Lessons from a voluntary sector organisation working to address loneliness and isolation among older people during the COVID-19 pandemic

Naughton-Doe, Ruth; Wigfield, Andrea; Martin, Charlene

doi:10.1332/204080521x16194338092363

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…People with dementia and unpaid carers who accessed remote services during the pandemic valued the support received, however, some preferred in‐person services 36 . Once legally allowed, services gradually began to deliver socially distanced in‐person services, often in small groups and or outdoors 39,42 . This aligns with our findings, and is likely to explain the increased frequency but fewer service recipients accessing in‐person services at T1.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…36 Once legally allowed, services gradually began to deliver socially distanced in-person services, often in small groups and or outdoors. 39,42 This aligns with our findings, and is likely to explain the increased frequency but fewer service recipients accessing in-person services at T1. Nevertheless, the opportunity to access services remotely following the removal of the public health measures is likely to facilitate access to some service recipients in our survey.…”

Section: Satisfaction With Primary Service Deliverysupporting

confidence: 90%

“…The adaptation of delivery methods is likely to depend on various factors, which may differ across sectors and or by organisation size. Factors may include social support providers' access to ICT equipment, digital literacy and ability to receive support to navigate the technology 35,39–41 . While the telephone was the most employed format, akin to other studies, we observed an increased reliance on the use of videoconferencing software during the pandemic 33–36 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 45%

“…Nevertheless, the opportunity to access services remotely following the removal of the public health measures is likely to facilitate access to some service recipients in our survey. Subsequent to 2 years of confinement, people with dementia and unpaid carers may remain cautious and fear engaging in‐person activities 22,39 . In addition, many people experienced a deterioration in their dementia symptoms, 20,22 and accessing services in person may no longer be feasible or desirable.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subsequent to 2 years of confinement, people with dementia and unpaid carers may remain cautious and fear engaging in-person activities. 22,39 In addition, many people experienced a deterioration in their dementia symptoms, 20,22 and accessing services in person may no longer be feasible or desirable.…”

Section: Satisfaction With Primary Service Deliverymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Social support services for dementia during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A longitudinal survey exploring service adaptations in the United Kingdom

Caprioli

Giebel

Reilly

et al. 2023

Health Expectations

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Objectives To understand how the delivery of dementia‐related social support services across the UK adapted during the pandemic. Methods We devised a two‐part online and telephone longitudinal survey. Providers participated between March and June 2021, and again 3 months later. Information relating to services delivered and delivery methods employed was collected before and during the pandemic at two timepoints (T1 and T2). Results A total of 75 participants completed the survey at T1, with 58 participants completing the survey at both timepoints. Thirty‐six participants had complete data at T1. Day care centres and support groups were the most delivered primary services. During the pandemic, services shifted from in‐person to remote or hybrid. While in‐person services started to resume at T2, most services remained hybrid. At T2, the frequency of service delivery increased, however, a decreasing trend in usage was observed across survey timepoints. The telephone was the most employed format to deliver remote and hybrid services, however, reliance on videoconferencing software significantly increased at T1. Videoconferencing software was often used alongside the telephone and emails to remotely deliver services. Conclusions Services were able to adapt and provide support to some service recipients. Complementing novel approaches to service delivery with more traditional formats may facilitate access to service recipients with limited digital literacy. Following the easing of public health measures, many service recipients may be reluctant to engage with in‐person services. Thus, the provision of in‐person and remote services needs to be carefully balanced amidst the current hybrid landscape. Patient or Public Contribution Two public advisors (a former unpaid carer and a person living with dementia) were involved in designing and piloting the tool, interpreting the results and disseminating the findings. Both public advisors have experience in delivering dementia‐related social support services before and or during the pandemic in the United Kingdom.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Satisfaction With Primary Service Deliverysupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 45%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Satisfaction With Primary Service Deliverymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Social support services for dementia during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A longitudinal survey exploring service adaptations in the United Kingdom

Caprioli

Giebel

Reilly

et al. 2023

Health Expectations

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Austerity, Ageism, and the Rhetoric of Self-reliance: The Policy Drivers and Socio-cultural Attitudes Contributing to the Loneliness Experienced by Older Residents in an Underprivileged Community in South Wales

Naughton-Doe

2024

Social Policy and Society

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Reducing loneliness amongst older people is an international public health and policy priority, with signs of decreasing importance in the UK. A growing body of research on tackling loneliness indicates it is a complex challenge. Most interventions imply they address loneliness, when in fact they offer social connectedness to address social isolation and can inadvertently responsibilise the individual for the causes and solutions for loneliness. This article presents research that explored loneliness in an underprivileged community in South Wales through interviews and focus groups with nineteen older people and eighteen local service providers. Their perspective supports a growing body of evidence that loneliness amongst older people is driven by wider structural and socio-cultural exclusion. Interventions to build social connections will be more effective if coupled with policies that reverse the reduction in public services (including transport and healthcare), and challenge socio-cultural norms, including a culture of self-reliance and ageism.

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Experiences of Community Connectors Supporting Activities During COVID-19

Bradley,

Atkin,

Atkin

et al. 2024

Activities, Adaptation & Aging

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Lessons from a voluntary sector organisation working to address loneliness and isolation among older people during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 4 publications

References 9 publications

Social support services for dementia during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A longitudinal survey exploring service adaptations in the United Kingdom

Social support services for dementia during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A longitudinal survey exploring service adaptations in the United Kingdom

Austerity, Ageism, and the Rhetoric of Self-reliance: The Policy Drivers and Socio-cultural Attitudes Contributing to the Loneliness Experienced by Older Residents in an Underprivileged Community in South Wales

Experiences of Community Connectors Supporting Activities During COVID-19

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