Silverline

Here's the link to find out more:

www.thesilverline.org.uk/

I think it's a lovely idea

I think this is a good idea.

I wonder why it worries you, Brendawymms.

I was listening to Radio Scotland just now, where Silverline was being discussed. I do think it's a good idea. The person who was discussing it on Kaye Adams' show worked for the Aberdeen Ambulance Service. She said she was really concerned at the amount of elderly people who had attempted suicide. If Silverline can help with this, by the person knowing that there will be a phone call once a week, or be there at the end of a line to chat, should there be a need, then surely this can't be a bad thing?

Perhaps my worries are about security. Say for instance a criminal phoned saying they were Silverline and the person should do x or should buy y. Does Silverline use a safe word when they phone... Or have I spent too long working on the seamier side of life!

It was on Breakfast News this morning, and I share your concerns, while applauding the general idea. It is so sad that there are so many lonely people out there, who seem so cut off from their community. I know that locally, there is a scheme to befriend an older person, and to visit them once a week, especially in some of the very isolated rural places. Just feel tentative about that too..

There are lonely people of all ages, but I'm sure some older people would be really glad of this.

I'm concerned about the security aspect too, many elderly people are very gullible.

Such a shame, that the days when elders could sit outside their frontdoors and chat to neighbours and passersby, have gone.

Like we have usernames, perhaps so could the people who might use Silverline? I would imagine there would be something set in place to ensure safety.

Anything with which Esther Rantzen is involved is unlikely not to have thought about security.

I became aware of the extreme loneliness of some older people when I was looking after Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses and had to support one woman who had accused someone of stealing from her. She changed her story each time it became apparent that the last one was 'rumbled' just so I had to keep calling. We eventually passed her on to SS.

Could someone please define 'elderly'? I'd love to know what it means, presumably not just retired?

I was at a meeting which included Age Scotland people , Esther Rantzen, and some people from other local organisations, discussing setting up Silverline in Scotland. After Esther Rantzen had outlined the plans for it, regular phone calls etc, the 82-year-old disabled lady sitting next to me said she didn't want anyone phoning her, she wasn't old and frail and lonely!

I think its truly sad that some elderly people never see or speak to anyone from one week to the next. Do they all really have NO family ? Or have they just outlived their usefullness and been disgarded and forgotten about?

Heard Silverline and Jill Shaw Ruddock's ideas discussed on Woman's Hour this morning.

Jill wants to set up second half centres around the country, I liked what she said but I see transport as a big problem especially in rural areas.

They are closing day centres in my area due to severe lack of funding which won't help the situation. I can't see why they couldn't have used lottery funding to keep THEM open.

gillybob Whilst I don't consider myself elderly and I am able to be active and get out - I don't have any family. My late husband's family are very supportive but if I become infirm and unable to get out I would not expect them to look after me, they have lives and families of their own.

This IS the problem though sunseeker. I agree that you wouldn't expect your late husbands family to look after you, but we are not talking about "looking after" the elderly here we are talking about visiting, telephoning, chatting, befriending etc. and it saddens me when old people talk about not expecting their families to visit or call saying "they have their own families to worry about" YOU ARE THEIR FAMILY !!!

I was a little worried this morning about that lonely old man showing himself as so vulnerable and living by himself.....

Maybe Terry Wogan et al would be happy to front an annual shindig to raise millions for disadvantaged elderly folk.

Doesn't quite have the AAAAHHHHH factor though does it?

I don't think it is always a money thing though merlogran . I can't understand how or why the elderly are so easily cast aside often by their own family. What a difference a call or better still a visit can make to someone lonely.

Apparently the age of people who are considered as perhaps being in need of Silverline are over-55's !

gillybob I have no family in England, any I had in Scotland have died. I have some in Ireland but I have not seen them for years.

That's genuinely sad Charleygirl . But there are so many people who DO have family and still never see or hear from them. I do hope you have friends nearby.

I got the impression that that what Silverline needed most were real people to do the regular phoning, not massive fundraising. They phone the same people at frequent intervals, so that they become trusted friends. They only have a few each on their list, and at least two are needed for each "client" so that more than one familiar contact is available if one is on holiday or off-duty when someone wants to chat. It is done by volunteers.

In Scotland, Age Scotland was going to do that practical side of it, using their existing volunteers and others they could recruit.

There was also talk of putting people living alone in touch with one another to form mutual support groups, but that takes a certain amount of care and screening.

I share the unease expressed by others about the potential for vulnerable people to be exploited. I think I've also spent too much time working on the dark side (like Brendawymms post above) Regular exposure to folk who are prepared to exploit or abuse others makes you aware of how many of those type of people live alongside us.

As we age, our sight, hearing and mental faculties begin to deteriorate, which lowers self confidence. We do become more vulnerable. A telephone line isn't the best way for isolated older people to have some human contact.

I'd feel happier if Esther Ranzen would campaign to protect day centres, home care and other essential services which are being cut and slashed. We need more of those services, not less. I understand the financial reasons for meals on wheels, for example, moving from the provision of a hot meal at mid day to a delivery of meals that can be microwaved over the week. I know that many elderly people welcomed the daily visit from meals on wheels, because of the friendly social contact. Also, how quick the drivers were to alert the social work team if someone didn't answer their door, which would mean our duty social worker calling round to make sure everything was ok. It's human contact that we need when lonely, if no family live nearby, or family relationships have broken down day care centres etc are an important way of supporting isolated and vulnerable older people. Our neighbour is 93, and has fantastic support from her family so she can continue to live in her own home. She also has twice daily visits from home care, and 10 - 4 pm day care, transport provided by the local authority.
I don't want to be overly negative about ER or her ideas, but the isolated and vulnerable elderly are a very different target group than children and I'm not convinced about silver line

Saw the item on the BBC breakfast programme this morning. A couple of thoughts popped into my head also. The widower they featured in the item was surely still grieving for the loss of his wife? He was obviously still very upset and needed his family (who were much in evidence) to help him through a perfectly natural process. Grief is not the same as loneliness and I am not sure how much his story helped.

Also we can all feel lonely at times but it can be as part of a depressive episode rather than a lack of available contact. Someone who is going through depression or stress related illness can feel friendless and become withdrawn despite having family and friends around.

I have no answers - just questions at the moment.