Volunteering, Social Inclusion and Older People

Scottish Government outcome ‘We live longer, healthier lives’-indicators include: improving the quality of healthcare experience Increase the average score on the WEMWBS Reduce percentage of the adult population who smoke Reduce alcohol-related hospital admissions Reduce proportion of 65+ admitted to emergency inpatients 2 or more times a year Reduce mortality from coronary heart disease among under-75s Increase the percentage of people with high care needs 65+ cared for at home Increase the proportion of adults making one or more visits to the outdoors per week

A US study recently found that loneliness can increase the risk of death by almost 10 per cent. death-among-elderly/

Loneliness increases the risk of heart disease and puts people at greater risk of blood clots Steptoe, A et al. Loneliness and neuroendocrine, cardiovascular and inflammatory stress responses in middle aged men and women. Psychonueuroendocrinology 2004 Jun 29 (5):

Loneliness is estimated to be as bad for people’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (meta-analysis of 148 studies (308,849 participants) in PLOS medicine 2010 These findings indicate that the influence of social relationships on the risk of death are comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality such as smoking and alcohol consumption and exceed the influence of other risk factors such as physical inactivity and obesity. Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB. Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review. PLoS Med 2010;7(7)

A 2006 study of 3,000 nurses with breast cancer found women without close friends were four times more likely to die than women with 10 or more friends. Parker-Pope T, What Are Friends For? A Longer Life, The New York Times, April 2009

Around 10% of over 65s say they are lonely or very lonely, and another 20% are occasionally lonely Victor, CR, Scambler, SJ, Bowling, A and Bond, J (2005) The prevalence of, and risk factors for, loneliness in later life: a survey of older people in Great Britain, Ageing and Society, 25, (3), pp 357–76

The risk of dementia almost doubles in older people who are lonely Victor, CR, Scambler, SJ, Bowling, A and Bond, J (2005) The prevalence of, and risk factors for, loneliness in later life: a survey of older people in Great Britain, Ageing and Society, 25, (3), pp 357–76

‘A major gap in services for old people are ones that address loneliness and isolation: (this could be) a simple niche for volunteering’ VEnable summary report, VDS, 2013

‘ Befriending was regarded as especially valuable for those living alone, where family support was unavailable and for the recently bereaved, as well as for the carers of older and frail people ’ VEnable summary report, 2013

Kincardine & Deeside Befriending Service Befriending at Hospital Project reported increased confidence in going home in 100% of their service users. There was a 14% reduction in bed days lost to delayed discharge against the same period the previous year. ‘The befriending service has improved the confidence of clients who can be reluctant to leave hospital by providing practical and emotional support’ (Team Manager, Older People & Physical Disability Service, Aberdeenshire Council )

Volunteering must be placed at the centre of policy planning and delivery Volunteering should be supported by developing and implementing more effective policies Volunteering does not just happen. It needs to be supported and resourced. (Volunteering Round Table)

Tackling loneliness among older people in Scotland-how? Strategic, Scotland-wide approach learning from what’s working elsewhere Working group to scope out the issue in Scotland Work towards the reduction of loneliness being a Scottish Government indicator: ‘We live longer, healthier, less lonely lives’

Befriending Networks Ltd., Shandwick Place, Edinburgh EH 2 4SD Scottish Charity SC