Relieving Loneliness: Community Connections
Loneliness and isolation can have a big impact on the health and wellbeing of older people. Age UK Bournemouth, Poole & East Dorset provides a Community Connections Service to help tackle the causes of isolation and loneliness.
The service aims to enable older people to:
- Overcome the barriers of isolation & loneliness
- Share the company of others
- Talk to someone
- Pursue interests & activities in the local community
- Maintain independence and gain information, enabling clients to stay at home for longer
Who is the service for:
People aged 60 or over and living in the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch area, who have become housebound or detached from community life through bereavement, moving house, disability, mental illness, etc.
Who can refer:
The person needing help, their relatives, carers, health or social service professionals, GP, etc.
What happens next:
A support worker will be allocated to the client and a full assessment of need will be undertaken. Support will be given over the phone and, if required, face to face. We will work within our Covid risk assessments to ensure the safety of our clients and staff.
The aim during that 12 week period is to integrate them back into the community either through another service provided by Age UK Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset or a service/activity of their choice. However, it may not always be possible to achieve this within the 12 week period, particularly if the client has complex mental health issues. For those clients needing extra support the 12 weeks can be extended, but this will be agreed with the client and support worker to see if it is appropriate.
This service is funded by BCP Council in the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch area.
For further details or to make a referral please contact:
Phone: 01202 530530
Email: enquiries@ageukbped.org.uk