Helping seniors beat isolation

A three-month project designed to reduce social isolation among seniors will end next month, with the results used to develop a “sustainable model” for remote case management across metropolitan, regional and rural locations.

Australian community care provider, Care Connect, began trialling the project early this year.

Rod (featured in the photograph taken by Simon Birch) is one of nine iCareConnect trial participants talking with his case manager David on screen.

The iCareConnect model complements traditional home visits by offering clients the opportunity to speak with their case manager face-to-face more frequently via video conferencing program, Skype.

The project will allow older Australians to build their engagement with family, friends and the broader community through the use of Skype, email and participation in older support/interest groups.

With an estimated 20% of older Australians socially isolated, Care Connect chief executive, Paul Ostrowski, believes it is an issue the sector needs to address.

According to Mr Ostrowski, The World Health Organisation highlights social isolation and exclusion is associated with “increased rates of premature death, lower general wellbeing, depression and a higher level of disability”.

“The iCareConnect pilot aims to determine whether clients and their case managers can work together remotely using Skype and whether training seniors in interactive technologies such as Skype and email can reduce their social isolation and increase their wellbeing,” he adds.

Mr Ostrowski says “training and ongoing support” by case managers and IT teams will make the pilot a success.

Do you have any suggestions on how the sector can reduce social isolation among seniors? Share your thoughts by commenting in the box below.