SAYING HELLO

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• SAYING HELLO
• older peoples experience of coping with
  loneliness and social isolation
• Why tell us?

Presented by Joan Brogden and Elaine Jones
Wigan Borough
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What is Saying Hello?

• The project aims to look at the way older people
  manage loneliness and isolation.
• To find and promote ideas that help prevent or
  reduce loneliness and isolation.
• To support healthy and active ageing.
• To hopefully influence local and maybe regional
  and even national policy

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Who is involved in the project?

• It is a joint venture with Salford University and
  Age Concern Wigan Borough funded by the National
  Lottery.
• Age Concern organised the recruitment of
  volunteers aged over 50.
• Salford University led the volunteers training.
• After 10 weeks of training the over 50s group
  had a research plan.
• Then followed developing the tools and training
  in interview techniques.

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What happened next?

• Now the group had to find 150 willing volunteers
  to be interviewed and their opinions on coping
  with loneliness and isolation obtained.
• These 150 persons had to be from the borough of
  Wigan and be over 50.
• These persons were interviewed (later called
  chats) and the conversation taped.
• The tapes were sent to Salford University who had
  the capability and technology to transcribe and
  collate the information contained on the tapes.

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Volunteer Researchers
Enable access to places and people
Tap into existing skills, knowledge and
experience
Why??
Active involvement and participation
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Is this the end?

• No. The project is at the end of the 2nd phase
  and the 3rd phase is about to begin.
• The analysis needs to be completed.
• This phase is the time when we pass on the
  information we have gathered to the local
  organisation that have contact with older people.
• How we will pass this information on has not yet
  been finalised, but the group has many ideas.

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Has the project made an impact? On older people
in Wigan?

• Early days butYes. For example
• The group participated in a successful
  Partnership for Older People Projects (POPPS)
  that Wigan put a bid in for.
• Presentations have included
• Research in Practice for Adults (Rifa)
• Research seminar of the local authority and
  primary care trust.
• Workshop at Salford University
• Key stakeholders in providing services and
  resources for older people in Wigan are on the
  Steering/Management Group

• Work is ongoing to ensure that any findings from
  the Saying Hello project are incorporated into
  initiatives for example redesigning mental health
  services for older people.
• Issues of loneliness and social isolation for
  older people are now on the agenda of agencies in
  Wigan.

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Has the project made an impact?on the Volunteers?

• Our Reflections
• Mental stimulation
• Satisfaction in being part of the project
• Sense of achievement
• Friendship

• Gained confidence
• Learning new skills and knowledge
• Making a difference
• New opportunities in the future

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Sensitivity of the subject
Traditional Research
Traditional teaching
EACH OTHER
Feeling Lonely
Not feeling lonely
Student centred Learning
Non- traditional research
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So, why tell us?

• As older people we do not like to be told what is
  good for us. We want to be listened to and taken
  seriously.
• Most older people are resourceful in finding
  solutions to issues, and courageous in coping
  with things that cant be changed.
• Saying Hello has provided a voice (amongst
  others) for older people in Wigan.
• Older people have been involved in many different
  ways in this project- including as co-researchers

• Has having older people involved made a
  difference to the project?
• Do older people tell us anything different than
  they would tell traditional researchers?

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Any Questions
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Saying Hello Project Team

• Age Concern, Wigan Borough
• Stuart Murray
• Pat Waywell
• University of Salford
• Fiona Greenwood
• Professor Martin Johnson
• Julia Ryan
• Professor Steven Shardlow
• Barbara Walmsely
• Tracey Williamson

• Volunteer researchers
• Audrey Bate
• Joan Brogden
• Christine Burns
• Mary Chaffin
• Barbara Hayton
• Jean Higham
• Theresa Hull
• Elaine Jones
• Diana Stray
• June Trumble

Contact details Pat Waywell- Age Concern Wigan
Borough- 01942 615884
Fiona Greenwood- Salford University- 0161 2952862