Maintaining social connections with older people remotely

Socialising and feeling you’re a part of a community is important for mental and physical wellbeing. But for many older people it can be difficult to maintain an active social life due to reduced mobility, health issues or living far from family and friends.

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated social distancing measures have exacerbated these challenges with people not being able to meet friends face-to-face or attend their usual activities. However, avoiding close contact with other people does not mean that you should feel more isolated. Community networks supported by Ageing Better in Birmingham have come up with different ways to build and maintain social connections, even while staying at home. In this briefing, we share some insights and learning to help you keep the social activity going remotely. We include real-life examples, tips and suggestions and identify the best social networks and platforms to use for different purposes.

Staying connected (case studies from Birmingham's community groups during the pandemic)

This short guide is for anyone who organises community groups. It o­ffers guidance and resources to help groups recover from the disruption of COVID-19 and adapt activity. By helping people to connect, Ageing Better groups have made a positive di­fference in the lives of thousands of Brummies. The pandemic and measures taken to protect us have impacted everyone, and in this document, local groups in Birmingham share what they did during the pandemic. It also summarised the government guidance at the time and explored practical implications of restarting activity.

Coming soon: 

A community in lockdown: local theatre move rehearsals online