Caring Through Connection: Supporting Social Wellbeing in Ageing
How Home Instead Redbridge and Walthamstow Helps Older People Stay Socially Active and Emotionally Healthy
Have you ever thought about how a simple conversation over a cup of tea can change someone’s entire day?
For older adults in Redbridge and Walthamstow, meaningful social connections aren’t just ‘nice to have’, they are key to living well. As people live longer, the need to support emotional and social well-being grows louder. It’s not just about adding years to life, but life to those years.
At Home Instead Redbridge and Walthamstow, we understand that a fulfilling later life isn’t built solely on services, routines, or care; it’s built on belonging. And it starts with listening to what older people truly want.
Listening to Redbridge’s Older Residents
During Positive Ageing Week 2024, over 100 older people in Redbridge took part in the Age-Friendly Community Survey, organised by the Healthy Redbridge Borough Partnership and Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering. Their voices were clear, candid, and filled with wisdom.
Top priorities included:
- Reliable, local health and support services
- Improved access to transport
- Safe, accessible housing
- More opportunities for social participation
But perhaps even more powerful than the rankings were the messages woven through the responses: “We want to be seen. We want to be included. We want to connect.”
An Overlooked Concern
Social isolation was repeatedly mentioned in the survey. While some older residents thrive, many quietly contend with feelings of loneliness. Health problems, bereavement, limited mobility, and the shift to online-only communication can all contribute to feeling left behind.
Imagine being keen to attend a book club or pop to the shops, but there’s no reliable transport. Or wanting a face-to-face chat with a GP, only to be encouraged to go online instead. These small barriers add up, and for many, they make connection feel out of reach.
That’s why services that focus on human contact, like home care, Shared Lives, and local memory cafés, matter so deeply.
The Power of Simple, Local Activities
You don’t need grand gestures to build community. Some of the most effective ways to connect are beautifully simple:
Coffee Mornings and Memory Cafés
These offer safe, welcoming spaces where older people can meet others, share stories, and find understanding. Memory cafés are especially valuable for those living with dementia and their carers, offering a blend of support and friendship in an informal setting.
Book Clubs
Reading groups aren’t just about novels; they’re about conversations, laughter, and finding common ground. For those who may have lost friends or partners, book clubs can provide a fresh start socially.
Indoor Gardening
Not everyone can manage a large outdoor space, but tending to houseplants or herbs on a windowsill brings purpose and calm. Gardening activities can also be shared between clients and carers, neighbours, or family members.
Local Theatre and Community Arts
Redbridge is home to a variety of cultural groups and events. Local performances offer entertainment, but more than that, they are an opportunity to engage with others, share opinions, and be part of something creative.
A Model That Puts People First
Redbridge’s ‘People Matter’ model is another positive step. Built with NELFT NHS Foundation Trust, it focuses on early help, joined-up support, and local services delivered by multi-disciplinary teams. It’s not just about care, it’s about connection.
With a single point of contact, holistic assessments, and inclusion of informal carers, it respects the reality of older adults’ lives. It sees the person, not just the patient.
Companionship Through Home Care
For many, home care is the daily anchor that keeps them grounded.
At Home Instead Redbridge and Walthamstow, our care goes beyond practical tasks. Carers often become trusted companions, offering not just support, but genuine presence. A 30-minute visit might include medication prompts, but also a shared story, a smile, or even a singalong while making tea.
That connection can mean everything. It’s especially valuable for those who:
- Live alone
- Are you grieving a partner
- Have limited mobility
- Are you living with dementia or anxiety
Our visits aren’t rushed or clinical, they’re shaped around each person’s routine, preferences and history. It’s not just about helping someone live at home; it’s about helping them feel at home in themselves.
What Older Adults Want Most
Through the survey and other feedback, it’s clear that older residents in Redbridge are not asking for extravagance. They are asking for:
- The chance to leave the house safely and confidently
- Face-to-face support rather than being pushed online
- Social groups where they feel welcome
- Affordable local activities
- Support for carers and family members
- Practical, person-centred care
- Respect for faith, culture, and daily routines
They’re asking to be treated not as ‘service users’, but as people with stories, value, and something still to give.
What’s Getting in the Way?
Digital Exclusion
One of the biggest barriers is the shift to online-only services. Many older people feel sidelined by technology they didn’t grow up with. They don’t want to download an app or wait in a digital queue, they want to speak to someone.
Choice is key. No one should be forced to go online if they don’t want to.
Transport
Without safe, reliable, and accessible transport, even the most engaging social opportunities are out of reach. Respondents called for better bus routes, more drop-off options, and easier booking systems.
Healthcare Access
Long waits, complicated systems, and impersonal communication make navigating health services stressful. Some older people also report feeling dismissed or not always feeling heard or respected during appointments
Financial Pressures
From energy bills to exercise classes, the rising cost of living hits older adults hard. Some noted that support in Redbridge felt limited compared to other areas. More subsidised activities and better financial advice could help.
A Way Forward: Real, Practical Action
The survey gave older people in Redbridge a voice. Now it’s time to act. That means:
- Offering services both online and face-to-face
- Prioritising public transport and accessibility
- Supporting carers more fully
- Creating safer, affordable social spaces
- Recognising the value of cultural, religious and community groups
- Making sure older adults are not only consulted, but also included
How Home Instead Redbridge and Walthamstow Can Help
We’re proud to be part of the wider effort to support older adults across Redbridge and Walthamstow. Our home care services are personalised, consistent, and built on trust. Whether it’s helping someone attend a book club or simply sharing a friendly conversation, we believe every interaction matters.
We’re here to:
- Reduce isolation through compassionate companionship
- Respect daily routines and preferences
- Support people living with dementia and complex needs
- Provide respite for family carers
Help people remain in the place they feel safest, their own home
Final Thoughts
Ageing should not mean fading into the background. It should be a time of continued connection, contribution, and comfort.
Redbridge is moving in the right direction, but there’s more to do. With thoughtful services, meaningful care, and respect for the voices of older adults, we can build a borough where people don’t just grow older, they grow well.
Because at the heart of it all, social connection isn’t just important, it’s life-affirming.
How can we help?
We've helped thousands of families to stay safe, comfortable and happy at home. Whatever situation you're facing, or whatever the question is, Home Instead is here to help.
Are you in need of a little guidance right away?
03300 583450Are you in need of a little guidance right away?
03300 583450Areas We Serve
Redbridge, Walthamstow, Ilford, Chigwell, Woodford & the surrounding areas
E18 1, E18 2, IG1 1, IG1 2, IG1 3, IG1 4, IG1 8, IG1 9, IG2 6, IG2 7, IG3 8, IG3 9, IG4 5, IG5 0, IG6 1, IG6 2, IG6 3, IG7 4, IG7 5, IG8 0, IG8 7, IG8 8, IG8 9, RM6 4, RM6 5, E17 4, E17 5, E17 3, E17 6
313 Billet Rd, London E17 5PX, UK
02080 162 069