In response to tackling social isolation, the Complex Care Team at Stalybridge, Mossley and Dukinfield Primary Care Network (PCN) held another successful Ageing Well luncheon at Copley Active Café area at the end of August. The event was attended by 17 patients, aged 65 and over, who were identified as socially isolated. Fourteen people received a health check and their information was shared with their GPs to review. Some people actually made friends and have since arranged to meet up.
Social isolation is an extremely important issue and loneliness is a prevalent and a global problem for adult populations. A number of different studies have linked it to multiple chronic conditions, including: heart disease, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, stroke, and metabolic disorders, such as obesity and metabolic disease. It is a major predictor of psychological problems, such as depression, psychological stress, and anxiety. Loneliness is linked to overall morbidity and mortality in adult populations.
There were a variety of stalls from Be Well Tameside, Action Together, Population Health’s Nutrition and Hydration, the Falls team, Infection Prevention, the Complex Care Team and Active Tameside who gave advice on how to access their services, which service users said they were now able to connect with community services to manage their own health and wellbeing.
People were given the knowledge and tools to interact within their local community by linking their hobbies and interests, as well as matching them with appropriate services, helping to reduce social isolation and promote wellbeing as part of The CARE Excellence Project; a Programme designed to develop leaders amongst GP Practice Nurses (GPNs), to build on leadership skills, personal resilience, self-awareness, health and wellbeing as well as empowerment to enhance leadership capability to support joined-up, multi-professional working.
Around ten per cent of people aged 65 and over are living with Moderate Frailty. Those living with frailty are at an increased risk of adverse outcomes and deterioration. If frailty is identified early and appropriate support is put in place, people will have better outcomes.
Complex Care Team consists of nurses and care coordinators that support patients from 9 GP practices in Stalybridge, Dukinfield and Mossley including care home residents.
