Older Persons Wellbeing Project: volunteers who support community action & enhance social inclusion

Description

We would like to acknowledge and honour our community volunteers who have provided a range of support services to Older People across North Limerick city. Northside Family Resource Centre has a long established track-record of 30 Years in designing and delivering community-based supports to Older People on the Northside of Limerick City (Ballynanty, Moyross and Kings Island Health Clinic Areas).

We are a flagship project supported by Community Volunteers and during the Pandemic Lockdowns we provided highly focused cocooning supports to Older People in the Community including:

• Meals on Wheels to over 120 Older People (including all Bank Holidays and Christmas Day);
• Friendly Call Service to over 150 Older People with a regular telephone check-in to those most isolated and alone;
• Regular Care Packs and Food Parcel drops to Older People across our catchment area;
• Outreach supports were made available including Doorstep Visits, Shopping and Chemist orders to their home.

As the Lockdown restrictions eased we re-engaged with our Older People through a variety of Social Clubs and Support Groups:

*Social and Recreational events for active Older People in local facilities e.g. Bingo, Tea-Parties, Coffee Mornings, Music & Entertainment, Lectures and Talks etc;

*Group trips to visit places of historical and recreational interest in the immediate locality and wider region;

*Outreach and Befriending Older People who live alone in the home and who are disengaged from family, neighbours and friends through our ‘Friendly Call’ and ‘Friendly Knock’ service.

The project intends to operate at three distinct levels:

1. Initial contact and befriending of the target group in their own home;
2. Supporting individual Older People to engage within social groups of interest;
3. Developing the capacity of these groups to develop their own social identity with a focus on personal development activities.

Our volunteer-based services to Older People are considered a hugely beneficial, but low-cost intervention, to assist in the quality of life of Older People and enable them to be more active in their community, develop meaningful social networks and enable them to live a fuller life in their own home, as distinct from hospital and nursing-home care.

Aim of Initiative

To support wellbeing and positive ageing among Older People and the development of volunteer-based supports to facilitate greater social inclusion.

Who is it aimed at

Older People experiencing isolation, loneliness or living alone.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Identify and support local volunteers, facilitated by Northside Family Resource Centre.
2. Outreach and befriending to Older People in the Community who would benefit from the services and supports of our Older Persons projects.
3. Working with Older People to design and deliver services that will enhance their wider social inclusion and overall personal wellbeing in the home and Community.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Sustaining the long-term involvement of local volunteers to support Older Peoples services.
2. Securing funding and sponsorship to maintain service delivery for project activities, events and outings.
3. Ensuring that all safeguarding measures are in place and fully supported by Northside Family Resource Centre to protect both the Older People and volunteers themselves.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. An increase in Older People engaging in social and recreational activities and events.
2. An increase in Older Peoples overall wellbeing and sense of connectivity.
3. An increase in home visits to older people living alone and vulnerable to social isolation.