December 23, 2025 - 184 views
New research from Sentai, a conversational AI voice companion tool, reveals loneliness is one of the biggest fears for families with elderly relatives this Christmas.
The nationally representative study of 2,000 Brits found that 65% worry about loved ones feeling lonely, with loneliness now rivalling physical safety concerns. While 47% say their biggest fear is falls, 41% rank loneliness as their top concern for an older relative living alone.
These worries are felt nationwide, but Sentai’s research highlights clear regional and city-level differences. Concern is highest in Northern Ireland, where nearly half (49%) say loneliness is one of their biggest worries, followed by Wales (46%) and the South West (46%).
At a city level, fears around loneliness are particularly pronounced in Belfast (48%) and Bristol (48%), followed by London (42%) and Brighton (42%).
Significant concern is also seen in Edinburgh (41%), Glasgow (41%) and Birmingham (40%), showing that around two in five families in major UK cities fear elderly relatives will feel lonely this Christmas.
The findings come as Age UK1 launches research indicating that more than a million older people in the UK could face a “miserable” Christmas Day alone. The charity’s polling of more than 2,600 people aged over 65 revealed more than one in 10 (11%) will eat dinner alone on December 25, while 5% will not see or speak to anyone during the entire day.
Loneliness also presents a serious public health challenge. It has been linked to increased risks of coronary heart disease (29%), strokes (32%)2 and dementia (25%3), while those experiencing loneliness are twice as likely to suffer from depression4. Government analysis estimates severe loneliness costs around £9,500 per person each year5, equating to £31.35 billion annually when applied to the 3.3 million people aged 65 and over living alone in the UK6.
Despite these concerns, many families delay taking action. Sentai’s research shows 45% only seek support once problems become visible, while just 16% act proactively. Nearly half (48%) say resistance from older relatives is the biggest barrier, often driven by fears of losing independence (53%) or becoming a burden (51%). Encouragingly, 76% say they would accept support sooner if it helped them stay at home for longer, particularly over Christmas.
Paul Statham, CEO of Sentai, said: “Christmas is almost synonymous with family time and being together but this can heighten feelings of loneliness when people aren’t able to be with those they care about. The consequences of not tackling this can be detrimental. Many families want nothing more than to help and support their loved ones but the challenges of daily life mean that isn’t always so simple.
“One of the biggest concerns not only reflected in our data but in the conversations we have with Sentai users is the fear of becoming a burden. Companionship tools, like Sentai, mean families can maintain connection without always having to be in the same room.”
Anne Hanscomb, who has implemented Sentai in her father’s home echoed the sentiment, stating: “At Christmas time, there is always such a buzz in the air with people spending time with their loved ones so I think it can become even more apparent when you are alone. I live over an hour away from my dad, and tools like Sentai have been a huge, huge help in bridging the distance.
“We use it to set reminders, for example for his laughing yoga or to drink water, which helps him stay fit and active. We can use it to easily check in on each other. It even acts as a companion during moments when my dad might feel alone. Access to such support couldn’t be more valuable - it removes some of the pressure from me and helps ensure the time we spend together can be to enjoy family moments like Christmas.”
Sentai’s approach combines companionship, reminders, and reassurance to help families act earlier, reducing both the emotional and physical toll of living alone, and keeping older adults connected, supported, and safe.
To find out more from Sentai’s research, visit: https://sentai.co.uk/blogs/news/before-the-worry
