Companionship is key to a healthy life but more needs to be done to reduce loneliness amongst the elderly in Durham, according to research carried out by an in-home care provider.
Home Instead Senior Care surveyed more than 2,000 over 65s with 9 in 10 stating that regular companionship would help them to stay mentally and physically healthy for longer.
Despite this, it was revealed that many older people felt lonely with over a quarter of over 65s saying they spent 8 hours alone daily, with almost half (49%) of over 85s facing at least ten hours a day alone.
Now the home care company is urging the public to take action to help older people in the community feel less lonely.
Trudi Jameson, owner of Home Instead Senior Care, said, “In many cases, it’s simply having a friendly face pop by for a cup of tea and asking if they need assistance with their shopping. So our message is this; visit your grandma, take your parents out for lunch as often as you can, befriend older neighbours and, if you are looking to turn your compassion into a rewarding career, consider becoming a caregiver.”
The survey also revealed that 81% of older people in the local area want to live at home so as to not lose their independence and 72% also feel safe in the comfort of their own home.
Trudi continued: “It comes as no surprise to us to find that most people want to live at home for as long as possible. For most of us, our home is our sanctuary throughout our lives. When we get older, we’ve raised our families and earned our rest, we should get to enjoy the comfort of our own space. This is why our care works so well because our caregivers can provide companionship and support as well as encouraging older people to engage and be part of the community.”
The home care company this month launched a television campaign to highlight how care at home works, as well as highlighting the rewarding role of working in care.
Home Instead’s service is personal and tailored to the needs of each individual. It’s a unique proposition that centres around visiting clients for a minimum of one hour at a time and matching them to caregivers who have common interests.
There is a shortage of caregivers in our society at the moment. Home Instead Senior Care recruits people of every age, regardless of employment background; basing hiring decisions on an applicant’s passion for care rather than experience.
If you would like to make a difference in the lives of older people or to find out more about the work of Home Instead Senior Care, call 0191 374 4041 or visit https://www.homeinstead.co.uk/durham.
Photo: Home Instead Senior Care client; Olive and caregiver; Pauline.
