Lonely elderly ‘don’t want to impose’ on busy neighbours, study finds
ALMOST a million older people in Britain do not know even their closest neighbours because they do not want to get in the way, a study of attitudes to loneliness shows.
By John Bingham, Social Affairs Editor
7:00AM GMT 15 Nov 2012
The most common reasons given by elderly people for not getting to know those living close to them was that younger neighbours “always seem to be so busy” or that they did not wish to be a burden.
Overall about 3.5 million people over 65 get no help, support or companionship from those living nearest to them, research carried out for the charity Age UK found.
The findings were published as the charity launched of a campaign to promote neighbourliness between generations ahead of the winter.
It wants to see the “Great British spirit” demonstrated during the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee celebrations translated into practical help for older people this winter.
Home security for the elderly and Carers
Guest Blog Jason Tucker
Home security Tips
Elderly people can often feel vulnerable to crime and are sometimes unable to ensure they are adequately protected from criminal activity without help and support. By following the advice available and taking advantage of organisations offering practical help, elderly people can ensure their home is as secure as possible and that they feel safe in their own homes.
It goes without saying that all doors and outside windows should remain locked if you’re going out, even if only for a few minutes. Various local and national organisations offer specialised help in fitting locks and chains which helps increase security and stops people gaining access to the building. In addition to crime prevention checks, some fire services offer smoke alarm checks so you can ensure your smoke alarm is fitted correctly and in working order. Again, many organisations will help fit smoke and carbon monoxide alarms if you require them.
The mentally ill are still neglected and stigmatised
The mentally ill are still neglected and stigmatised – just as I found they were 10 years ago
The Schizophrenia Commission’s report, published today, is an indictment of the way we treat some of our most vulnerable citizens. Jeremy Laurance laments a lost decade in mental healthcare
Wednesday 14 November 2012
Ten years ago I spent six months touring the country observing the care provided to people with mental illness for a book I was writing. Pure Madness, published in 2003, described a system “driven by fear”, in which risk reduction and protection of the public was the priority, rather than the care of patients. The public and political focus on the tiny numbers who posed a risk had distracted attention from the “huge majority of frightened, disturbed people whose suffering remains largely hidden”, I wrote.
