Loneliness experienced by disabled people
/Two in five people living with disabilities experience loneliness, compared to 29% of the general population. A poll from the Belonging Forum had 14% of disabled people reporting having no close friends at all.
With the people we support at CLIA Care, we have seen that loneliness and lack of connection has a direct bearing on well being and mental health. With our shared supported living services, this is a source of social connection and bonding for people, and for housemates to be able to form genuine bonds and friendships.
What we also recognised from ideas generated by our staff is that we can also tap into the wider community of our organisation so we have multi-service BBQs, meals out, music sessions, and exercise sessions. This widens the pool of people each person can have an opportunity to socialise with, therefore increasing the chance of striking up a lasting friendship.
We also see though, it is harder for people with disabilities to make friendships as they have additional challenges to overcome. We always try and ask the question about what could make things more equitable. We want to see the people we support have thriving social and personal lives, but we also accept that requires ongoing work.
As a provider, we also turn to our communities, the provider network, to local authorities and to other stakeholders in search of ideas and promotion on active social opportunities. We think it is something that should always be on the agenda, and always being thought about.
We also think that sometimes it takes a bit of thinking outside the box for things to happen. We love the fact that there are dating agencies and specialist music nights for people with disabilities, and we try and promote this to the people we work with. Another way of support could be pets for people. Or, for someone who doesn’t want that commitment, perhaps going through an agency like ‘borrow my doggy’. Though there is a lot to be said about getting out of the house and meeting people in person, we think there is also space for online groups, for example, groups for people with autism. Even online, there can be a sense of camaraderie, swapping tips and mutual empathy and support.
Are you a stakeholder or someone who may be interested in this topic? If so, we would love to hear from you.
sohail.edwin@cliacare.com
