1. Supporting independent living
5/21/2018 9:01 PM
Supporting independent living
and social connection
County Network Meeting
14th March 2017
Ballybofey
GMSS Befriending Coordinator – Emma Kennedy
© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

2. Mission Statement
To benefit the community by providing a free county wide package of services to include, telephone link, befriending, care and repair and assisted befriending for older marginalised and vulnerable people in Donegal.
Our objectives are to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness among older persons, to contribute to a sense of security and personal well being and ultimately to support independence and the choice for older people to live in their home for as long as they wish.

3. Befriending Overview
Befriending commenced in 2012 – CAWT Funding for 3 years.
Core funded by HSE 2015
GMSS Total Core Funding – staff and running costs HSE: Section 39 Annual Service Level Agreement €128,000 Befriending = €27,500
Expansion to Lifford & Milford (Dept. of Health National Lottery 2016 – No Funding 2017)
Partnership with Dunfanaghy FRC via Dementia Aware Donegal for small Dementia Befriending Project (No Funding)

4. Organisational Structure

5. ‘Good Morning Support Service Donegal’ - Company Registration
Governance
‘Good Morning Support Service Donegal’ - Company Registration
Management Committee Members
2 Reps from HSE
6 Volunteers – 3 Buncrana, 1 Donegal Town, 1 Letterkenny, 1 Burtonport
Inishowen Development Partnership
Lifford & Clonleigh Resource Centre
Dept of Social Protection
Care of the Aged Rep
Garda Community Liaison

6. Aimed at the over 60’s who experience Social Isolation & Loneliness
Befriending Service
Aimed at the over 60’s who experience Social Isolation & Loneliness
Person Centred Approach
Essential that the Service of Benefit & the Person Wants the Service
Aims are:
- To reduce Social Isolation & Loneliness
Assist in Retaining Independence in the home
Provide a Connection to the Community
Volunteer Role: Company, Companionship, Socialisation

7. Age & Gender Breakdown
Analysis of 134 Current Referrals and Active Visits Sept 2016

8. Who Refers

9. Reasons for Referral
Most Referrals linked to Social Isolation & Loneliness due to :
Geographic Location
Family Situation
Health Issue – Disability, Mobility, Mental Health, Recent on-set Ill Health, Dementia, etc.
Underlying Issues – Addiction
Major Life Change (Bereavement, Long-term care, etc.)
Feel Lonely – would simply welcome some extra company
Shyness or Lack of Confidence

10. Statistics (until end Feb 2017)
57 Befriending Relationships Currently
67 Client Referrals In Process
56 Volunteers and 3xTus(1 Admin)/ 1xCE Befrienders
26 Volunteers In Process
17 Dementia Befriending Relationships
Dementia referrals generally a quarter/a third of all referrals

11. Members of Befriending Network Ireland & Befriending Networks UK
How We Work
Older Person – Referral Received, Link with Professional, Assessment, Risk Assessment & Plan if required, Match.
Volunteer – Application, Screening – Vetting, References, 1-to-1 with Befriending Coordinator, Training (Dementia Training), Match.
Ongoing Support Model for both sides
Quality Management (Policies, Procedures, Forms, Quality Control)
Members of Befriending Network Ireland &
Befriending Networks UK

12. 5/21/2018 9:01 PM
Case Studies
Henry (69) Recently moved to Nursing Home, M.S., Poor Mobility.
Janet (73) Blind following an accident, request for support to continue doing her own shopping.
Laura (86) Dementia, Brother (carer) in his 80’s also, Volunteer to sit and keep Laura company to give the carer some time out.
© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

13. Challenges Funding (Workers, Expansion, Training, Volunteer Expenses)
Demand – Capping Referrals
Dementia (Demand, Specialised Befriending)
Government Employment Schemes (Tus / CE)
Volunteer Recruitment
Time!

14. Successes Pride of Place Short-List 2016
County Council ‘Certificate of Appreciation’
Demand for the service
Expansion to 2 New Areas - Solid Foundations
Requests for support & advice from other groups re. Befriending

15. Vision for the Future Expansion of Befriending Service County-wide
Secure funding for befriending service in Lifford & Milford
Source funding to expand to other Primary Care areas of the County (service available county-wide)
To work in Partnership with areas where Befriending already operational
To increase staff as required
Current HSE Befriending Funding €27,500.
Estimated €140,544 yearly to cover 10 PCT areas (1 Full-Time Staff Member & 4 Part-Time Staff). €11,304 per PCT area.
To work towards providing a base; office and call centre in Letterkenny (central location).

16. Support from the Network
Support, Back-Up, Lobby, Advocate, Promote.
Support in County-Wide Expansion (Looking at opportunities for National/European Funding). (Letters of support PCTs and CHFs each area, participate in sub-group/working group).
Interested in the Service in your area? Talk with us, look to see how we can work together.
Partnership is key – you are the experts in your area, need the local support & buy-in.
Let us know of funding opportunities and possibilities.

17. Ageing Statistics
Currently there are 540,000 people aged 65+ in Ireland which accounts, for 12% of the total population.
This is set to rise to 1.4m, or 22% of the total population, by 2041 (Central Statistics Office, 2013).
Over the same thirty-year period, the number of people aged 80 and over in Ireland is projected to rise from 130,600 to 458,000 – an increase of 250%.
Ageing on this scale is unprecedented in Irish history (The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), 2014).” (

18. Dementia Statistics
“Our best estimate is that there are currently around 47,000* people with dementia living in Ireland and this figure is expected to rise to over 130,000 by This is consistent with the rising occurrence of dementia worldwide” (Genio 2014)
*55,000 current estimate.

19. The End….For Now…
Questions/Comments?