with lights, some homes remain in semi-darkness, not from economy but from loneliness.
Those living in loneliness aren’t few, the observatory stressed. They include not only those without family but also people who have children and grandchildren but see them rarely, not from lack of love but from the pressure of daily life, distance and exhaustion.
They’re elderly people who can’t move easily – people with vision problems, mobility difficulties and chronic illnesses who need help, accompaniment and safety to leave the house.
“Add to these the elderly living with the weight of loss. For some, this will be the first year without their partner. The first empty plate at the table. The first time, they’ll hang decorations with hands trembling not from age but from emotion. These moments aren’t fixed with a formal phone greeting. They need presence, time and tenderness,” Antoniou said.
Loneliness isn’t a “feeling of the moment”, he said. It’s a factor that wears down health, weighs on the soul and makes daily life more dangerous.
During the holidays, risks increase when there’s no one to help, an indisposition goes unnoticed, and a sense of “I don’t want to bother anyone” keeps someone from seeking support.
The observatory urged practical action: knock on an elderly neighbour’s door, not “to check if they’re OK” but to say hello, leave some sweets, stand for five minutes and talk.
For relatives who struggle to move, arrange transport and help them get out and feel they belong. If that’s not possible, make their home the celebration point with a meal together.
For those grieving, don’t be afraid to mention the person who’s gone – memory doesn’t “spoil” the celebration; it deepens it. Bring children close to the elderly – generations heal each other.
“As the Cyprus Elderly Observatory, we call on society, communities, municipalities, parishes, organisations and every citizen individually to make the holidays more humane. Organise neighbourhood networks, provide care for transporting elderly people who can’t move, and strengthen support lines and home care where needed. Let’s not allow any person to feel ‘forgotten’ because they’re ageing,” the observatory said.
If these days teach anything, it’s that love isn’t a decoration you put up and take down – it’s a way of life, Antoniou said.
“If these holidays we take even one step towards an elderly person, one phone call, one visit, a bit of help, a bit of company, then perhaps the real message of Christmas will become action so that no one is left alone in the cold when around us there are hearts that can warm,” he said.
With New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Epiphany approaching, there’s no excuse to say “we’ll see next year”, the observatory said. As the year changes, no home should remain in semi-darkness.
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