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31/12/09 00:01 - Make a New Year’s resolution to look in on older neighbours
With many older
people living alone and more than 180,000 saying they have gone
for a whole week without speaking to friends, family or
neighbours, Care Service Minister Phil Hope is asking the public
to make a New Year’s resolution to visit older neighbours more often.
Social interaction can protect older people’s mental health,
helping to do their shopping will prevent falls and injury and
keeping an eye on their health will stop them developing serious
health problems and ending up in hospital.
Figures show:
* over a million people over 65 feel trapped in their own
homes;
* more than 180,000 have gone for a whole week without
speaking to friends, neighbours or family;
* nearly half of
all older people (about 4.6 million) consider the television as
their main form of company; and
* more than 50 per cent of
over 75s live on their own.
Phil Hope said:
"Many older people live alone. For some that’s a choice,
for others it means they feel isolated. We are a very caring
nation so I’m asking people to make a resolution to look in on
their older neighbours more often, to help them with shopping or
to simply pop in for a chat.
"Our major aim for the New Year is to build on the care
that’s embedded in our society. We’ll be creating a National Care
Service which everyone will be able to rely on when they get older."
The Government is already driving forward measure towards making
our system of care simpler, fairer and more affordable including
helping people to be more independent.
There are many ways to find out about volunteering opportunities:
For more information about volunteering and how to get involved visit
http://www.volunteering.org.uk/IWantToVolunteer
You can also visit Volunteer Centres, which act as a
"Job Centres" for volunteers. They can tell you
what voluntary work is available locally and put you in touch with
local organisations. You can also discuss with them what you want
to do and get advice.
With over 300 Volunteer Centres across England, there is a
Volunteer Centre in most areas. Visit our Volunteer Centre finder
on our website for details of one near you.
You can also look up your nearest Volunteer Centre in the phone
directory under 'V' or phone Volunteering
England on 0845 305 6979.
There is also an internet database of UK local volunteering
opportunities that you can search at www.do-it.org.uk .
Justin Davis Smith, Chief Executive of
Volunteering England, the volunteer development agency,
added:
"Spending a few hours with an elderly person can make a
big difference to their quality of life and getting involved with
volunteering is easier than you might think.
"You can volunteer informally by visiting an elderly
friend or neighbour or if you don’t know anyone, you could choose
to volunteer through a befriending project in your local area. To
find out what opportunities are available in your area, get in
touch with your local Volunteer Centre."
Notes to Editors
For further information, please contact Department of Health
press office on 020 7210 5221.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk