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Good Health Fund 2014 Combating Loneliness & Social Isolation Across the Life-course

Good Health Fund 2014 Combating Loneliness & Social Isolation Across the Life-course. Laura Wharton Public Health Partnerships Manager. Purpose of this presentation. Provide attendees with; a common/shared understanding of loneliness and social isolation

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Good Health Fund 2014 Combating Loneliness & Social Isolation Across the Life-course

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  1. Good Health Fund 2014Combating Loneliness & Social Isolation Across the Life-course Laura Wharton Public Health Partnerships Manager

  2. Purpose of this presentation Provide attendees with; • a common/shared understanding of loneliness and social isolation • an overview of why loneliness and social isolation is an important health issue in BwD • guidance on approaches to tackling loneliness and social isolation • details of the funding available • signposting to useful sources of information

  3. Loneliness & Social Isolation – what does it mean? • Social isolation - the integration of individuals into the wider social environment. An objective measure of the number, type and duration of contacts between individuals and the wider social environment • Loneliness is a subjective state – a response to people’s perceptions and feelings about their social connections However; • The presence of large social networks does not necessarily imply close relationships or protection from loneliness • Living alone is not necessarily linked to loneliness

  4. Key risk factors include… • Being in later old age (over 80 years) • Being on a low income • Being in poor physical or mental health • Living alone • Living in isolated rural areas or deprived urban communities • Personal characteristics (e.g. personality and coping), • Life events (e.g. bereavement, retirement, migration) • No or limited access to public transport

  5. Why is it important? • Loneliness and social isolation are harmful to our health • Lacking social connections is a comparable risk factor for early death as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and is worse for us than other risk factors such as obesity and physical inactivity • Individuals who are socially isolated are two to five times more likely than those who have strong social ties to die prematurely • Action to address loneliness can reduce the need for health and social care services • Cross-cutting theme of the BwD Health & Wellbeing Strategy and a priority for Theme 5 • Experience of loneliness and social isolation appears to be increasing across the life course

  6. Consider initiatives that.. • Involve people in developing our understanding of the causes • Involve people in building a picture of community assets to combat loneliness and social isolation • Improve awareness of this issue • Provide early identification of and intervention with people who are at risk of becoming lonely/socially isolated • Involve the wider community and families in reducing loneliness and social isolation and encourage intergenerational contact • Create the conditions for socially connected communities e.g. access to transport, public meeting spaces, safer streets • Address other key health challenges e.g. physical activity, falls, alcohol misuse

  7. Funding available for this priority • Total grant for this priority £17,500 • The maximum amount you can apply for is £4375 • The minimum amount you can apply for is £500 • Projects need to be delivered by 31st March 2015 • End of grant reports and project evaluations will need to be returned by 30th April 2015

  8. Useful sources of information Campaign to end loneliness www.campaigntoendloneliness.org Local Government Association guide for local authorities on tackling loneliness (including case studies) www.local.gov.uk Age UK Knowledge Hub http://www.ageuk.org.uk/professional-resources-home/knowledge-hub-evidence-statistics/research-community/social-inclusion-and-loneliness-research/ Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Neighbourhood Approaches to Tackling Loneliness (including resource pack) http://www.jrf.org.uk/topic/loneliness BwDHealth and Wellbeing Strategy http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/Lists/DownloadableDocuments/HWBStrategy2012.pdf BwD Public Health Annual Report 2013 http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/Lists/DownloadableDocuments/public-health-report-2013.pdf Marmot report http://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/projects/fair-society-healthy-lives-the-marmot-review

  9. Any Questions? Laura Wharton Public Health Partnerships Manager Tel: 01254 588911 laura.wharton@blackburn.gov.uk

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