WESTBURY Community Area Board has launched a new Health & Wellbeing Group which focuses entirely on the needs of older people in Westbury.
The group will develop and enhance services and activities that are already available for the older community.
Chair and lead councillor of the group, cllr Gordon King hopes to encourage every older adult who currently feels lonely, isolated or disconnected to come out of their homes more often and to reconnect with the community.
He said, “Improvements in the standards of living, life style changes and health care mean that people are living longer in greater numbers which is a celebration and a challenge at the same time.
“The celebration of living longer is obvious; the challenge is ensuring that older people remain healthy by staying active, connected and engaged. By tackling the causes of vulnerability, loneliness and isolation in our area we may be able to delay people’s transitions to full time care.
“With just £6,700 in its budget the Health & Wellbeing Group is no panacea. We aim to take an informed look at what is currently available for older people and investigate what might be either missing or desired and to ensure that these are joined up and coordinated. We will do that by, canvassing the views of older people directly, holding a Community Forum to gain the views of the community and working with Partners to develop and fund service improvements and activities.
“If you are an older adult living in the community area you are invited to contact Lorraine Walters, our Older People’s Champion to let her know what services you currently know about or use, those services you think are missing in the community area or those services you would like to see changed or enhanced. Lorraine can be contacted via email at lorraine507@ btinternet.com.
“If you are currently involved in delivering services or activities to older people in the Westbury Community Area, or if you are a member of a community group with interests in older peoples services, or if your organisation has access to funds and can assist in the development or delivery of services and would like a place at that forum please contact the Community Engagement Manager Liam Cripps by email at liam.cripps@wiltshire.gov.uk ”
