Norman Lamb calls for Neighbourhood Watch groups to help care for the elderly

Care and support minister Norman Lamb has called for members of the public to step forward and care for elderly people living in their community.
He told The Telegraph he believes Neighbourhood Watch groups could help reduce the number of elderly people forced to move into residential homes if they apply for care status.

Mr Lamb said: “The truth is that many people in this day and age live miserable lives. If someone lives on their own and has substantial care needs, and the extent of their life is getting out of bed, getting washed, sitting in a chair and going back to bed, with no one to see during the day, that is a miserable life.

“We have a national movement that looks out for whether our houses are being burgled, so should we not be thinking – all of us stepping up to the plate – about whether there are people on our streets who have care needs, or who might just be very lonely and could do with a bit of companionship?”

He went on to emphasise that the involvement of such groups would be an additional support to trained professionals, whose roles would not be devalued by the move.

Michelle Mitchell, charity director general at Age UK, has welcomed Mr Lamb’s comments. She said: “Age UK would encourage people to be good neighbours and friends to the millions of lonely and isolated older people living in our communities who would appreciate seeing a friendly face.

“Good neighbours can make a real difference but are no substitute for a well-supported care system which helps people with a range of care needs, including everyday tasks such as washing and dressing. Often helping older people with these tasks can require specialist skills such as manual handling so that older people are treated safely with sensitivity and dignity.

“Sadly we know too many older people are being forced to struggle on alone, robbed of their dignity and independence because the social care system is currently underfunded. Neighbours can go so far but we must face up to the reality of our ageing population and the Government must commit to funding the professional care and support they need.”

Dr Lynda Shaw, director of successful ageing at LifeBook, an autobiography service designed to help elderly people enjoy their lives by providing companionship and a fun project to keep their minds active, has also welcomed Mr Lamb’s comments. She said: “With the demographic of elder adults expanding rapidly, it is imperative that we make sure a good quality of life is maintained for our loved ones, our friends and our neighbours.

“Many elder adults face years in nursing homes and assisted care where they look ahead to years of loneliness and, quite simply, boredom. Evolutionary psychology knows only too well that we cannot survive on our own and loneliness is therefore associated with fear. When we are frightened, certain brain regions work overtime impairing vital neurotransmitters with the over-secretion cortisol, which can lead to people finding social interaction very difficult indeed – something we definitely want to avoid.

“Research has further shown that isolation can impair cognitive function, which exacerbates dementia and other mental illnesses. To combat this, we need to make sure that adults over a certain age are not dismissed but engaged with and actively integrated back into society. Norman Lamb’s proposal of the Neighbourhood Watch initiative is therefore a welcome one, which could make a huge difference to the quality of elder adults’ lives and go a long way in preventing not only loneliness but also cognitive decline.”