Research carried out by Age UK* has found that many older people feel their physical and mental health has deteriorated due to isolation and reduced opportunities to socialise with others over the last couple of years.
According to the study, many older people have experienced loneliness, low mood, decreased health, increased pain and lack of support. This in turn has affected their appetite and diet, causing malnutrition and self-neglect. The study also showed that over the past five years, 1 in 5 people have found that their memory and cognitive thinking has decreased.
In response, one local homecare provider – Radfield Home Care – has launched a campaign to recruit more care assistants this Summer to help tackle loneliness and isolation in the community.
Christina Maria Tevenio-Steiner, Director of Radfield Home Care in Bath & North East Somerset, commented:
“Older people are going to need more support than ever before to get through the warmer months ahead.
In recent years there has been an increase in the number of older people that have experienced loneliness and isolation. As a care provider it is often our care assistants who offer companionship and a friendly face for our customers who otherwise would spend a lot of time on their own.
By increasing the number of care assistants we employ, we can look at what further support we can offer our customers and help reduce the number of those who are experiencing loneliness and a decline in health.”
Radfield Home Care is keen to hear from anyone who is looking for a new challenge and would like to find out more about becoming a care assistant this Summer.
Recently, the Chairwoman of Bath & North East Somerset Council, Cllr Karen Walker, visited the Radfield Home Care offices in Oddown, Bath, to support the launch of the new recruitment campaign.
She said: “Older people are going to need more support than ever before during the Summer months ahead, so I welcome Radfield Home Care’s campaign to recruitment more care assistants for our community.
Care providers, and the care workers they employ, are often the backbone in our local communities that go out in all weathers to support some of our area’s oldest and most vulnerable.
I hope lots of residents take up Radfield Home Care’s invitation and get in touch about the job opportunities they can provide.”
If you’d like to know more about working for Radfield Home Care and how you can support older, vulnerable people in the community get in touch by calling 01225 956 427, emailing bath@radfieldhomecare.co.uk or visiting their website at www.radfieldhomecare.co.uk
