Painful arthritis in her knee allows 71-year-old Linda Baldry, a widow, to go out for several days at a time without leaving her home and “without seeing anyone.”
But a new initiative is brightening her life: a regular free film club, organized by her local GP practice, Saxmundham Health, in Suffolk.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” says Linda.
The monthly club – the brainchild of GP Dr John Havard and his team – aims to help combat loneliness, which is associated with a significantly increased risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia.
“Loneliness is as big a risk of heart attack as smoking 15 cigarettes a day,” says Dr. Havard. ‘But because it is elusive, many people are not aware of it.
The monthly film club – the brainchild of GP Dr John Havard and his team – aims to help combat loneliness
‘Loneliness is as big a risk of heart attacks as smoking 15 cigarettes a day,’ says Dr Havard (left)
The film club, which runs on Sunday afternoons in the community center, seems to be a hit
‘During the pandemic we have become particularly alert to the negative consequences of loneliness. We serve a rural community; a large number of our patients are retired, live alone and could not see close relatives.
‘We had a marked increase in the number of patients – especially elderly people – seeking treatment for depression and low mood.’
Suzanne Wyard, a mental health nurse at the practice, adds that social isolation can easily lead to both, ‘which can in turn lead to people paying less attention to their health and therefore not turning up for check-ups – e.g. for example to check blood pressure’.
“It can become a vicious cycle and they also become reluctant to leave the house,” she says.
However, the film club, which runs on Sunday afternoons in the community centre, appears to be a hit: attendance has more than doubled since the first screening (of Akenfield, a farming story set locally) last October.
More than fifty people attended the recent screening of the Oscar-winning film Belfast – the largest attendance to date. (The movie choices are voted on and the uplifting movies are chosen.)
The GP practice has received ‘dozens’ of thank-you messages from patients, says Dr Havard.
More than fifty people attended the recent screening of the Oscar-winning film Belfast – the largest attendance to date
The event has many positive aspects, says Dr Havard (pictured) – not least an opportunity to catch up afterwards over tea and cakes and make new friends
The film club is one of many community initiatives for Dr.’s patients. Havard. The practice also runs a diabetes weight loss clinic and has purchased an electric car to assist with medication delivery, transporting patients to and from the operating room and for the practice paramedic to use for home visits.
The operation pays for the film licence, venue hire and cakes, which costs around £120 per session. Staff especially encourage those they think would benefit to join.
‘People often don’t like to admit that they are lonely; they see it as a failure somehow, which of course it isn’t,” adds Suzanne Wyard.
“They may not come if you’re hosting a ‘social event,’ but inviting them to watch a movie is another matter.”
The event has many positive aspects, says Dr Havard – not least an opportunity to catch up afterwards over tea and cakes and make new friends.
“It’s just a lot of fun, I’m looking forward to the next meeting,” said 85-year-old Ruth Cooper, a regular moviegoer.
‘Sunday can be a very bad day for many elderly people, because everyone is at home.’
A long-awaited highlight is a joint event in December with the local Brownies, who bring home-baked cakes. The movie for that Sunday is Home Alone.
In terms of health benefits for patients, Dr Havard says social isolation cannot be easily measured, but it is still in its infancy and this is just the start of initiatives to help patients who are lonely – and the long-term consequences that this may have reduced health effects. health.
He says: ‘Anything we can do to combat loneliness is a good thing, and it’s even better if it doesn’t prescribe medication.’
how you can help
Become friends with AGE UK’s Telephone Friendship Service, which matches volunteers and older people.
Volunteers must be over 18 years old, live in the UK, be able to commit 30 minutes on the same day each week and commit to the role for at least one year. Visit: ageuk.org.uk/friend
The British Red Cross provides support to people in their community. Visit: redcross org.uk/get-involved/volunteer.