Holyrood Magazine has featured The Good Morning Service, the voluntary organisation and VHS member that argues five conversations a day are as important for older people’s health as five fruit and veg.

The Good Morning Service runs a light touch telephone befriending and alert service to tackle loneliness and give older people the confidence to live independently at home.  It now works in South Ayrshire as well as across the City of Glasgow, following investment via the Reshaping Care for Older People Change Fund. Last year the service supported 252 older people, placing over 45,000 Good Morning Calls.

Last year the alert service identified and got timely help to four members who had fallen at home, one person who had had a stroke and another who was found in crippling pain — all of whom required hospital care. However, manager Nicky Thomson stresses that the service also has a preventative role, as befrienders are well placed to monitor on-going wellbeing and to recognise if the person they speak with regularly isn’t coping as well. In such instances, the service can refer them to statutory health and social services.

You can read the full article here: http://www.holyrood.com/2013/03/its-good-to-talk/