Issue - meetings

That the representatives from Age UK, the Positive Ageing Council and Lewisham Pensioners Forum and the Deputy Mayor be thanked for attending and providing evidence to the Committee.

4.1       Catherine Mbema, Interim Director of Public Health presented the report to the Committee. During the discussion, the following key points were raised:

·         Members of the Committee requested information on the numbers of older people in Lewisham receiving a form of intervention to prevent loneliness.

·         The intervention strategies aligned different target groups including suicide prevention. It was recognised that men were at most risk of suicide and the age group 25-44 was the highest risk group within this.

·         There were different referral routes for intervention such as through GPs and through other community groups. Work was on-going to try to improve links between organisations and monitoring.

4.2       Councillor Chris Best, Deputy Mayor, presented to the Committee and highlighted the different work that was on-going. During her presentation and in the discussion that followed, the following key points were made:

·         There was positive work on-going linked to the adult isolation and services to the elderly work. This included: presentations at local assemblies; referrals; individual Councillors reaching-out; free swimming for over 60s; outdoor gyms; healthy walks programme; dementia friends programme.

·         Meet me at the Albany was hugely successful and was expanding and also being replicated in Downham.

4.3       Camilla Biggs and Alice Groux from Age UK presented to the Committee. During their presentation, the following key points were highlighted:

·         Age UK worked with the public health team and ward assemblies. They had supported 967 people.

·         Through the SAIL Connections pathway (Safe and Independent Living) there had been 1435 referrals.

·         Age UK  worked closely with the Council and were now based at Laurence House with the Adult Social Care Team which facilitated a joined up approach to information sharing and support.

·         Around 50% of their clients were over 50. Another key group was supporting people with the transition from children’s to adult’s social care services.

·         Social isolation could be caused by mental ill health, alcohol and drugs misuse, mobility issues, sight loss, hearing problems and conditions such as dementia, as well as issues such as living away from family and friends. There could be a long waiting list for support.

·         Age UK looked at gaps in service provision and strengths each year and challenges for different community groups and minorities.

4.4       Iris Till, Chair Positive Ageing Council presented to the Committee. During the presentation the following key points were raised:

·         Isolation and loneliness could be invisible and the Positive Ageing Council was always focussed on how to reach out and engage and identify where there was a problem.

·         The group was working closely with Council officers such the Cultural Development Officer and had designed a programme called “table talk”.

·         Thinking about venues and where to engage was important. There was the potential to include; libraries; pubs; supermarkets; health centres.

·         The organisation was also running focus groups about Lewisham becoming an “age-friendly borough”.

·         Lewisham Council had a number of positive initiatives such as the free swimming and gym for over 60s and the Council should be proud of this.

4.5       Bridgit Sam Bailey and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4