Care homes urged to throw more fish and chip lunches for lonely older people

A care group has launched a monthly 'catch up' to bring older people and care workers together to share activities, day trips and even a royal fish and chip lunch.

The 'Community Activity Hub', developed by Athena Health Care Group, involves bringing care homes and the community together to help older people ‘age well’. The hub also provides a place for those feeling lonely or isolated to catch up and meet new friendly faces.

Lesley Malone, Athena Health Care Group's events co-ordinator, is urging other care providers across the UK to get involved with the initiative. She said: "The activity hub aims to help older people make friends in the community, as well as providing a crucial community link for people living with dementia.

"You hear a lot of negatives about care homes and hardly any positives but this great initiative for care homes is trying to change that."

The hub officially launched in March at the Civic Hall in Ormskirk, West Lancashire, and was attended by former Everton football player Pat Ven Den Hauwe and the club’s event organiser, Henry Mooney.

Whilst half of all people aged 75 live alone, two fifths say the television is their main company and report feeling lonely most of the time.

Research shows that loneliness and social isolation are harmful to an individual’s health: lacking social connections is a risk factor for early death as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and is worse than well-known risks such as obesity and physical inactivity.

According to Ms Malone, "this initiative is about care homes coming together, joining up as one and sharing activities and events.

"People can come together to make friends, and when they wake up in the morning they can say, 'I've got something to look forward to today'."

Care home residents have already met in New Brighton's Queens Royal Hotel for a fish and chips lunch, with activity co-ordinators busy planning the next event.

Ms Malone added: "It was lovely when residents met at New Brighton's Queens Royal and spoke of their holidays at the popular seaside destination.

"One lady from Parklands Lodge and another from Arron More Park in Burscough spoke to each other and discovered they had completed their nursing training at the Royal in Liverpool.

"It was lovely to hear that a new friendship had formed among the ladies and that they will be keeping in contact with each other.

"Another lovely story was that of two gentlemen, one from Parklands Lodge and the other who lives in his own home who used to go to the same school – over 80 years ago."

Athena Health Care Group is looking for more care homes to join with the activity hub to work together to provide an active and healthy lifestyle for older people.

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