Views on ageing sought to help tackle loneliness

People are being invited to share their views on the challenges of growing older in rural areas as a council looks to create more community centres to tackle social isolation.

Cornwall Council said it wanted to understand how residents feel about issues such as access to public housing and transport to help shape its application to become an accredited age-friendly community.

It is hoped the accreditation would allow the council to bid for funding to enhance local centres.

Members of a music club run by MHA Communities Cornwall said unreliable public transport and a lack of family nearby were two of the biggest challenges for older people.

Rita Hannaford, 82, from Saltash, cares for her husband with dementia and regularly takes him to hospital.

"I'm driving and hoping to carry on as long as I can," the Burraton Music Club member said.

"If I didn't we would be in real trouble. I'm dependent on my family to help me out as well."

Another club member Jenny Cooke, 78, from Torpoint, whose husband also has dementia, said: "I've got two sons and a daughter who live near, but they're working and two of them have got young children so it makes it difficult.

"You feel that it's down to you and if I can't carry on what's going to happen to him?"

Christine Truscott 76, from Saltash, added: "It's vital to have your family. You need that support - you can be on your own totally."

MHA Communities Cornwall run various social activities for older people in the area including lunch clubs and groups for gardening and music.

Manager Liz Hewer said: "It's important for people to feel valued in society, especially when they're older.

"Just because they've lost a loved one, live on their own, or lost the ability to drive it shouldn't be a reason for them to become more isolated.

"To come out and have fun, meet friends - it's really important."

Councillor Jim McKenna, portfolio holder for adult social care on Cornwall Council, said responses to the survey would inform its bid to become the first largely rural area to be declared an age-friendly community.

"It's really important that we try and look after those that can't look after themselves," he said.

"There are a good number of people below the radar for whom life is a real challenge. If they lack friends, if they lack family, then there's a risk they're going to be depressed."

He hoped the accreditation would allow the council to bid for funding to open up more community centres as hubs offering support to older residents.

"It's a source of companionship, advice, access to services," he said.

"If we can get another 15 or 20 of those, I think we'll be in a much better place."

The council said more than 3,000 people had taken part in the survey to date and the deadline for responses was 15 December.

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