Research from national charity Contact the Elderly has found that nine out of 10 people feel concerned for a lonely older person within their community or neighbourhood, while four in 10 people do not feel they can offer appropriate help to older people who might be lonely or isolated.
Deborah Coleman and Una Lynch discusses the value of clinical supervision in relieving professional isolation for district nurses working in rural areas.Deborah Coleman MSc, BSc (Hons) Health Studies, RGN, NDN Cert, is a Teaching Fellow, Queens University, Belfast.
Una Lynch is a Senior Lecturer, Queens University, Belfast.
Article accepted for publication: September 2005
Tom Owen discusses the health care needs of older people.
Tom Owen BSc Hons, MA, Dip DW My Home Life Programme Help the Aged & City University.
Article accepted for publication: February 2008
Acknowledgements: Acknowledgement must be made to Hazel Heath and Clare Goodman, University of Hertfordshire from whose papers this article is based. Acknowledgement also goes to BUPA Giving who have provided some initial funding to roll-out the programme.
