Befriending
As the UK population ages, more individuals face isolation and loneliness. According to Age UK, over 1.4 million older people in the country often feel lonely, which can have significant impacts on their mental and physical health. Befriending services have emerged as a powerful solution to this growing issue, offering companionship and support to elderly individuals who may feel disconnected from their communities.
Befriending
Befriending
Befriending services provide a lifeline for many individuals in the UK, offering companionship, emotional support, and practical help. By addressing the issues of loneliness and isolation, these services play a crucial role in improving people’s mental and physical health while also strengthening community connections.
Ultimately, the primary benefit of befriending people is an enhanced quality of life. Regular social interaction, emotional support, and practical assistance contribute to a more fulfilling and enjoyable life. Knowing that someone cares and is there to listen can make a world of difference to individuals, helping them navigate the challenges with dignity and confidence. Here is a recap of the benefits of befriending.
One of the most immediate benefits of befriending services is reducing loneliness and social isolation. For many people, regular visits or phone calls from a befriender provide a vital social connection. This interaction helps them feel valued and supported, significantly improving their emotional well-being. The personal connection with a befriender can make a profound difference, offering companionship and a listening ear, which is especially crucial for those who live alone or have limited family contact.
Befriender - Mrs Morgan
Befriender - Duncan
Ask your Befriender about PCC
Short audio files -easy listening
Person-Centred Care (PCC)
Personalised choices & care plans
Integrated Health & Care Services
Empowering Self-Management
Social Prescribing
Personal Health Budgets
Keeping this directory
Personal Choices
The NHS promotes giving individuals more control over their healthcare choices, allowing them to take an active role in setting care goals, making decisions, and shaping services that impact their lives. The health services include empowering patients to choose providers or tailor services around their unique preferences
Personalised Care Plans
Personalised Care Plans often involve collaboratively creating a plan with the individual, healthcare providers, and family members. These plans are reviewed regularly and adapted to meet changing needs. For example, individuals with health conditions or disabilities can work with their GP and community health teams to develop a tailored plan that supports them in their homes and daily lives.
Integrated Health & Care Services
The UK government has worked towards integrating health and social care services to provide seamless support. Integrated Health and Social Care Services involve coordination between the NHS, local councils, and community organisations, making it easier for people to access multiple forms of support—such as health, social, and housing services—without navigating complicated systems independently.
Network community
Person Centred Care emphasises local, community-based services that help people live independently and stay connected within their communities. For example, NHS Community Health Services and local volunteer groups may provide home visits, community nursing, or social activities to reduce isolation and maintain a sense of belonging.
Empowering Self-Management
Person Centred Care promotes “self-management” strategies, encouraging individuals, particularly those with long-term health conditions, to actively manage their health. Community-based programs, such as the NHS’s “Expert Patients Programme,” provide training and support for people to understand their condition better and develop skills for managing symptoms, treatment, and lifestyle adjustments
Building Supportive Relationships
Healthcare providers work to establish trusting relationships with patients by listening to their concerns and understanding their health and personal circumstances. For example, GPs and community nurses often spend more time with individuals in person-centred assessments, hearing their stories and building lasting connections.
Social Prescribing
Social prescribing enables GPs and community health teams to refer individuals to non-clinical services, such as exercise groups, art therapy, or local clubs, to improve their quality of life. This holistic approach aligns with Person-Centred Care by addressing social, emotional, and mental well-being and physical health.
In summary, Person Centred Care in the community setting is about respecting individual choice, fostering collaborative decision-making, and integrating health and social services to create a holistic, inclusive, and accessible support network that meets each person where they are. It is grounded in principles that promote dignity, independence, and a life with meaningful engagement in the community.
Personal Health Budgets
Through NHS Personal Health Budgets, individuals with health needs can receive funds directly to spend on services or support that will benefit their health. Personal Health Budgets allow individuals to choose their care, aligning with Person Centred Care principles
Directory Download
Please keep this directory handy for emergencies. It is important to keep this directory because it provides quick access to essential contact information, instructions, and resources when time is of the essence. In emergencies, every second counts, and having a well-organized directory ensures that you can promptly reach healthcare professionals, and caregivers. This directory also helps prevent confusion, reduces stress, and ensures that the right steps are taken swiftly to protect the safety and well-being of those in need.
Befriending
Befriender - Mrs Morgan
Befriender - Duncan
Short audio files -easy listening
Person-Centred Care (PCC)
Personalised choices & care plans
Integrated Health & Care Services
Empowering Self-Management
Social Prescribing
Personal Health Budgets
Keeping this directory
Personal Choices
The NHS promotes giving individuals more control over their healthcare choices, allowing them to take an active role in setting care goals, making decisions, and shaping services that impact their lives. The health services include empowering patients to choose providers or tailor services around their unique preferences
Personalised Care Plans
Personalised Care Plans often involve collaboratively creating a plan with the individual, healthcare providers, and family members. These plans are reviewed regularly and adapted to meet changing needs. For example, individuals with health conditions or disabilities can work with their GP and community health teams to develop a tailored plan that supports them in their homes and daily lives.
Integrated Health & Care Services
The UK government has worked towards integrating health and social care services to provide seamless support. Integrated Health and Social Care Services involve coordination between the NHS, local councils, and community organisations, making it easier for people to access multiple forms of support—such as health, social, and housing services—without navigating complicated systems independently.
Network community
Person Centred Care emphasises local, community-based services that help people live independently and stay connected within their communities. For example, NHS Community Health Services and local volunteer groups may provide home visits, community nursing, or social activities to reduce isolation and maintain a sense of belonging.
Empowering Self-Management
Person Centred Care promotes “self-management” strategies, encouraging individuals, particularly those with long-term health conditions, to actively manage their health. Community-based programs, such as the NHS’s “Expert Patients Programme,” provide training and support for people to understand their condition better and develop skills for managing symptoms, treatment, and lifestyle adjustments
Building Supportive Relationships
Healthcare providers work to establish trusting relationships with patients by listening to their concerns and understanding their health and personal circumstances. For example, GPs and community nurses often spend more time with individuals in person-centred assessments, hearing their stories and building lasting connections.
Social Prescribing
Social prescribing enables GPs and community health teams to refer individuals to non-clinical services, such as exercise groups, art therapy, or local clubs, to improve their quality of life. This holistic approach aligns with Person-Centred Care by addressing social, emotional, and mental well-being and physical health.
In summary, Person Centred Care in the community setting is about respecting individual choice, fostering collaborative decision-making, and integrating health and social services to create a holistic, inclusive, and accessible support network that meets each person where they are. It is grounded in principles that promote dignity, independence, and a life with meaningful engagement in the community.
Personal Health Budgets
Through NHS Personal Health Budgets, individuals with health needs can receive funds directly to spend on services or support that will benefit their health. Personal Health Budgets allow individuals to choose their care, aligning with Person Centred Care principles