Charity is at hand for the elderly
ANDREA LAMBROU
An East Kilbride charity has moved to reassure the elderly and vulnerable after an increase in demand for mental health support during lockdown.
Older and Active in East Kilbride (OAEK) has adapted its services and introduced new ways of working to ensure the most vulnerable members of the community receive the care and support they require during the ongoing coronavirus situation.
OAEK – originally launched as East Kilbride and District Shopmobility in 2003 – has seen demand for its befriending services increase significantly since the lockdown was implemented in March.
However, with the charity’s community hub temporarily closed and social distancing in place, OAEK has changed the way it delivers its services and taken on an additional 60 qualified volunteers to help those who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation keep in touch with friends and family.
To date the charity has provided support including prescriptions, shopping and emotional support to over 340 people in the ‘at risk’ groups.
In addition, OAEK is contacting service users to make sure they are being supported. Over 200 have been contacted so far, and this will continue in the coming weeks.
OAEK director, Lesley MacIntyre, said: “Since lockdown we have been working flat out to support our most vulnerable members of society.
“At the outset this was largely focused on helping with shopping and prescriptions, however, as time has moved on we are seeing issues of isolation and loneliness growing, particularly within the older population.
“Over 250 members of the community are used to meeting in our community café every week for a cup of tea and a chat, or to access one of our other services, so we know that the temporary closure of the facility is sorely missed.
“Low mood is extremely common with individuals in poor physical health, however, the extreme social measures we are now having to adopt are causing an escalation.”
Working from two sites in EK, East Kilbride, OAEK has grown from an initial 100 service users in 2003 to approximately 3200 in 2018. A programme of mental health support is just one strand of a suite of services that, combined, are used over 40,000 times a year.
Building on the foundation Shopmobility facility, OAEK introduced the Meeting Place in 2012. Over the years this important community hub/cafe has grown to become a lifeline service for thousands of ageing and disabled service users, who, prior to the coronavirus situation, would regularly meet up for a coffee and the chance to share stories with friends.
The Meeting Place also offers a range of complementary services, including arts and crafts, IT classes and games sessions. A range of health and wellbeing services have also proved extremely popular over the years with tai chi, health walks, self-management courses, complementary therapies, podiatry, physio and acupuncture on offer.
Lesley added: “Our volunteers are not only keeping in touch with this group via telephone and online but, importantly, they are linking them back to friends that they would normally meet at the café to ensure these important relationships are maintained.
“Fortunately EK has a very active charity sector and everyone has been pulling together through EK Connected (www. facebook.com/EKConnected/) and other initiatives to try and provide the support that is required. Moving forward this will become even more important.”
The new services on offer from OAEK are in direct response to COVID-19 and are available to anyone in East Kilbride over the age of 50 or to anyone of any age with a disability, who is isolated at home.
For more information and to find out how you can become a volunteer, visit www. olderandactive.co.uk, call 01355 571300 or email info@olderandactive.co.uk.