Services :: Companionship

Companionship

Loneliness and isolation in later life’ is considered by many to be one of the largest health concerns facing the UK, with effects both on mental and physical health. At Care 83 we see the effects of this daily within our clients, therefore I am proud to say we have engaged our first ‘Loneliness Champion’ to support our clients and the wider community. Our headline aims for this new section of our business are;

• Hiring a dedicated Loneliness Champion to lead the implementation of the strategy using his skills, knowledge and experience along with training, to positively impact the lives of others in their local community to help reduce loneliness and isolation
• Delivering a training programme to enable staff to recognise those at risk of experiencing loneliness and empowering them to help
• Working with local community organisations, charitable organisations, church groups and the medical practitioners to help bring people together for groups and activities
• Developing and building relationships within the local community to support physical, mental health and emotional well-being
• Raising awareness about loneliness and social isolation
• Helping to reduce the stigma of loneliness by talking and discussing loneliness openly
• Sharing information about relevant opportunities for people to engage with. On a day-to-day basis we see our support including such things as;
• Visits to our clients to discuss their physical, mental health and well-being to see how we can reduce their risks of loneliness and isolation and create a personal support plan.
• A personal support plan could contain:

• Regular visits for companionship and chats
• Companionship calls
• Reading to clients
• Interactive games and puzzles to stimulate mental health
• Taking and collecting clients to recreational or social events or simply ‘out for a cup of coffee’, bingo etc
• Support with shopping trips
• Collection of prescriptions
• Transport to and from medical appointments.