I went to a South
Gloucestershire Equalities Forum (SGEF) - http://www.southglos.gov.uk/community-and-living/equality-and-diversity/south-gloucestershire-equalities-forum/ -
Conference on Loneliness and Isolation - http://www.ageuk.org.uk/southgloucestershire/news--campaigns/south-gloucestershire-equalities-forum-/ - February 2nd 2016. I'm typing up the notes I made, this will probably take me a week as there is quite a lot.
There will be a report on this conference that will go online
There will be a report on this conference that will go online
Understanding Isolation and Loneliness
Dr Mark Pietroni Conference Chair - Director of Public Health for South Gloucestershire
Loneliness and Isolation have big effects to many people.
People who are unsure of their sexuality or who come out and are bullied get lonely. Someone with poor English and is Muslim is isolated, not extremist bringing up children, still isolated. Homelessness example of someone who came in with TB, liked the socialisation he had in hospital. Young people with social networks taking overdoses, isolated, and lonely. Mental Health issues, loss of everyday touch of relationships. When we design services we design with such things out and meet only physical needs.
Anthony Smith - Development Officer Age UK Equalities and Human Rights.
Loneliness and elder people. Who is most susceptible and why, what can be done about it. No-one should have no-one. Over £1m people over 65 haven't spoken to a friend or neighbour for a month. Many people over 65 aren't lonely but do fare worse than any other age group.
ELSA English Longitudinal Study on Ageing. -
Older LGB&T in civil partnerships and marriage more likely to be single than heterosexual people. Older women lonely more than older men. Asian people more likely to be lonely than white people. Hindu older people most lonely by any measure.
Universal causes and Issues. Loneliness not normal or inevitable part of ageing. Being alone is not the same as being lonely. Hidden loneliness amongst BME older people. Older LGB people have been criminalised or diagnosed with mental disorder in the past, so less willing to say who they really are. Less likely to have children or contact with biological family. Lack of resources for Disabled People. Social Media help for people who can't get out, but no substitute for going out. Loneliness as harmful to physical health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, link with high blood pressure, and depression, in papers. Age UK working on this , National Calling Time Scheme calls, visits, personal pledges. Peer to Peer contact tailored culturally aware, social clubs, men in sheds. PM invited 10 older lonely people to lunch to hear their views. 12,000 volunteer enquiries as a result of No-one should have No-one campaign. Need for general activities and tailored activities,poverty, and isolation important. Services need to be cheap or free. Communication issues, invest more in language services including sign language.
Lifetime of discrimination and prejudice causes distrust. So organisations need to be loud and clear on culture of inclusion and non-discrimination. Make no assumptions that family support is available or can provide all the support people need.
Voice of Experience
Dhek Bhal - http://www.dhekbhal.org.uk/ - Promotes Health and Wellbeing of South Asian people in South Gloucestershire. Asian Day Centre in Bristol. There is a need for something like this day centre in South Gloucestershire. Funding problem in South Gloucestershire worsening loneliness. There is a need for more support for carers, and then if that person dies, the carer may stop looking after own health after so much of being a carer. Once not a carer a person may be alone.
Age UK - http://www.ageuk.org.uk/southgloucestershire/ operate a befriending service. They showed a video Leonards' story, Age UK Campaign on loneliness - http://www.ageuk.org.uk/southgloucestershire/news--campaigns/join-our-campaign-to-tackle-loneliness/
LGB&T - The story of young person growing up in the wrong body, sought help of CAMHS, bad experience of their not understanding that she was transgender. Had support of organisation called Tavistock, based in London. They organised medication, parents paid for laser treatment for facial hair. Now has different circle of friends. Support group - Off the Record Bristol - http://www.otrbristol.org.uk/
Carers - Husband had a massive stroke on wedding anniversary in 2004. He had been in a busy job. He was paralysed down 1 side. Carer worked part time but couldn't rely on care appointments. Not a sympathetic and helpful workplace. He had seizures so Wife had to be a full time carer. Had to move house twice due to equipment needs. Isolation and extremely busy with caring. She now runs a carers support group once a month for 2 hours. She is a carer rep, and volunteer. Has 10 hours support that enables this. Some people don't even have that.
Thomas Pocklington Trust - http://www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/ run a befriender service - for people with visual issues.
Discussion groups about experiences of people who spoke and own experiences. Discussion of Wellaware - http://www.wellaware.org.uk/ - Wellaware provides information about health and wellbeing services Bristol, South Glos, Bath and NE Somerset, Somerset. Can search their website or phone them.
Examples of Good Practice
Men in Sheds - Started in Australia, worldwide. Now in Patchway - grant from Foundation Fund the Mall £1000 for tools. B and Q offered training, Southern Brooks. Silver Surfers Friday mornings 2 hours Patchway.
Pastoral Visiting Service - Winterbourne, St Michaels Church. Vicar in charge of 4 churches - 10,000 people, so need for delegation, team need more volunteers due to ill health of some. Had cards printed, and word of mouth is important. Partnerships with other churches.
The Marmalade Trust - Started by Occupational Therapist. All volunteers, started in Bristol, In South Gloucestershire also. 2 loneliest days per year days per year for many people over Christmas. Christmas day over 75s. Taking people to go out. Grant from Waitrose, more volunteers. The Marmalade Trust is Sirona charity of the year. People who are on their own on Christmas Day are more likely to be on their own for the rest of the year. Open to everybody not just to over 75s, this was on BBC TV. Volunteer drives, pub or restaurant.
