Program of the Contact-the-Elderly-conference 28th October 2009

Title: The befriending options for isolated, older people and the benefits of regular social interaction

14.00
Welcome Roderick Sime and Gemma MacNulty (Contact the Elderly)
14.15
The Benefits of Social Interaction for Older People
Professor Sian Maslin-Prothero, Keele University
Overview of research evidencing benefits of social interaction for older people (30 mins)

Social Isolation and Older Adults' mental health
Michelle Hamill, Clinical Psychologist, East London NHS Foundation Trust
How different befriending services are used when working with people suffering from depression. (15 mins)

Q&A (15 mins)
15.15
Coffee Break (30 mins)

15.45 Different befriending services for different people

Steve GoldenSmith, Voluntary Sector Development Manager
Why preventative services are important (15 mins)

Janice Telfer, London Development Officer (10 mins)
The benefits of Contact the Elderly’s small group befriending service

Shirley Rice, Befriending Coordinator (10 mins)
The benefits of Age Concern Barking & Dagenham’s 1-1 befriending scheme

Jules Attanayake, Telebefriending Manager (10 mins)
The benefits of Friends of the Elderly’s telebefriending scheme

Q&A

17.00 Surgery - Opportunity to meet CTE, Age Concern Barking & Dagenham and Friends of the Elderly to discuss their services