“When life seems to get very small, actually there is something in that smallness that is very valuable”

01 March, 2020

This Fittleworth sponsored post talks about their new campaign to tackle loneliness.

Nearly three quarters of people said that when they felt lonely, they didn’t tell anyone despite most having someone they could count on*.

People can become isolated for a variety of reasons such as getting older, managing health conditions, no longer being the hub of family life, leaving the workplace or the death of a partner. Someone who is lonely often finds it hard to reach out. There is a stigma surrounding loneliness and older people tend not to ask for help.

At Fittleworth, one of the largest home delivery services of medical devices, we see this on a weekly basis as we speak to over 4,000 clients a day dispensing over 2,000 prescriptions. With over 70% of our client-base being over the age of 65 we wanted to find a way to help people reconnect.

We recognise that many of our clients go through some form of life changing medical condition that can result in stoma formation or long term catheter use. No matter what your age, medical conditions like bowel cancer or a spinal injury will impact your confidence significantly. Many clients and even their partners have told us that after the stress and anxiety of their operation, the biggest challenge is often after they have been discharged and face the reality of managing a long-term condition. How can I feel confident to go out in public? Will people notice or comment? Will there be a public toilet I can use?

We launched In Good Company – a podcast that focuses on the topic of loneliness, presented by Carrie Grant and with a wealth of great guests with interesting stories to tell. We discuss a wealth of solutions to empower people to find the connection they need.

We wanted to ensure that our clients and others know they are not alone, that they can reach out for support from a number of charities who are there to help. From Independent Age who offer so many supportive services to those over the age of 65 to our other expert charity partners like Colostomy UK who can offer that specialised support to those learning to live with a stoma.

It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible and we want to help people seek out the support that they deserve.

*Source: Gov.UK 2019