Smart solutions for older people in Belfast

BCM’s motivation was then, and remains, meeting the needs of the whole person, spiritual, emotional, social and physical through its diverse social care projects and 3 congregations at Grosvenor Hall, Sandy Row and Springfield Road. Whilst of Methodist origin, BCM requires no religious commitment from any of its staff or those who benefit from its services and aims to “support those who need it most”. Since its foundation BCM’s work has developed beyond Belfast and it now actively seeks to develop services on a province-wide basis. 

Current Projects include:

• Housing support services for vulnerable young people preparing to live independently in the community
• Care and support in the community for young people and families
• Residential care and housing support services for older people
• Support service for children with autism and their families
• Christmas Programme – distributing toys and food parcels to children, older people and families on low income
• Cross-community holidays for children and older people
• Award winning volunteer programme
• Conference and Training Facilities – Social Enterprises

LITE 60 +

BCM’s LITE 60+ project enables vulnerable older people to continue to live independently in their own homes by providing a range of support in areas such as:

• Benefits, budgeting and banking
• Neighbour relations
• Signposting to trades people
• Home security
• Support with cleaning
• Support using domestic equipment
• Befriending/emotional support
• Support with personal appearance/hygiene
• Support with shopping, food preparation and healthy eating
• Prompting about medication
• Accompanying to medical appointments
• Signposting to relevant therapeutic and specialist services

In addition BCM provides a handyperson service which can help with the upkeep of older people’s properties and address any health and safety and security concerns.Through its award winning volunteer programme BCM also provides volunteer befrienders who can provide ongoing practical and emotional support.Service users are also able to access a range of social activities funded by BCM’s charitable donations which include:

• Tea Dances - Regular Tea dances at our HQ in Glengall Street providing fun, friendship and exercise.
• Wednesday Lunch Club - Every Wednesday, through September to May, BCM runs a club which provides companionship, good food and light entertainment.
• Holiday Programme - BCM has been running holidays for over seventy 'older people' at BCM’s Childhaven Centre in Millisle since the 1950’s. The holidays provide socially isolated older people with an opportunity to meet and mix with others.
• Christmas Programme - Every year at Christmas BCM distributes hundreds of food parcels to older people on low incomes.

 The measurable benefits or outcomes of the service for older people include:

•   Increased capacity to live independently
•  Increased safety and security in the home
•  Increased social contact
•  Improved confidence and morale
•  Healthier living

By enabling older people to continue to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible the project delays or prevents the need for more costly services such as residential or nursing care. LITE 60+ costs approximately £50 per service user per week compared to £430 for residential care and £570 for nursing care.

There are clear cost savings identified with handy person services, for example

• Postponing entry into residential care by just one year through adapting people’s homes saves £28,080 per person. (Lang and Buisson 2008, Annual Cost of Care Home Report)
• Housing adaptations reduce the need for daily visits and reduce or remove costs of homecare (savings range from £1,200 to £29,000 per year)

BCM brings significant additionality over and above the core service which is funded by government (NIHE, Supporting People programme). This includes access to a large volunteer base and charitable income and means that BCM is able to offer a range of complimentary activities to its service users including befriending, tea dances, Christmas support, lunch club and holiday programme.BCM also has plans to expand its handy person service on a social economy model using any profits to further enhance the core services.