While children’s spirits soared during the recent spell of snowy weather, the region’s elderly residents hid away, too frightened to set foot outside. Lucy Richardson reports.

WATCHING them sip cups of coffee while enjoying a catch-up, the two frail women looked relaxed and happy.

After a self-imposed isolation period of two weeks, they were both revelling in idle chit-chat and a change of scenery, now the snow and ice has melted.

Jean Tinsley, 80, was so frightened of injuring herself, she did not venture outdoors for 13 days.

“I was climbing the walls,”

she said.

“A friend came over every night to see if there was anything that I needed, but I still felt depressed.

“I suffer from osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, so I dare not risk heading out at all, as there was ice under the snow.

“I was lonely – I watched so much TV it became my best friend, but after 13 days I wanted to put my foot through it.”

Sitting opposite her at Grosmont Day Care Centre, in Redcar, Lillian Bellamy, 84, said she was thrilled to be socialising again and was looking forward to a game of bingo after lunch.

The only time the women ever leave home is to be driven to the centre, which is run by Age Concern three times a week. However, during the Big Freeze, both were too scared to even gingerly put a foot outside.

Mrs Bellamy, who has had two hip operations, said: “I was inside for a fortnight. It was very lonely.

“Coming here is a lifeline.

It is great to be back again, I really missed the company.”

Andrew Harrop, head of policy at Age Concern and Help the Aged, said: “Icy roads and pavements have made many older people prisoners in their homes, frightened to venture out through fear of falling and leaving them feeling isolated and lonely.”

Elizabeth Briggs, chief executive of Age Concern Teesside, said all the people on their books were contacted if they did not arrive at the day centre, and were offered meals delivered or shopping collected, if needed.

At Age Concern’s centre in Middlesbrough, a group of pensioners whiled away a Monday morning with an easy-going game of carpet bowls.

Many enjoy a full social calendar, including a threeweek holiday to Torremolinos in the spring, but had to abandon their gettogethers when the icy grip took hold.

Jean Laville, 78, said she had been forced to stand at the window watching the world go by.

“I was stir crazy,” she said.

“We all need to be out and we need company badly.

That’s why coming here is such a lifeline.”

Vera Scott, 70, agreed, saying she had felt lonely being cooped up and became very depressed.

“My sons did not want me to go out and I did not want to worry them,” she said.

“I looked out of the window and thought ‘I’m going to go mad if I don’t get out soon’.”

Alison Kerry, from the mental health charity, Mind, said that as people grow older they become more vulnerable to feeling lonely.

“Retirement, the death of a spouse and being less socially active can all contribute to an overwhelming sense of isolation, which can lead to mental distress,” she said.

“If you have elderly relatives and the weather is making a visit difficult then why not give them a call or write a letter to show you are thinking of them?

“When the weather is back to its best, go for a stroll – gentle exercise and exposure to daylight are all really good ways to help maintain mental wellbeing as you grow older.”