best of Broadway, Hollywood and theWest End, and attracts around two million listeners each week is “a lovely job” she says. ” I don’t think of it as a job. It’s just chatting to people and playing music that I love myself. I feel I have a connection with people.” Radio is important for tackling loneliness too, she says. “You’re never alone when the radio is on. I live alone and, always, when I first come into the house, I make sure I put the radio on, even if I’m not really listening to it. “I get lots of emails from listeners saying how much that they enjoy hearing me tell the stories and playing the music, that they feel as if I’m talking to them,” she says. “I’m the same, when I listen to my favourite radio shows, the presenter’s voice becomes a very familiar voice. You begin to think as the listener that it’s somebody that you know – there’s something rather comforting and familiar about it.” Helping others feel less lonely, particularly in older age and in winter when loneliness can be more prevalent, is something Paige feels strongly about.As an ambassador, and volunteer, for the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), the star is in regular contact with a woman in her 90s.“She lives alone and suffers from agoraphobia, I ring every month and check on her. We have a good old jabber about things that are going on the world, things she might have seen on TV or the radio.” The charity, which has partnered with Yakult for its Stay Safe, Warm and Well campaign, discovered that for almost half (47%) of over-75s surveyed, feelings of loneliness and/ or isolation heighten in winter. But they found that 42% of people receiving phone call from volunteers actually visit their GP less often as a result. Paige herself says she “never” feels lonely herself, despite the fact she lives alone (she never married).“I enjoy solitude. Plus, ’ve always got loads of things to do, I think that’s the key.”
Having hobbies is key, she says.“As you get older, especially if you are not working anymore – because work is probably the mainstay of most people’s life – when you’re not working there’s a lot of hours to fill. “Do something that you love, you don’t have to be any good at it, but if you enjoy it, that’s a major factor. I like drawing and painting, I’m not very good at it, but I enjoy to do it. Sometimes you get involved in something like that, and hours can pass by and you haven’t realised. “I copy things out of books, have a stab at it, and then laugh a lot looking at what I’ve tried to do. But the key is to stay interested and try and keep yourself active in whatever way is available to you.” Paige plays tennis three times a week. “I think it’s really important [to do sport or exercise] as you get older because obviously your muscle strength diminishes. “I walk much more today than I ever did when I was young,” she adds. ” I walk to the shops, I walk through the park. “Even if you’re sitting in a chair and lifting your legs up, one after the other, knees up, knees down, that kind of thing. There’s plenty of these classes that you can access on the computer. I’m careful in terms of I see anybody coughing or sneezing, I hold my breath and move out of that space. I hate catching a cold because it usually affects my chest.” And to help keep her energy levels up she prioritises sleep and rest. “I think what I’ve learned is the best way to get the most out of life, and out of one’s own energy levels, is to pace oneself.” Elaine Paige is supporting RoyalVoluntary Service andYakult’s Stay Safe,Warm andWell campaign, offering wellbeing advice and support this winter.Visit: royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/ safe-warm-well.
Pictured: Elaine Paige performing in the West End production of ‘The King And I’
Pictured: Elaine Paige when she took on the role of Eva Perón in Evita in 1978
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