The following representatives will attend the meeting to discuss initiatives to help prevent / tackle loneliness and social isolation amongst older people:
· Maureen Hughes – to discuss a joint ‘case findings’ project involving Stockport Council, GPs and voluntary and communities groups designed to help identify and provide support to older people at risk of social isolation;
· Catriona Duncan-Rees – to discuss the Council’s work to reduce social isolation amongst older people living in priority 1 areas
· Lucie Newsam – to discuss the work of Age UK in helping to tackle social isolation, including relevant feedback from the recent Age UK Older People’s Conference;
The Panel is invited to consider whether any learning can be applied more widely.
Officer Contact: Gaynor Alexander, Tel: 0161 474 3186 Email: gaynor.alexander@stockport.gov.uk
Minutes:
(a) Maureen Hughes (Stockport Council) attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the ‘Case Findings’ project involving the Council, General Practitioners (GPs) and voluntary and community groups.
The aim of the project was to identify people who were lonely or at risk of social isolation, promoting wellbeing and helping to maintain the independence of identified older people. Agencies involved with the ‘Case Finding’ project included Brinnington Health Centre, Heaton Norris Health Centre, Bracondale Practice, Age UK, FLAG and Adult Social Care (Stockport Council).
A Case Findings questionnaire was annually sent to patients registered at these agencies and completed questionnaires were returned to Age UK who screened the questionnaires for any urgent and medical issues. Age UK and FLAG used a ‘traffic light’ system to assess the questionnaires: Green – An acknowledgement letter and information leaflet was sent to patients: Amber – A telephone call was made from FLAG and Red – A visit from Age UK to the patient’s home was carried out. The response of submitted patients’ questionnaires for the first year of the pilot and patient case studies and the difference between social isolation and loneliness and risk factors for loneliness and social isolation was highlighted.
The following comments were made/issues raised:-
· A Member enquired with regard to the patients’ response rate for completing the ‘Case Findings’ questionnaire. It was noted that 355 people had returned their questionnaires in year one: 28% were identified as no identifying needs, 36% had received a telephone call from FLAG and 35% were visited or offered a home visit by Age UK.
· A Member expressed concern about the format of the questionnaire and whether some members of the public would be deterred by all the personal information required.
· The project was aimed for patients over 65 and the reasons why the age bracket was not lower was highlighted.
· The percentage of which patients’ feedback rating the programme as positive.
· The questionnaire was used as an ice-breaker tool to communicate with people who were lonely or at risk of social isolation.
· Future aspirations to introduce the programme in different areas of the Borough, in particular affluent areas.
RESOLVED – That Maureen Hughes (Stockport Council) be thanked for her presentation and attendance.
(b) Catriona Duncan-Rees (Stockport Council) attended the meeting to discuss the Council’s work to reduce social isolation amongst older people living in ‘priority 1’ areas in Stockport. Adult Social Care was working closely with Neighbourhood Management Teams to build more supportive communities and in 2012, the Neighbourhood Management Team contributed to each priority neighbourhood through the delivery of ‘You Say, We Pay’ Participatory Budgeting events.
Through the Neighbourhood Management Teams’ networks, residents and community groups in priority areas were consulted on how to improve their area and alleviate social isolation and were informed of the Participatory Budgeting events.
The following comments were made/issues raised:-
RESOLVED – That Catriona Duncan-Rees (Stockport Council) be thanked for her presentation and attendance.
(c) Lucie Newsam (Age UK) attended the meeting and gave a presentation on Age UK’s work in helping to tackle loneliness and social isolation. She reported on the Befriending Service which was one of Age UK Stockport’s longest standing projects. The service was constantly in demand from individuals who were lonely or socially isolated. Age UK employed one Project Manager and currently had a team of 21 volunteer befrienders.
Age UK had recently started working with local church groups who volunteered to visit older people who had been referred to the Befriending Service. The majority of referrals were made from affluent areas in Stockport and a case study of a vulnerable client and the benefits of the Befriending Service was highlighted.
Tackling social isolation was aimed at people aged over 50 by providing a range of befriending services that looked to cater for the holistic needs of individuals. Referrals were assessed on an individual basis and Age UK delivered a range of services: Independent groups, supported group activity, supporting you – individual support and befriending – home visit.
The outcomes and benefits for clients of Age UK services and Age UK’s Older People’s Conference to address social isolation and loneliness were summarised. Themed workshops were held on issues regarding the environment, transport, tackling ageism and social participation and short, medium and long term actions were established, attendees were encouraged to make a pledge at the conference and examples included: ‘To be a good neighbour’ and ‘to continue with my existing voluntary work’.
The following comments were made/issues raised:-
RESOLVED – That Lucie Newsam (Age UK) be thanked for her presentation and attendance.