I attended an 'IT the Answer Workshop' I believe it is an answer. There were 5 other table top discussions.
This report was quoted -
Loneliness and Isolation have big effects to many people.
People who are unsure of their sexuality or who come out and are bullied get lonely. Someone with poor English and is Muslim is isolated, not extremist bringing up children, still isolated. Homelessness example of someone who came in with TB, liked the socialisation he had in hospital. Young people with social networks taking overdoses, isolated, and lonely. Mental Health issues, loss of everyday touch of relationships. When we design services we design with such things out and meet only physical needs.
Anthony Smith - Development Officer Age UK Equalities and Human Rights.
Loneliness and elder people. Who is most susceptible and why, what can be done about it. No-one should have no-one. Over £1m people over 65 haven't spoken to a friend or neighbour for a month. Many people over 65 aren't lonely but do fare worse than any other age group.
ELSA English Longitudinal Study on Ageing. -
Older LGB&T in civil partnerships and marriage more likely to be single than heterosexual people. Older women lonely more than older men. Asian people more likely to be lonely than white people. Hindu older people most lonely by any measure.
Universal causes and Issues. Loneliness not normal or inevitable part of ageing. Being alone is not the same as being lonely. Hidden loneliness amongst BME older people. Older LGB people have been criminalised or diagnosed with mental disorder in the past, so less willing to say who they really are. Less likely to have children or contact with biological family. Lack of resources for Disabled People. Social Media help for people who can't get out, but no substitute for going out. Loneliness as harmful to physical health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, link with high blood pressure, and depression, in papers. Age UK working on this , National Calling Time Scheme calls, visits, personal pledges. Peer to Peer contact tailored culturally aware, social clubs, men in sheds. PM invited 10 older lonely people to lunch to hear their views. 12,000 volunteer enquiries as a result of No-one should have No-one campaign. Need for general activities and tailored activities,poverty, and isolation important. Services need to be cheap or free. Communication issues, invest more in language services including sign language.
Lifetime of discrimination and prejudice causes distrust. So organisations need to be loud and clear on culture of inclusion and non-discrimination. Make no assumptions that family support is available or can provide all the support people need.
Voice of Experience
Dhek Bhal - http://www.dhekbhal.org.uk/ - Promotes Health and Wellbeing of South Asian people in South Gloucestershire. Asian Day Centre in Bristol. There is a need for something like this day centre in South Gloucestershire. Funding problem in South Gloucestershire worsening loneliness. There is a need for more support for carers, and then if that person dies, the carer may stop looking after own health after so much of being a carer. Once not a carer a person may be alone.
Age UK - http://www.ageuk.org.uk/southgloucestershire/ operate a befriending service. They showed a video Leonards' story, Age UK Campaign on loneliness - http://www.ageuk.org.uk/southgloucestershire/news--campaigns/join-our-campaign-to-tackle-loneliness/
LGB&T - The story of young person growing up in the wrong body, sought help of CAMHS, bad experience of their not understanding that she was transgender. Had support of organisation called Tavistock, based in London. They organised medication, parents paid for laser treatment for facial hair. Now has different circle of friends. Support group - Off the Record Bristol - http://www.otrbristol.org.uk/
Carers - Husband had a massive stroke on wedding anniversary in 2004. He had been in a busy job. He was paralysed down 1 side. Carer worked part time but couldn't rely on care appointments. Not a sympathetic and helpful workplace. He had seizures so Wife had to be a full time carer. Had to move house twice due to equipment needs. Isolation and extremely busy with caring. She now runs a carers support group once a month for 2 hours. She is a carer rep, and volunteer. Has 10 hours support that enables this. Some people don't even have that.
Thomas Pocklington Trust - http://www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/ run a befriender service - for people with visual issues.
Discussion groups about experiences of people who spoke and own experiences. Discussion of Wellaware - http://www.wellaware.org.uk/ - Wellaware provides information about health and wellbeing services Bristol, South Glos, Bath and NE Somerset, Somerset. Can search their website or phone them.
Examples of Good Practice
Men in Sheds - Started in Australia, worldwide. Now in Patchway - grant from Foundation Fund the Mall £1000 for tools. B and Q offered training, Southern Brooks. Silver Surfers Friday mornings 2 hours Patchway.
Pastoral Visiting Service - Winterbourne, St Michaels Church. Vicar in charge of 4 churches - 10,000 people, so need for delegation, team need more volunteers due to ill health of some. Had cards printed, and word of mouth is important. Partnerships with other churches.
The Marmalade Trust - Started by Occupational Therapist. All volunteers, started in Bristol, In South Gloucestershire also. 2 loneliest days per year days per year for many people over Christmas. Christmas day over 75s. Taking people to go out. Grant from Waitrose, more volunteers. The Marmalade Trust is Sirona charity of the year. People who are on their own on Christmas Day are more likely to be on their own for the rest of the year. Open to everybody not just to over 75s, this was on BBC TV. Volunteer drives, pub or restaurant.
I attended an 'IT the Answer Workshop' I believe it is an answer. There were 5 other table top discussions.
This report was quoted -
'Fair
Society Healthy Lives' (The Marmot Review) - http://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/projects/fair-society-healthy-lives-the-marmot-review - 2010
Loneliness & Isolation is a big problem amongst Older People and sometimes the Council and Housing Associations add to this problem, some forbid Older People from taking their pets with them when they downsize to smaller properties.
ReplyDeleteDogs have to be Walked and fed meaning Older People have to go out were they meet and converse with other people and when the long dark nights arrive they have their dog for company and safety.