Helping your Neighbourhood
Published: 23/11/2022 13:54Knock, knock – who's there?
Did you know 1 in 5 people now live alone in Scotland? The population of people aged 75 years and older is projected to increase in all areas of Scotland over the next few years and in Grampian, the number of people aged over 85 is already nearly three times higher than it was 50 years ago.
An aging population means more demand for health and social care services, and an increasing number of the working population with caring roles outside of work. And this means there’s a job for all of us to lend a hand where we can.
Chair of Grampian NHS Board, Alison Evison explained: “Helping people safely through winter in your local neighbourhood can be as simple as offering to collect supplies from your local shop when you’re going there anyway, keeping an eye on the weather forecast and spreading grit or clearing a driveway path for an elderly neighbour when it snows.
“Preventing just one person from going without, falling or feeling isolated not only makes a huge difference to the individual and their family but also helps our health and social care teams who continue to go the extra mile during a particularly busy time for the sector.”
Age Scotland is a national charity tackling loneliness and social isolation by helping to make Scotland’s communities better places for older people. Michelle Supple, interim chief executive at Age Scotland, said: “There is no doubt that this winter older people are facing considerable challenges. The increasing cost of living and rocketing energy bills are causing high levels of concern and desperation, particularly for the extraordinary numbers of older people on low income or in poverty. This winter is going to have a devastating toll on older people's physical and mental health.
"Older people can become isolated at this time of year if it gets too cold or dangerous to leave their home, particularly in snowy or icy conditions. Cold homes can also make older people very ill, with heart and lung conditions becoming worse.
“We are urging people to keep an eye on their older neighbours, friends and relatives – go round for a cuppa and a blether or pick up their shopping or prescription.
“Now, more than ever, older people need our help, and we believe no one should face this challenging winter alone. Age Scotland’s national helpline on 0800 12 44 222 provides free, confidential advice and signpost to available support, including a range of information health and wellbeing guides on how to stay well in winter. Our advisers can also carry out a free benefit entitlement check to ensure older people are claiming all the money they are entitled to. We also provide friendship for when you just need a friendly chat.”
LinkingLives is a befriending service for adults in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. They rely on the support of volunteers and are actively looking for new members. Project coordinator Olushola Ajide added: “The vulnerable in our community face a hard winter due to the cost-of-living crisis. Because many people are battling with loneliness and social isolation, it is crucial everyone looks out for their neighbours. Aberdeen Linking Lives is doing everything to ensure our service users are not lonely during this season. We use this opportunity to ask for people out there to come forward and volunteer with us.”
For those who are keen to go even further supporting people in their local neighbourhood, the Ready Scotland website offers some helpful information on various volunteering and first responder opportunities: https://ready.scot/get-involved/playing-your-part. It’s also a great resource for community groups looking to find out more about funding, training, good practice and emergency planning.
Remember, it’s also useful to create an emergency plan for your home with helpful telephone numbers. Find a template on the Ready Scotland website and write down your own essential contacts for services such as insurance and utilities next to these:
- Emergency services – 999
- Non-Emergency police support – 101
- NHS 24 – 111
- Floodline Scotland – 0345 988 1188
- Loss of power – 105
- Gas emergencies – 0800 111 999
- Scottish Water – 0800 077 8778
Find out more and get ready: https://ready.scot/