Safe and Well project celebrates success in Lisburn

The Safe & Well Project provides information and referral on a range of social support services to anyone over 65.

Safe & Well has made a difference to older people lives by impacting on their home safety, experience of social functioning, confidence and general wellbeing.

A key element of the initiative is the inclusion in the project of local people becoming Volunteers, Befrienders and First Step Support Workers supporting people to become more included in their local community.

The project involves preventing social isolation and loneliness in older people and enabling them to live at home independently for as long as possible.

At the celebration event, Dr Anne Kilgallen, Assistant Chief Medical Officer gave a welcome address and service users then spoke about how the project had impacted on their lives.

Norman, a gentleman who availed of the First Step Support Service highlighted that after his First Step Support Worker had visited that his health and wellbeing has improved “one hundred and fifty percent!”

Jean, a Volunteer Befriender with the project, said she took on the role because when she was ill some years ago and a volunteer driver supported her to medical appointments.