Social Prescribers: Winter Wellness

We speak to Olivia, Social Prescribing Link Worker, to find out how she helps clients to stay well during winter (Not real photo).

What does a Social prescriber do?

We are based in GP surgeries to help people with any day-to-day issues or concerns. That could be money worries, managing at home, getting out-and-about or finding social groups. Many GPs report that they spend a lot of time dealing with housing issues, debt, stress, loneliness, and physical inactivity. That’s where we come in.

We talk to people about where they can find information and services that can help with managing specific conditions. This is the sort of thing that a GP might not have time to talk about, but often people are not aware of what’s available. We can refer people to hundreds of different services, including community centres for social activities, food banks, financial support, and even mental health services like Islington Mind, iCope and the Stress Project.

Some of the biggest challenges over winter

Covid and flu are still a threat and we let clients know that we should all take precautions to reduce the risk, especially those who are more vulnerable - that it’s not just unpleasant, it can also develop into something more serious, such as pneumonia. We encourage those clients who are eligible to get Covid and flu vaccines. We can advise them about how to book an appointment or how to give them a helping hand and work out how to get there.

Food prices and home heating costs are still high, too, and at this time of year, loneliness and isolation can be crippling. From applying for benefits and grants, to food banks and community activities, we let clients know about the support that's available.

The importance of staying warm at home during the winter

We advise clients that cold weather can be particularly dangerous if you have breathing problems, reduced mobility, a low immune system or a heart condition. A drop in temperature can also affect our body’s ability in fighting off viruses and infections, so to keep well, you have to keep warm.

Also, that as we get older, our bodies respond differently to the cold, which can leave us more vulnerable to health problems. For this reason, we'll advise clients to check their boilers and block draughts ahead of cold weather and to let them know about services and grants that can help with this. We also encourage people to keep active and moving when it gets cold - recommending exercises that they can do from home or gentle exercise groups that they can join.

Advice to clients who are struggling to keep their heating on at a safe level because of expensive energy bills

Age UK Islington can provide guidance about how to maximise the money clients have coming in and to make sure that they're receiving any discounts and energy grants that they are entitled to.

Many older people do not apply for pension credit, as sometimes people think it’s not worth it. We let them know that it can also open-up many other benefits, so it’s definitely worth applying for, even if they were only eligible to get a small amount of money. If clients are having problems paying their energy bills or topping up pre-payment meters, we advise them to contact their energy suppliers and Age UK Islington for support should they need it. We also stress the importance of doing this as soon as they start to have difficulties.

We let clients know about Islington Council services that can help, including its SHINE energy advice team and the income maximisation team (IMAX).

Do you have any tips to help people look after their mental health during winter?

The winter months can be difficult, so we advise clients to do what they can to help improve their mental health - whether this is building socialising into their day as well as trying to get out of the house every day if they can too, even just for a short walk.

We let clients know that Age UK Islington offers a range of regular social events in different community venues. We can also help them to find a social group that’s right for them and how to get there. (See our Activities page for more information and our latest printable newsletter.)

For more information

If you have any thoughts about this article or if you're interested in finding out more about Age UK Islington services, please contact Michael O'Dwyer, Head of Service - Personalised Care & Support, Age UK Islington.

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