At 67, I live alone, pleading with my children to take me in, but they refuse. I don’t know how to go on.
At 67, I live by myself. My husband passed away long ago, and I don’t know how to fill the emptiness. I ask my children to let me move in, but they won’t have it. I don’t know how to carry on like this. In bustling cities like Manchester, loneliness weighs heavy. Crowds of strangers bring no comfort, especially to the elderly. At this age, making new friends feels near impossible, and sorrow becomes a constant companion.
Today, we’re talking about loneliness in old age and what psychologists have to say about it. Perhaps this story will inspire someone to find the strength to change their life.
I’m 67, living alone in a small flat on the outskirts of Manchester. My husband died years ago. I still work because it’s the only thing that keeps me from boredom. Lately, though, I’ve been going through the motions—nothing brings joy, everything feels dull and pointless.
I’ve no hobbies, and I don’t even try to find one. Maybe I’m too old for that. I asked my son—he’s got three kids—if he’d move in with me, but his wife said no. I suppose she doesn’t fancy sharing a roof with an old woman.
I thought about living with my daughter, but she’s got her own family, and she doesn’t want me there either. Though they’re always happy when I visit. They make tea, cook a nice meal, listen to my stories. But the more I go, the harder it is to return to my empty flat. And yet I must.
Margaret, our protagonist, doesn’t know how to break the cycle. Even at 67, her life shouldn’t be this joyless. The one glimmer of hope is that she’s begun thinking about change—searching for ways to cope. That’s her chance.
“Lacking hobbies—or worse, not wanting to find any—could be signs of depression. Margaret ought to see a neurologist, psychologist, or therapist,” advises the expert.
Specialists say 67 isn’t old these days. The problem isn’t that her children won’t live with her. Grown kids value their own space, their own lives. You can’t force them to rearrange everything.
“Margaret must let go of the idea that happiness only comes from being near her children. She can change her life herself. She just needs to look around—Manchester’s full of events, places she’s never been, people she hasn’t met. New experiences are what she needs right now,” the psychologist remarks.
The expert has a point. Margaret should see her life differently. If her kids are busy with their own lives and don’t want to live together, she shouldn’t push. Especially since they’re otherwise kind and loving. Why not try to bring meaning back into her days?
At her age, with time and energy still left, she could chase dreams she put off years ago. Some take up painting, others join dance classes—some even travel. The worst is when days blur into the same old routine: telly, the doctor’s, the shops. That kind of life feeds loneliness, trapping you in a corner.
Nowadays, opportunities abound for all ages, and it’s a shame not to take them. Some find love with grandchildren already grown; others discover new passions after retiring.
But the younger generation plays a part too. Children and grandchildren can help their elders stay engaged. Sometimes, a little attention is enough—a phone call, an invitation, a walk together. It could be a lifeline.
