ELDERLY people are increasingly resorting to anti-depressants to cope with loneliness and isolation, charity workers have warned.

One woman, who runs a weekly group on behalf of Glasgow Old People's Welfare Association (GOPWA), said the club was the only thing that had stopped her resorting to pills.

A recent study of 13,000 elderly people revealed “increased levels of antidepressants being prescribed” to older people within the first year of losing a spouse.

Age Scotland, said helpline staff had taken calls from family members concerned that relatives were taking anti-depressants. The charity said loneliness was likely to be one of the causal factors.

Rae McCarthy, launched, Primrose Friends, at a sheltered housing complex in Whiteinch after council cuts forced the closure of a day centre, run by GOPWA.

She said: "I used to go to the Donald Dewar centre with my husband Pat, 81.

"When it closed, I was lonely and I thought, what can we do?

"Could we not run a club in our sheltered housing complex? So me and Pat set up a club.

"We have 28 members, all between 80 and 90.

"Older people are so depressed. They are lonely. That's why they are down.

"It saved me from taking anti-depressants.

"I went to see this lady who had cancer. I brought her a bunch of flowers. I thought she wasn't going to last a year.

"What a lift it gave that lady. She's still here. We need these clubs to combat loneliness and isolation.

"It stops them going to the doctor to get pills."

Estimates suggest on in five older adults living in the community experience depression or poor mental health, rising to two in five of those living in care homes.

Experts say a lack of close relationships or meaningful activities are key factors influencing mental health and wellbeing.

Elderly volunteers in Glasgow run around 90 social clubs on behalf of Glasgow Old People's Welfare Association (GOPWA) which also manages day centres and a range of other support services.

Jean Menzies, 79, a widow, runs Carntyne Sunshine Club, at the parish church, which sees a regular group of 50 pensioners every Monday.

She said:

"We have got quite a healthy membership. We try to do all different things for them.

"The church doesn't allow bingo.

"I also volunteer at Lightburn Hospital in the tea room. I go to the clubs and learn to dance.

"I get satisfaction from running the clubs. It gets me out of the house, it's good for me.

"James passed away 14 years ago, this Christmas day. My children are grown up.

"I'm fortunate that I've got family though. For some, their families may be abroad."

A spokesman for Age Scotland said: "Our helpline team do get calls from family members who mention that their older relatives are taking anti-depressants. It’s hard to know if this is directly linked to loneliness, but it’s likely to be one of the factors involved.

"Older people often find it hard to admit when they are lonely and isolated, so it is probably a more widespread problem.

"Social clubs, befriending projects and community groups can quite literally be a lifeline for older people. We would like to see a national strategy to tackle loneliness and its very real impact on wellbeing and quality of later life.”