SUPPORT FOR A 99 YEAR OLD

[CrispsnDips]

What support could a 99 year old female be eligible for? She’s severely depressed but she is independent - does her own shopping, cooking, cleaning.

She has asked the Vicar to visit (nothing materialised); the Samaritans was difficult as she is hard of hearing and couldn’t hear what they were saying; Sue Ryder and Age Concern have not replied to her emails one month after sending them.

I am making enquiries with a local Befriending organisation. She might not have enough funds available for Home Instead and she can only afford once a month private counselling. Refuses medication as it makes her feel worse.

Does anyone have any suggestions please? I do not live locally 🥲

I would suggest calling her local Citizens Advice. They will be able to give you help and numbers to call to get the ball rolling. Failing that maybe try her GP practice and express your concerns that she made need assistance. Its good to care about others, especially the elderly who are vulnerable 🥰

Would she see her GP with a view to being referred for counselling ?

Any local schools with counsellors in training who would visit for a reduced fee?

Our local authority has a befriending scheme.. Email and join!

Is there an advocacy service in your area? They may be able to help and to direct you towards other forms of support.

Thanks everyone 😊 She has had lots of appointments with her GP, I’m not sure how easy it is for her to source counselling outside of the home. A Counsellor has visited her home.

Is the problem basically loneliness? Can she move into a retirement home?

I appreciate that this may not work, depending upon how bad her hearing is but has she tried calling The Silver Line?

www.thesilverline.org.uk

Home Instead are at the top of the market price wise. Other local care companies will likely offer social visits at a lower cost if she does have some funds.
Is she able to get out at all? If so, maybe see if there are any local groups she could go to which are aimed at older people. Near me, there is a centre for over 65s who run lots of groups supported by volunteers. They even have transport to help people get there.

Depression at that age is rather normal. She needs companionship/friends. By 99 she knows more people in the cemetery than alive.
its a challenging stage of life. She’s probably set in her daily routine and strangers popping over would be a massive imposition.
family need to step up.

Any support over the phone is difficult as she is hard of hearing.

She goes shopping every day, goes for a coffee at a local church group, sits in a charity shop most afternoons for half an hour to chat to the staff. Some neighbours wave at her through the window and the postman checks on her everyday. One or two (younger) friends pop in weekly. Family not local, very minimal contact (by letter).

She wants and needs a regular visit from someone who cares, I think.

It would be worth checking if her council has a sensory support service. I work in older adult mental health and have come across them supporting people with visits.

Her county council should have details in their website about services for older adults and agencies. Is there a local fb group to her you could post for recommendations? There are often local independent carers offering companionship for shopping trips etc. and have dbs etc.

I think it depends on area to be honest. Have you looked into Carer's Outreach and Red Cross? Does she have any medical conditions such as stroke or Parkinson's? If so groups centred around such conditions can provide support ie stroke association, Parkinson's society. Is she able to get out of the house at all? If so have you looked into chair based exercise classes? They can often be very good socially.

Could you call Age UK on her behalf?
Ask social services to assess her needs for support?

Does she have a local library? There may be groups where she could meet new friends there. Could she invite anyone from the church group around ? She can't be the only person in her position locally. It's good she has you helping her out.

She needs to ask her GP surgery to refer her to their Social Prescribing Link Worker - everyone has access to this Primary Care service.

Social Prescribing is all about helping with things that are affecting health & wellbeing but aren’t necessarily clinical issues.

An SPLW will work with her to come up with a plan to address these issues and put her in touch with services that can help. They will know about all the options that are available locally including any befriending services & free equipment that may help with her hearing loss.

I’m an SPLW and I would say 50% of referrals to our team are older people who are lonely & isolated and consequently suffering from depression. No amount of medication or counselling with solve loneliness.

www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/

I would try Age Uk again. If they have a helpline in your area then ring. Our local Age Uk has a befriending project where volunteers will visit weekly.

Definitely look at all the Age Uk offerings, ours has a cafe where they do different social things every day from exercise classes to crafts and dances. Basically a place where all the service users can go and hang out every day for a very very small fee for tea and coffee and make friends.

Independent Age (charity)?

I would hope the GP could refer her to someone or recommend something for her.

I hope she gets some help. She sounds amazing for a 99yo!

She IS amazing for 99 !

Thanks everyone, lots to think about and, yes, the GP is on board so hopefully things will fall into place soon. 😊

She sounds great for that age for getting out and about. The Salvation Army runs twice weekly lunch clubs for pensioners, you don't need to be a member, it's very well attended in my wee town.
Some areas can arrange getting them to and fro.
She is fortunate that she has friends who pop in, many elderly ppl are completely isolated.