2.5 Million Grandparents Go For More Than A Month Without Seeing Their Grandchildren, UK
The survey, was carried out on behalf of Help the Aged and Zurich Community Trust's programme, A Call in Time - a telephone befriending service for isolated and vulnerable older people. It provides a snap shot of the level of contact between grandparents and their grandchildren in Britain today.
Carried out by ICM Research, the survey highlights geographical distance as a major factor when looking at the frequency of visits between the generations. It shows that 74% of the grandparents who go for more than a month without seeing their grandchildren live in a different part of the UK or country to their grandchildren.
When compared to a similar study carried out in Italy, the survey reveals Italian grandparents are up to eight times more likely to live with or in the same building as their grandchildren and twice as likely to see their grandchildren daily than British grandparents.
The survey shows telephone contact is a key method of linking the generations which reflects the approach taken by the Zurich Community Trust A Call in Time Programme. The service aims to combat isolation and loneliness through setting up regular phone calls to older people who don't have anyone to call them.
According to the research, 65% of grandparents speak to their grandchildren on the phone at least once a week. Additionally, of the grandparents who live in a different part of the UK or country to their grandchildren a substantial 71% speak to their grandchildren on the phone at least once a month. However, 27% of this group still go for a month without speaking to their grandchildren on the phone.
Kris Turvey, A Call in Time, Help the Aged Programme Manger, comments:
'Isolation is a common problem for older people in the UK. We know that over one million older people will go for a month without seeing anyone they know. Being isolated can make even simple problems into major difficulties and can cause both depression and in some cases can force an unnecessary move into residential care.
'In partnership with Zurich Community Trust, Help the Aged is committed to supporting the most isolated and vulnerable older people - the people who do not regularly hear from someone they know. Encouragingly, what we are seeing is a considerable level of phone contact between the generations and to further encourage this Help the Aged is calling on everyone to contact their grandparents this Grandparent's Day.'
Jane Boulton, A Call in Time Volunteer from Zurich Community Trust, says:
'Through the Zurich Community Trust A Call in Time programme, I have had the privilege of making friends with an older woman over the phone who I've spoken to twice a week for the past two years. We learn through the programme that a simple call for a friendly chat, offering advice or even just to check on their wellbeing goes a long way in helping older people maintain social contact and foster a sense of independence. Often just that little bit of contact and support empowers a person to retain choice, control and dignity in their life.
'A Call in Time service is part of a wider national programme of telephone support set up by Help the Aged and Zurich Community Trust. £500,000 is being invested over three years into eight pilot projects across Britain, also involving over 70 Zurich employee volunteers. This year we are joining Help the Aged in its Grandparent's Day call to action and are encouraging all Zurich staff to make contact with their grandparents this Saturday.'
Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect. Visit http://www.helptheaged.org.uk.
About Help the Aged
- Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation and neglect. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The charity delivers a range of services including information and advice, home support and help in difficult times that are supported by its fundraising activities and paid for services. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.
- Help the Aged provides three service packages that enable older people to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible; Home Support; Advice and Information; and Community Living. A Call in Time is part of Home Support, a range of practical services that support older people in the home improving their quality of life.
About Zurich Community Trust
Zurich's Community Trust, a registered charity funded by pre-tax profits and donations from its people, provides an umbrella for all Zurich's community involvement in the UK.
Zurich Community Trust manages and matches Zurich employees' and financial advisers' £1 million donations, and over 600 charities receive grant awards each year. Zurich's staff also volunteer 20,000 hours of their own time including 174 annual team challenge activities involving over 3,000 staff.
Zurich's Community Trust Programmes create sustainable change through long-term funding and active employee involvement. Zurich works closely with innovative partners to significantly impact the lives of disadvantaged people in the UK and overseas. The Programmes tackle the most vulnerable older people's issues and our Breaking the Cycle programme works with families to break the generational cycle of harm of drug addiction. In addition, there is a programme in southern India with personal development opportunities for employees. In 2005 over 600 charities and 17 community partners were supported.
http://www.zurich.org.uk
2,5 milioane de Grandparents Du-te pentru mai mult de o lunã Fãrã vãd nepoþii lor, Marea Britanie - 2.5 Million Grandparents Go For More Than A Month Without Seeing Their Grandchildren, UK - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate