Every year, over 8,500 people pick up the phone to the charity Hourglass (formerly Action on Elder Abuse), seeking help and advice for themselves, their loved ones and even neighbours they are concerned about. One woman who knows first-hand how difficult and distressing these calls can be is its head of support services and safeguarding, Angie Greenaway-Samuel, from Croydon, south London.
‘When 77-year-old Janet* called, she was frightened and had very little credit left on her phone,’ explains Angie, 55. ‘There was hardly any food in the house and she was hungry. She and Janet was rescued from her terrible situation.’