ASSET BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MODEL INTERVENTION ON SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING ON AN INNER-CITY ELDERLY POPULATION IN ENGLAND

The elderly are particularly vulnerable to social isolation/loneliness due to loss of friends/family, mobility or income. Social isolation adversely impact not only the individuals quality of life and wellbeing but also physical health resulting in increased use of health and social care services. Such isolation produces a significant and lasting elevation of blood pressure compared with less lonely peers. Those lonely are more likely to be depressed with less togetherness than those who were not. People who used befriending report less social isolation and improved physical health/medicine adherence following the intervention. Our study utilises targeted intervention of befriending for subjects identified as socially isolated. This study is being conducted in a Community setting using the Asset Based Community Development Model. Lonely/isolated patients are identified from 4 General Practices within a community (n=36000; with above average elderly). All subjects were evaluated by a single GP, using the Warwick-Edinburgh mental wellbeing scale (a 6 item cognition validated test) and included physical assessment e.g Blood Pressure recordings and current medications. Individuals to undertake befriending were identified and have undergone detailed background checks. Following the initial assessments, befrienders undertook regular visits with a minimum of twice weekly visits over 4 months. Results: All initial assessments are complete and the targeted intervention is on going. All patients are to re-evaluated in the “post-intervention” phase to examine effects on social and physical wellbeing. The pre-and post-intervention results will be presented at the meeting.