The aim of the project is to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older people in rural areas.
Themes
- Social isolation and loneliness
- Older people
Locality
Pateley Bridge, Masham, Boroughbridge.
Aims
- To reduce social isolation in older people in rural areas of Harrogate and rural district clinical commissioning group;
- To reduce feelings of loneliness in older people in rural areas of Harrogate and rural district clinical commissioning group;
- To develop and maintain local, sustainable community and public sector resources (community assets) which will improve accessibility to and availability of resources for the target group; and
- To ensure the intervention is self-sustaining post-funding.
Details
The proportion of older people in North Yorkshire is considerably higher than the national average. In 2010 an estimated 20.3 per cent of the population of North Yorkshire were aged 65 and over, compared to the national average of 16.5 per cent. The population of older people is expected to increase from 20.3 per cent in 2010 to 31.5 per cent by 2035 while the population aged 0-19 years is expected to fall from 22.6 per cent to 20.1 per cent over the same period. Specifically, within the Harrogate and rural district clinical commissioning group area, the number of people aged 65 and over is set to increase from 31,500 to around 40,200 by 2021.
The increasing number of people who will be older will impact on a number of conditions which are associated with increasing age, in particular dementia, long-term conditions and disabilities. These impacts will be on a range of services including health, social care, housing and transport.
The joint health and wellbeing strategy for North Yorkshire has identified rurality and an ageing population as key challenges to work on throughout 2013-2018.
As a result of the above, Harrogate and rural district clinical commissioning group and Harrogate Borough Council are working in partnership, with support from North Yorkshire County Council's public health department to fund up to £30,000 for a voluntary/community/faith sector organisation to deliver an intervention/initiative tackling social isolation and loneliness. The initiative will support The Marmot Principle E: (Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities) as taken from the Marmot Review.
The intervention/initiative must be innovative, self- sustainable post-funding and focused and able to be operational as from the 16 September 2013.
Due to the above evidence base, it is suggested that the social isolation initiative is targeted towards:
- Older people (aged 65 and above); and
- Rural areas (Pateley Bridge, Masham and Boroughbridge areas only).
How will this case study improve health and reduce health inequalities?
The intervention proposes to:
- Improve health and wellbeing in the target population (via self-report) such as positive lifestyle changes, improved self-esteem and confidence, reduced feelings of loneliness and social isolation;
- Increase uptake to local community activities (via self-report) by the target group;
- Enhance partnership work from the provider with key stakeholders (such as Harrogate Borough Council, GP's, other VCFS groups);
- Develop and maintain local, sustainable community and public sector resources (community assets) which improve accessibility to and availability of resources for the target group;
- Improve knowledge/understanding of the community and public sector assets available in the community; and
- Develop versatile and flexible local resources to contribute towards reducing social isolation and loneliness.
Contact details
Harrogate and Rural District Clinical Commissioning Group
Tel: 01423 799307
Email: hardccg.enquiries@nhs.net
