A rural clinical commissioning group (CCG) has awarded a £40,000 grant to tackle elderly loneliness and social isolation.
Harrogate and Rural District CCG awarded the money to the British Red Cross to start community connect schemes.
Patients will be referred by GP surgeries. The teams will them work to make referred patients feel more connected with their community.
A rural clinical commissioning group (CCG) has awarded a £40,000 grant to tackle elderly loneliness and social isolation.
Harrogate and Rural District CCG awarded the money to the British Red Cross to start community connect schemes.
Patients will be referred by GP surgeries. The teams will them work to make referred patients feel more connected with their community.
British Red Cross service manager Colette Kemp told the local paper: “Our aim is to help people access support in their own communities which helps them live independently, and this has been a real success.
“Initial figures show that there has already been a drop in the number of surgery visits. We believe this shows that people are able to access the support they need within their own community, rather than by visiting their GP.”
Red Cross business development manager April Baskind said: “Befriending and community connect volunteers can help connect people to social groups, and survival rates for elderly people who receive such services are much higher than those who don’t.”
