A new community ‘village’ for the over sixties is being launched to combat loneliness and social isolation.

Silver Villages will help older people to live independently through a number of social activities and a village co-ordinator will be available to assist when necessary.

The membership-based scheme has been running in Putney since January and this month founder Sandy Sidhu is bringing the community to Wimbledon.

It is a virtual service which people sign up to. Then there are events and advice services made available for fee-paying members.

Mrs Sidhu said: "As a nation we have a responsibility to nurture and look after our seniors and improve their quality of life, including those with dementia."

Mrs Sidhu aims to empower elderly people and make it easy for them to build new friendships and stay engaged in their own neighbourhood.

Silver Villages will offer cognitive stimulation therapy to dementia sufferers and a dementia specialist to support members and families.

Professionals will be available to provide members with advice on health and aging plus financial and legal matters, and there will be events organised for members to socialise.

There are currently more pensioners in the UK than children under 16-years-old, with five million elderly people revealing their main form of company is the television.

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