Tendring Community Assets Full Final Report

51 patronised or stigmatised as in need of help. It cannot automatically be assumed that people living alone will be lonely, but they may welcome more information about what is available at any time they may wish to participate. This might be social, but also practical, such as the availability of benefits advice or other matters. Many stakeholders believe that technology can reinforce social isolation if relied upon as the main source of communication and multiple contact points and methods are required including printed material, newsletters, etc. 13.7.2 Services and activities for people with dementia are patchy and spread across the District. Information about them is hard to find. There is very little to support people caring for someone with dementia which enables a complete break (e.g. day care) for the carer. 13.7.3 Information should be accessible to all. Many older people do not feel comfortable with information technology and do not have someone in the family or a friend or neighbour who can help them. Information should be freely available through local champions and community agents and people should know how to get in touch with them. As well as looking at how websites should be structured, high quality, accurate, printed information is also very important. 13.8 Stay Well - supporting adults with health and/or care concerns to access support to maintain healthy and fulfilling lives 13.8.1 The findings in all reports do suggest that offering targeted programmes can be a useful way of giving people the confidence to try out something different by offering a safe, comfortable space. This was found to act as a springboard to get people socialising in a meaningful and natural way, with activities such as music sessions or afternoon tea allowing people to mix and chat. If befriending is on a more individual basis, such as for those with significant mobility issues or ill health, then a tailored approach is needed, sensitive to the individual's preferences. 13.8.2 Unpaid carers continue to maintain their caring role, but often fall into that category of ‘invisible people’, while their contribution is priceless. To be able to maintain that role and live their own lives, trusted support at a local level is essential as is being able to access trusted care for their dependents. 13.9 Die Well – giving people nearing the end of life choice around their care 13.9.1 People with terminal illness that live in Tendring, including Harwich and Dovercourt, are more likely to die in hospital than in a Hospice or at home. 53 This means that the end-of- life experience in Tendring may not be what people or their families would chose. There is little evidence of community or social support for people living in their own homes and nearing the end of life or their families, other than statutory hospital, hospice or community nursing care. A rapid response to care coordination could be designed and implemented to include voluntary organisations with well trained and supported staff and volunteers facilitating routine tasks to support people to stay at home. 53 From ONS data on Dying at Home, provided by St Helena Hospice, 2016