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North MSP leads drive to prevent lonliness among old and infirm





rhoda
rhoda

A NORTH MSP has launched an initiative to try and prevent the elderly and infirm suffering from lonliness and isolation.

Highlands and Islands MSP and Scottish Labour spokeswoman for care Rhoda Grant is asking all neighbours to consider doing one kind act per week for an elderly or infirm neighbour, or indeed any neighbour who appears isolated.

Ms Grant said as she launched her Highlands and Islands Neighbourhood Care Scheme (HINCS): "Research has shown that the majority of us would rather admit to an addiction or mental illness than to being lonely or isolated.

"If fit and healthy neighbours made at least one contact with an elderly neighbour who lives alone once per week, that would make a huge difference to the elderly neighbour. I am asking people to engage in face to face contact, or a telephone conversation once per week.

"If people are cooking meals for themselves and their families, why not cook one extra portion at least once in the week for an elderly neighbour who is alone?

"For an elderly person living alone, this contact will make them feel included, part of the community, and will help alleviate isolation and loneliness."

She added: "There are lots of individuals out there doing this already and there are voluntary groups and organisations doing lots of good work in this area. However, I am just trying to establish if we could get a policy or process in place, designed by interested parties and partners, whereby such good works were organised and went on in all parts of the Highlands and Islands."

Ms Grant has contacted the Yorkshire based charity, The Casserole Club, to see if their scheme would work in the Highlands.

This charity has a membership of local people who get paired off with an elderly person who lives alone and once a week they cook an extra portion of food and deliver it to the elderly person and stay for a chat.

Ms Grant said: "I am keen to hear what other people and organisations think, including those that provide services for the elderly, those who are isolated or lonely. I ask anyone with an interest in the HINCS initiative to contact me at rhoda.grant.msp@scottish.parliament.uk,or via my office at PO Box 5717,Inverness,IV11YT, Alternatively anyone interested could phone my local Inverness office on 01463 716299"

" If sufficient interest is shown then I will pull together a mini seminar at which we can develop this initiative."


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