Last year during loneliness week, we talked about what it meant to be lonely and how COVID-19 especially was challenging for people who experienced loneliness.
We recognised that due to lockdown restrictions during the pandemic, it was more important than ever to keep in touch with our customers, especially those more vulnerable. Most of us have mobile devices to stay in touch - but it wasn't the same as seeing someone face to face. And those without that device, and especially where signal can be an issue rurally within Herefordshire and Shropshire, we saw loneliness rise dramatically amongst our customers.
Our housing team was able to contact over 10,000 customers across Shropshire and Herefordshire to let them know what support options were available to them and establish those in need of ongoing support to ensure they didn’t feel lonely during this period of uncertain and isolation.
Our Independent Living Coordinators implemented new ways of working and were creative with keeping their residents supported and not feeling lonely. As a result, 1,873 calls were made over five days to all the residents to ‘check in’ on how they were feeling and helped us address specific support needs for extra follow-up calls.
We also had to consider our colleagues at Connexus because, like many, we all had to work from home. So we had virtual catch-ups, posted pictures of where we were working, our pets (keeping us company), our baking successes (or not!), and like many, our wellbeing walks. Everything that we can do at the time to lift the mood.
Now that we are emerging out of lockdown, our teams have offered customers a more normal service and look forward to day trips out, more home visits with chats over a cup of tea.
Likewise, colleagues are looking forward to heading back to the office a day or two a week and see people that they’ve not seen ‘in person for quite some time.
