What is Connect Local?
This is a free social prescribing program run by Connecting Communities to Care, to help your clients (65yrs+) address their non-medical needs. We support your clients to connect with local services and activities so that they can do what matters to them. It involves trained Community Connectors, who will spend time with your clients to identify meaningful goals and make personalised plans to improve their overall wellbeing. The Community Connectors will follow up with clients to make sure that the services or activities are making a positive difference.
Social prescribing is about connecting medical care with social care. The aim is for people to enjoy holistic health and well-being. Our health is affected by various issues, some of which cannot be addressed in a clinical setting. For example, people may benefit from making friends in local community groups. We all have different interests, such as:
- Arts
- Gardening
- Music
- Religion
- Book Clubs
- Volunteering
- Education
- Exploring nature
- Sport or physical activity
People may also need access to services which focus on housing, transport, financial/legal advice, food, employment, bereavement, mental health, or pets. Health care professionals can refer their clients to this program so that they can be supported in the way that they need.
In November 2019, the RACGP Social Prescribing Roundtable recommended incorporating social prescribing into the Australian Government’s primary healthcare and preventative health strategies to ensure a more responsive and comprehensive patient-focused health system.
Other resources:
Supporting healthy ageing through social prescribing (who.int)
Who is this program for?
This program is designed for people living in Glen Eira who are 65 years or older who:
- Are experiencing one or more chronic conditions
- Are experiencing or at risk of loneliness, social isolation and /or depressive symptoms
- Want to improve their social connections and wellbeing
It is not suitable for those who:
- Require clinical mental health treatment that they are not currently receiving
- Have complex social and medical issues and are not receiving care coordination
- Live in residential aged care
How do I refer a client?
Please fill out the enquiry form.