Breaking The Barriers Of Social Isolation
Our campaign to fight social isolation, named ‘Four Walls’, has been created to support everyone in our communities to avoid the risk of being socially isolated.
What is Social isolation?
Social isolation is when someone has a reduced level of contact with the outside world, whether it be reduced contact with family, friends or others in the community.
It carries real risks for all of us, but the risk is even higher for those of older age, people who have a disability or anyone who has suffered from a bereavement. Social isolation can creep in and take over, without us realising.
There is a risk of:
- Feelings of depression
- Loneliness
- Anxiety
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Heart disease,
- Reduced mobility
- Alzheimer’s disease
- And even death
How can you prevent Social isolation?
Stay in touch with family and friends
Make an effort to stay in touch, whether it be through letters, telephone, text message, online or the best one… meeting in person.
Join a club
Consider your hobbies of the past and present, and see if there is a local club you could join where you can spend time with like-minded people.
Go to the gym
The gym is a great place to meet new people and the feeling from exercising can be very positive for our minds. With lots of different gym classes available, there is plenty of opportunity to meet new people.
Take frequent walks
Getting outside and taking regular walks is very good for you. If your mobility isn't particularly good, then you could seek the support of a home care provider (like us) to assist you.
Volunteer
It can be really fulfilling to volunteer for a local charity and make a difference. In turn, you will meet new people and find a new purpose.
Get online
The online world is a huge, expansive one and can seem daunting at first. But with the right support and encouragement, you will find there is a whole host of different communities out there waiting for you to get involved.
What will the Four Walls campaign do to fight against social isolation?
As a home care provider, we have come across many people who used to have very busy, active lives, then through retirement, accident or illness, their lives quieten down, people lose social contacts and become isolated..
Our Four Walls campaign identifies people who are at risk of becoming socially isolated and considers ways to prevent social isolation, through providing encouragement, support and choice. We have a range of options that we have invested in to support people to avoid becoming lonely.
Socially focused care planning
When we meet a new client for the first time, we help create a personalised ‘care plan’, which supports the bespoke, tailored service that we provide to our clients. Our care plans are focused upon preventing people from becoming socially isolated, by reviewing their risk, identifying solutions and providing support and encouragement to get more socially involved.
Free companionship care
Our clients have access to free Companionship Care to make sure that they are never feeling alone. Our Companionship Care Service can include simply popping round for a chat and a cuppa, going out for a walk or even attending a club.
Supporting with obtaining tablets
We support our clients to identify the best computer tablet for them, help them make the purchase and help them get it setup. We also provide ongoing support with regard to staying safe online.
How far will the Four Walls campaign go?
We are very passionate about this cause, so we have chosen to continually invest into the Four Walls campaign.
We have a lot more to add, including launching new Social Isolation Champions, launching a new fund to support people to become more socially active, and developing a range of tips to help people in our communities become more aware of the risks of social isolation.
To learn more, please contact us.