GDC Ready for living – focus area social participation 1600x500

FOCUS AREA: Social

ARO Ā TAKE: Whakawhanaungatanga

Social participation is vital for well-being at any age, but can be severely constrained in older years if other matters such as health, housing and mobility cause pressure.

Being connected and having meaningful relationships with our wider community is critically important for our wellbeing as we age. Older people can experience loneliness and social isolation, which contribute to poor mental and physical health outcomes.

Paid work; volunteering; participating in sports and hobbies; the arts and attending classes to learn new things (lifelong learning); spending time with friends, family and whānau; and being valued all contribute to social connectedness.

 

 

 

Remove Barriers to Participation

Identify the barriers and implement initiatives and actions to overcome them.

  • Antisocial attitudes
  • Mental health issues
  • Substance abuse
  • Transport / location
  • Affordability

Encourage Enablers to Participation

Enablers will vary for different people, but these need to be maximised.

  • Education
  • Communication and ability to find social connections
  • Transport services
  • Networking / mentoring / buddying
  • Community attitude to connectedness

 

Support Link Coffee Group – Held monthly on the third Wednesday of the month. Coffee groups are a great chance to meet like minded people and the venues tend to vary each month, making for interesting outings.

Patricia Officer – Young 03 208 0864

 

Gore has 2 Visiting Services:

Age Concern Accredited Visiting Service – is a befriending service that provides regular visits to older people who would like more company. Our visitors are volunteers who are keen to spend time with an older person for about an hour each week to enjoy conversation and shared interests and activities.

Call Chris Cunningham – 03 208 6351

 

Enliven SupportLink –  is a free service that matches trained volunteers with older people living in their own home who are experiencing challenges that make living on their own more difficult.

We offer different types of assistance depending on an individual’s needs and can assist with;

  • Transport to appointments
  • Help with shopping or groceries
  • Regular friendship or companionship
  • Access to social activities
  • Supporting older people while spouses or carers take time out

Patricia Officer – Young 03 208 0864

 

Connection with Volunteerism

Many people, regardless of age, volunteer for community organisations to connect socially.

  • Centralised database of organisation and service clubs

Extension

Identifying win/win opportunities where community needs and the needs and desires of older people can be matched.

  • Connection with ECEs (Early Childhood Centre’s) and Primary Schools
  • Connection with Hokonui Huanui

HAVE YOUR SAY

We would love to hear from you! What do you think needs to be done to make Gore District the place you would want to stay in for your older years?