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08 January 2010
Care Service Minister stresses importance of befriending
Phil Hope asking public to visit older neighbours more often
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.
MBF also recommends that the public consider volunteering through befriending projects in their local area which can make a huge difference to the lives of isolated older people. Look at MBF’s Get involved website pages to find out about possible local opportunities in your area.
Some facts and figures:
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:
Read Department of Health press release
MBF also recommends that the public consider volunteering through befriending projects in their local area which can make a huge difference to the lives of isolated older people. Look at MBF’s Get involved website pages to find out about possible local opportunities in your area.
Some facts and figures:
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.
Read Department of Health press release
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