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Care Together: Empowering Older People
Care Together: Empowering Older People – Blog Post #13
Published on Monday 04th March 2024 by Charity Green
Listening is powerful. Taking the time to really understand what another person feels, needs and cares about can be a profound catalyst for positive change. Listening has been integral to the development of Care Together – Cambridgeshire County Council’s approach to empower older people to stay healthy, happy and independent at home for as long as possible.
Designing Care Together started from the ground up, with the Care Together team talking to older people, and the people who care for and about them, about what matters most. At local events, activities and groups, the Care Together team chatted to older people about what they love about their community, what’s missing and what they’d like to see more of. This was alongside an online and paper-based consultation process so everyone could get their voice and views heard. Care Together also sought the views and insights of professionals from the public sector (from the NHS through to parish councils), as well as the charity sector and micro enterprises that provide much of the day-to-day support of older people in the community.
Taking a super-local approach uncovered both the things that older people really value as well as gaps that can be filled, and from these insights Care Together spotlights, funds and supports a whole range of activities and services that make older people’s lives healthier, happier and more fulfilling. For example, in Fenland Fitness Rush is a mobile gym that takes both equipment and personal training to isolated communities that don’t have easy access to a gym or sports facilities. The social and health benefits for the older people who take part are huge – take a look at the video and find out more here.
Alongside Fitness Rush, Care Together is championing a wide range of care micro-enterprises that provide the care and other support services that older people need and value. These small businesses range from personal care services – help with washing, eating and dressing – right through to practical support with looking after the home, pets and the garden. We’ll be featuring this growing list of caring businesses on How Are You websites in the coming months, district by district. Take a look at what’s on offer in the following districts:
By far the best way to see the impact that Care Together has had is by watching this short but impactful video and to hear some of the older people say what Care Together has meant for them:
