Age UK (and other charities to help older people)
Despite being a country of around 67 million people, many older people go for weeks without seeing another person, apart from the obvious (buying food etc). This is why it’s so important to keep community post offices and shops open, as they do far more than just sell stamps and groceries.
Not just older people, but there have been horrific stories in recent years, of people actually having died and not been noticed (for years). One former nurse in Dorset died a few years back, her body lay undiscovered under a bed (she had some kind of dementia). And it was only found, when people visited to cut off her supplies, due to automatic payments being stopped.
This – in England. And it happens in many western countries, when money and driving everywhere and media that only cares about young people, means that many older people are left isolated, depressed and feeling hopeless.
Now here’s the good news.
There are a good few charities that offer ENORMOUS help to older people. And one that you know the name of (but perhaps not what they do) is Age UK (it doesn’t fund animal testing, by the way). And has many charity shops nationwide.
But what’s surprising with a quick dig is the incredible work they do. So do tell others so they get the benefits of this major charity:
- A phone helpline (some people on very low incomes have had income rise by over £100 a week, after one phone call).
- An in-person volunteer befriending service.
- Affordable handypersons to do odd jobs
- Nationwide cafes, to chat over tea and cake
- Over 80 trained workers, to offer in-home footcare
- Social activities and IT training
- LifeBook is a handy way of storing all your details, from a Will and pet trust, to life contacts, how to feed your cat if you go into hospital, financial documents and final wishes.
The Silver Line is a volunteer call service, where chatty people call up to have a natter on a regular basis. It also offers ‘conference calls’ to two recipients can join in the call. And they then perhaps become friends and call each other up (or even meet up) between the official calls.
Proof that often it’s private charities and organisations, that do the work better than governments and councils can.
This also has a knock-on effect on reducing NHS costs. Because older people who are eating well in warm homes, who have friendships and access to local support, tend to be healthier both physically and mentally. And results in less stays in hospitals, and long-term stays in residential and nursing homes.
Other charities to help older isolated people
Reengage offers free call companions, who phone up for a chat once a week (including ‘rainbow companions’ for LGBT+ older people). It also runs monthly tea parties where volunteer drivers pick you up, to go have tea in another volunteer’s house, along with fellow seniors.
Independent Age offers financial advice to older people, from increasing income (often through missed benefits) to getting help for bills and housing costs. This in itself can result in less isolation, as often people stay home, as they are too afraid to spend money on days out or holidays.
