Charity adapts services to keep older people connected

There are over 38,000 older people in Brighton and Hove many of whom live alone.

Around 4,000 regularly use services run by Ageing Well and most of these involve people being out of their homes and involved in activities across the city.

To address this being taken away and the impact it can have on people's physical and emotional wellbeing Ageing Well, led by Brighton based Impact Initiatives, has created two directories available on its website or by post which include information on activities and services available and how to access shopping and meals.

It is also posting out more than 300 activity packs a week to Hop 50+ customers and vulnerable people who contact the Ageing Well service directly.

People ahore we able to print them and other local organisations able to distribute them to their clients have been emailed, including charities, senior housing, day centres, NHS services, GP surgeries and community organisations.

Some people are getting them for their parents and including them in shopping deliveries they are making.

Hop 50+ user and recipient of the activity packs, Maureen Coutts said: "I have had an activity pack every week and they are really very good. Since my husband died I have been on my own. I have no Internet and I do get very lonely so when one pops through the letter box, it really brings a smile to my face. Their efforts have not gone in vain. The packs are extremely varied from puzzles and poetry to articles and even pictures drawn by children so there must be lots of people involved to make them."

Caroline Ridley, Impact CEO, said: "We want to ensure that no older person is left feeling alone or without food or their medication. Ageing Well’s usual services have now temporarily closed which could have left thousands of the City’s most vulnerable people adrift and isolated. To prevent this we have set up additional telephone befriending, online exercise classes and quizzes we have set up food parcel deliveries and are getting more meal delivery services in place.

"We have also put information packs together which can be posted to people. These include exercises to keep brain and bodies active, simple but nutritious recipes, tips on keeping active and filling time positively whilst at home and information on services now available."

Ageing Well is a partnership of nine organisations working with BHCC and the NHS.

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