Our work with older people

Community Action Norwich’s work with older people in the local community has proven to be much needed and beneficial. Our Lunch Club, Befriending Programme and recently established Day Centre for over 55s has benefited almost 100 older people with care and support.

 

Our work with older people has grown immensely in the last couple of years and we currently offer the following services

 

This offers older people aged 55+ with no upper age limit, the opportunity to make up their own programme of support by selecting any combination from a menu of options based on their level of need. They are also encouraged to become volunteer befrienders for which training and management support is given. The options include:

 

 

As included in our Befriending Programme we also run a weekly lunch club at which a nourishing hot meal is cooked and served, in an informal homely setting. We currently have approx 40 diners on the books, many of whom have been regulars for a few years enjoying friendship and fellowship with new faces. The atmosphere is relaxed and enjoyable and transport is provided to and from the lunch club.

 

We have recently developed and established a Day Centre which was piloted initially as an extension of the lunch club. The Lakeham Day Centre was officially opened in June 2007 by the Lord Mayor of Norwich, and has quickly gained around 30 regulars.

 

The Centre runs from 10am-4pm with a morning and afternoon sessions and a cooked lunch served at 12.30pm. Transport is provided to and from the Day Centre. Attendees enjoy a wide variety of activities including arts & crafts, games and sports such as carpet bowls and armchair basketball, guest speakers, gentle exercise, crosswords and puzzles, reading and relaxation, friendship and fun. 

 

We organise four seasonal outings each year which are offered to all our clients across our programme work. Last year there was a trip on the Broads on the Mississippi show boat including afternoon tea, a trip to Somerleyton Hall stately home and gardens and an evening out to the Last Night of the Proms Concert at Thursford. The Christmas lunch event was to Dunston Hall. The outings are well attended and enjoyed. 

 

We work in the Lakenham and Tuckswood areas of Norwich, which are high density, disadvantaged estates ranking fourth out of 705 districts on the index of Multiple Deprivation for Norfolk.

 

Older people in this ward, living alone, make up almost 20% of the total households. Many of them are by themselves, fearing crime and suffering from loneliness and often poverty. With the closure of small local stores and post offices, older people’s options are reduced even more so. They are often isolated, becoming trapped and frightened in their own homes. Many are nervous of going out alone and lose confidence quickly, which can result in them going days and sometimes weeks without seeing or speaking to another person. The Government’s latest funding cuts to reduce meals on wheels to once a week only adds to further loneliness and isolation of older people.

 

We have had a presence in this community for 15 years and during that time we have gained knowledge and experience about the issues that are faced by local residents. We have developed and maintained working partnerships with the Courts and Probation Services, Social Services and residential and sheltered housing scheme managers from whom we take referrals, as well as other statutory and voluntary agencies working in the area.

 

Our programme of work has been piloted, evaluated and developed over the years with older people themselves and offers many opportunities to bring about positive change. We have seen a 30% increase in client take up of our work overall as we build relationships through visiting and offer clubs and outings.

 

We have a large team befrienders who offer each older person the menu of options from which they can make up their own programme, based on their needs and desires. The programmes they create can mean a new way of life, changing their outlook and trying new activities and going places they not have been before.

 

Some of our volunteers are elderly themselves and are volunteering for the first time. By joining a team they have attended training sessions and increased their knowledge base. New horizons and opportunities have opened to them in their own retirement period and we aim to see more older people encouraged to volunteer. Each of our clients has entered a new phase in their lives and is taking positive lifestyle choices making a difference to their outlook on life.