Supporting Your Community

Loneliness and Isolation in Older People

Older people are particularly vulnerable to loneliness and isolation• Loss of partner/friends• Lack of mobility• Lack of income• Ill health

How Old is the Cotswolds?

• The Cotswolds has an older population than the national average• Here, they enjoy a longer life span than the national average• Approximately 46 000 are past retirement• 1700+ are living with dementia• Over 75’s are increasing by 1500 per year up to 2020• The number of people aged 85+ living alone will rise by 25% in the

next 10 years

The Impact of Loneliness & Isolation

Loneliness has a significant negative impact on health• Increases obesity• Increases onset of disability• Increases cognitive decline• Increases depression• Leads to 64% increased chance of developing dementia

The Impact of Loneliness & Isolation

• Increased visits to their GP• Higher use of medication• Higher incidence of falls• Increased factors for long term care• Early admission to residential or nursing care• Loss of valuable community members and carers

Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing Strategy

This strategy spans 2012 – 2032: “Fit For The Future” has 6 key principles:• Support for communities to take an active role in improving health• Encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyles• Take early action to tackle symptoms and risks• Help people be more responsible for their own health• Help people to recover quickly from illness• Help people return home quickly to normal lives• Support individuals where life expectancy is lower• Support where quality of life is poor

Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing Strategy

Ageing Well is aimed at ensuring:• people enter later life in the best physical and mental health• Maintain control and independence• Live with dignity and to their full potential• Are resilient, can cope with adversity• Have a positive role in their local community• Making a lasting difference to health in Gloucestershire by

working with communities to increase health and inclusion

We are a local charity providing friendship, support and transport to older and vulnerable people in the north

Cotswold community. We aim to combat loneliness and isolation with our voluntary services, which improve

health and wellbeing and support independent living.

How We Support Ageing Well

Our Research Shows…

Older people in the Cotswolds are at risk due to:• Social Isolation• Living alone• Lack of accessible, convenient transport especially for those with limited mobility• Long term medical conditions• Lack of confidence in using IT (Skype, Facebook)• Safety concerns – increased crime, weather• Not enough community based social groups and outings (transport)• Lack of carer respite services for those who are lonely/isolated• Lack of awareness of locally available services

Most vulnerable areas:• Lechlade• Stow on the Wold• Bourton on the Water

Vulnerable Areas In The Cotswolds

Higher vulnerable areas:• Tetbury• Fairford• West of Cirencester• Mickleton• Saintbury• Chipping Campden

We offer four community services to older and vulnerable people living in the north Cotswold

community. Our services combat loneliness and isolation, improve health and wellbeing, and support

independent living.

How Are We Helping?

This service is for those not able to drive themselves or those who find public transport difficult to use, or not available.

We take people anywhere they want to go: to see family and friends, to the hairdresser, the shops, the doctor, the dentist and the hospital -

even to a local social club. The fee is 50p per mile paid to a driver and costs are confirmed on booking.

There are now over 800 people using this service.

Community Transport

.This service allows us to take the load off full time carers in our community by recruiting volunteers

who visit and sit with the person being cared for so that their carer can take some time off on a regular

basis.

There is no charge for this service. Volunteers do not provide personal care.

Carer Respite Service

Community activities are a vital part of our services as this is where those we support can get together with friends and

neighbours and meet new people too.

Community events help create happy, healthy communities. At Cotswold Friends we support lots of local lunch clubs,

coffee mornings and afternoon teas, craft and activity groups, support groups and community events.

Community Events

Our befriending service is for those who are stuck at home alone more than they would like to be. They may like a

weekly visitor or someone to call in and enjoy a chat and a cup of tea with them.

Family and friends aren’t always available so we arrange a regular visitor to brighten their week.

There is no charge for this service

Making Friends

• Over 800 local residents use our transport service • Over 140 local residents benefit from our befriending and carers respite

services• We have 170 volunteers • We’ve grown lunch clubs from 3 – 10• We’ve started 3 Knit and Natter groups • The first “Men in Sheds” group has started in Stow on the Wold.• We now have 6 respite carers clubs (Blockley, Bourton on the water, Moreton

in Marsh, Northleach and Chipping Campden.

Facts and Figures

• Portsmouth County Council has 90 volunteers supporting 200 housebound older people

• It costs £80 000 per yearThis service reduces costs for Portsmouth County Council by:• Reducing bed blocking• Reducing winter deaths and falls at home• Improving mental health• Reduces GP visits• Reduces pressure on A & E• Reduces hospital admissions

Facts and Figures

Longitudinal studies find that those who are supported in this way:

• Have up to a 50% increased likelihood of survival.• Quality of life is improved• Independent living is supported• Contribution to the community is increased

What research has shown us

We always need funding to recruit volunteers, support more clients, host more social events and there are many ways for you to help:• Support a project• Make a donation• Become a sponsor• Volunteer• Host an event

Tell us how you’d like to help!

How you can help us