Community Matters - Appreciating our older residents

 

In our ongoing quest to keep ourselves young, or at least looking youthful, we are in danger of denying our own ageing, and ignoring the population of older people around us. While we may acknowledge that our population is ageing, this is often viewed in negative terms, focusing on older people’s ill health, disability, higher demand for health care and dependence on others. 

October 1 was United Nations International Day of Older Persons. This year the theme is ageism, focusing on and challenging negative stereotypes and misconceptions about older persons and ageing.

Not all older people suffer illness or disability, and the positive contribution of older people to our society needs to be recognised. They are involved in supporting families, in paid work, running businesses, volunteering, providing care, mentoring, sharing their wisdom and experience and undertaking community work. 

However for some older people isolation and loneliness can be a real problem. Having inadequate social relationships has been shown to be as bad for our health as smoking. Loneliness can be both emotional – not having a close confidant , or social – having a limited social network. Loneliness also increases the chances of a range of physical, mental and emotional health issues, ranging from raised blood pressure to depression, as well as doubling the likelihood of entering residential care.

Research in New Zealand shows that while around half of older New Zealanders feel some level of loneliness, about 8–9 percent feel lonely most or all of the time. Those with less income are more likely to be lonely. Social connectedness and participation are important at any age in promoting well being and good health. The risk of loneliness increases for older people who may have lost a spouse, whose family has moved away, or they have lost social interaction through retirement, incapacity, or they no longer drive.

Some communities have purposefully improved social connectedness for their older residents through community navigation schemes, where those who are lonely and socially isolated are identified, and then followed up with befriending or other services. It has been found that such interventions work well and are reasonably cost effective as they prevent ill health and early rest home care.

Coast to Coast Health Care runs a service locally to support community wellness for older persons called SCOPE. The service co-ordinator, Cherry Phillips visits older residents in their home to assist them to remain living at home in a safe independent manner, including linking them into appropriate social activities and services to improve their health and social wellbeing. Cherry can be contacted on 021 0290 6542.

Not all older people need such a service, but we all need social connectedness.  Maybe you can help an older person in your neighbourhood or community by contacting and talking with them, sharing a cup of tea, offering to provide some help if needed, a ride somewhere, asking for or sharing some advice or information. As well as improving their social connectedness, there could well be positives for you too, not the least of which is the good feelings you get from helping others. When we realise that we too have become older persons, it would be nice if someone else connected in with us.

n Otamatea Ward councillor, Libby Jones, is involved in many community organisations in both paid and volunteer roles. She has experience in social services, health and education including governance, funding, research, clinical and management roles.