Big Lottery helping vulnerable older people in Ballymena

Reminiscence Network Northern Ireland has been awarded £416,893 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching out: Connecting Older People programme which supports older people affected by issues such as bereavement, disability or long term illness or who live in residential care or sheltered housing.

The Reminiscence Network, in partnership with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, will use the grant to carry out visits to the homes of vulnerable older people in Antrim and across other parts of the Northern Trust’s catchment area.

The project will focus on those living in isolation and who are dealing with disabilities that prevent them going out, helping them to create an innovative ‘Life Story Book.’

With support from the older person’s family members, friends and carers, the project worker will support the older person to look back at their life experiences and share their feelings about the past, helping them create a book of lasting memories, building their relationships and friendships and boosting their self-esteem and self worth.

They will also run ‘Creative Reminiscence Groups’ for older people at day centres run by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust – including one in Ballymena.

The groups will encourage older people, living with disabilities such as dementia, depression and hearing and sight loss, to take part in activities and storytelling sessions that help them relive memories, mix with other people and boost their health and self esteem and reduce their isolation and loneliness.

Director Alexey Janes explained that Reminiscence Network NI was set up in the late 1990s with the support of renowned social work professor Faith Gibson OBE.

“Faith worked with many interested people to help set up this organisation back in the 90’s and she advised the Northern Trust’s Health Improvement Service on the template for an innovative Life Story book to be used in residential and care homes, with a particular focus on people with dementia,” Alexey explained.

“Up to now the Life Story book has mainly been used with older people living in care homes, but this funding will mean we can take it out to the most vulnerable and isolated people in their homes, people who can’t or don’t want to come to a day centre.

“Working in partnership with the Northern Trust, we are supporting older people living in the most extreme isolation who really need our support, giving them back their pride and self worth and helping to show they still have a lot to offer.”