Befriending

Description

Befriending home visits to older peoples home by our team. These visits are about social contact and having a chat with older people helping them break isolation when they may not see another person for days. The visit helps their mental health and wellbeing.

Aim of Initiative

To combat isolation and loneliness

Who is it aimed at

Older people in the local community

3 Steps critical to success

1. Identify older people requiring the service. This is by contacting us directly and through referral from the local Westmeath County Development
2. Accessing the need of the older person and whether the befriending service is something the older person wants.
3. Visiting the older person, having a chat. Visits usually take an 1hr -1.5hrs weekly.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. A challenge is always funding to support the service
2. Time, having enough time to spend with each older person visit.
3. Older people find it difficult to make the first step to seek out help with loneliness.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Helping the mental heath of the older person by feeling heard.
2. Breaking isolation and loneliness for the older person
3. Helping the community to ensure older people are part of this and heard.