A SOUTHAMPTON charity working with the elderly and vulnerable is partnering on a ground-breaking oral health project with Solent NHS Trust’s Academy of Research and Improvement (November 2023).
Communicare, which works at a neighbourhood level citywide, is collaborating with Research Dental Nurse and Evaluation Specialist, Jennifer Malpass, to discover vulnerable older people’s views on oral health and research.
Annie Clewlow, Manager at Communicare, which is on a mission to eradicate loneliness and isolation, says: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Jennifer on the FAIRER Oral Health & Research project. Oral health is such an important factor with regards overall physical wellbeing and it’s great that our service users can take part in this project, as they don’t usually get these opportunities to be involved.
“The project aims to collect information to understand how people look after their teeth and to help them better manage at home with their oral care. It’s specifically aimed at those older people who find it difficult to get out and about to appointments without the sort of support our volunteers provide.”
The Academy of Research and Improvement aims to support and equip communities and health care teams across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight with the skills and confidence to identify areas of healthcare services that could be improved and to give them the tools to make positive change.
Jennifer explains: “We strive to ensure the patient voice is at the heart of everything we do, and actively encourage collaboration with patients and communities at all levels of our organisation, so I am delighted to be working with Communicare and its service users on this project.
“I’m hoping to chat to people in their own homes and at events that Communicare helps to support in the community. Working together we’re hoping to make it easier for people to find out about oral health best practices and to share their experiences, as well as helping them manage better at home.”
Communicare, which is a friendly, neighbourhood charity, provides services that enrich the lives of lonely and isolated people in and around Southampton.
Its services are staffed by its devoted volunteers, known as Communiteers, who give their time freely.
Annie adds: “FAIRER Oral Health & Research is a mutually beneficial project that is vital in sharing key dental health messages to those older and vulnerable people we support but is also a great opportunity for people to interact with Jennifer and this has lots of wonderful social benefits too.
“We were delighted when we were asked to be involved and how Jennifer came along to some of our regular events to chat to service users to help shape her project from the beginning. She didn’t come to us with an idea already in mind but was very much led by those she spoke to from the very start, so this is definitely a people-focused piece of research and our service users will be helping shape future services for others like them.”
Communicare is currently supporting around 690 individuals/families through tasks including one-to-one befriending and transport for essential appointments and assistance with shopping.
The services it provides are free to users, although beneficiaries are invited to donate, if they can, and Communiteers are offered expenses.
To find out more, please visit www.communicareinsouthampton.org.uk or call 023 8250 0050.
