Working with primary care

Please note: this post is 86 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

Often at our monthly volunteer inductions we get asked, “Where do you meet the older people that come along to clubs?”.  The answer? We meet our neighbours out in the community where they are, taking a proactive approach and going to people rather than waiting for people to come to us.

As part of this approach we’ve worked closely with primary care providers in GP surgeries and hospitals. Research has shown that one in every ten visits to a GP is made by people for no other condition than loneliness: offering social connections and a sense of community in those spaces is therefore particularly important. This outreach helps to decrease pressure on health services already undergoing huge challenges and change.

During this year’s Winter Wellbeing project, we’ve worked with 12 GP surgeries and 2 hospitals. As a direct result, we’ve spoke face-to-face with 252 people over 65 of which 41 have received deeper interventions.

Take Anton, 90, who we met at Guy’s Strength and Balance Classes. He hadn’t realised there were so many activities available to him where he could connect with other people in his community at no cost. We were also able to help link him up to Ability Net for help with his computer at home. 

We met Gillian, 77, at Valley Road Surgery Christmas Party. She told us how she lives alone and finds it hard to get out but would love more company. We told her about our Love Your Neighbour programme and she was interested straight away. We’re now in the process of matching her up with a local volunteer who will visit once a week for a cuppa.  

Within the primary care sector, we’ve been along to festive events, flu clinics, strength and balance classes, staff meetings, PPG events, Self Help Week events, and we’ve also set up our own information stands in waiting room areas. This approach allows us to be preventative in our efforts by reaching people before they become emergency cases and reassure those who may need support in the future.

Dougie, 76, who we met at the Hurley Clinic Warm and Well event told us “All my friends are dead or dying. I worry I’ll then be alone”. He’s since signed up to our social clubs where he’ll be able to come along to free film clubs, technology workshops, quizzes and much more.

A special thanks to the following surgeries and hospitals for inviting us along and working with us to help more people over 65 stay warm, active, healthy and connected over the winter. 

Crown Dale Surgery

Deer Brook Surgery

Dr Masterton’s

Valley Road Surgery

Heatherington Group Practice

Dr Aru's Practice

Beckett Surgery

Lister Primary Care Centre

Lambeth Walk Group Practice

Knights Hill Surgery

Hurley Clinic

East Street Surgery

Camberwell Green Surgery

Guys and St Thomas’s Hospital 

If you work in primary care and would like to find out more please get in touch. Email [email protected] or call us on 0207 118 0404.