SOUTHAMPTON, England, May 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Esther joins disabled guests at Vitalise respite holiday centre to raise awareness of loneliness and social isolation.
Date Saturday 4th of May at 2.00pm
Location - Vitalise Netley Waterside House - Southampton.
A report from the Office of National Statistics revealed that a third of people over 50 suffered from feelings of loneliness. It also discovered that people with conditions that limited daily activities were more at risk of feeling socially isolated.
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Esther Rantzen - a Vice President of national charity Vitalise - is working with them to help raise awareness and combat this issue, through visiting one of the centres they run across the UK. Vitalise provides accessible breaks with care for people with disabilities, some of whom are unable to get out of their own homes without this essential lifeline.
Esther says "Social isolation is a serious issue that affects literally millions of people in the UK. Elderly people and those with limited mobility are among the most vulnerable. Vitalise gives people with disabilities the break and the company that they so sorely need. Charities like this need our support to give people a way to interact, meet others in the same situation and enjoy themselves."
Esther's commitment to ending isolation and loneliness of the elderly was clearly demonstrated last year through the launch of her new project, The Silver Line - a telephone befriending service to combat loneliness in the over 65s. Dame Judy Dench - another of Vitalise's high profile Vice Presidents - said this of Esther's SilverLine project: "It is a good idea… anything that we can do to improve the lives of elderly people is welcome so far as I am concerned."
Vitalise Chief Executive Chris Simmonds - whose time as Managing Director of Saga Holidays also enabled him to understand the needs of the over 50s - says "At Vitalise we are determined to break down the barriers for those feeling isolated and enable them to make friends and meet people. It is a basic human need to have companionship and at our centres, within a friendly, fun, safe holiday environment guests have an ideal opportunity to meet friends old and new."
Note to editors:
About Vitalise
Vitalise is a national charity providing essential breaks for people with disabilities and carers. Vitalise provides essential short breaks in a holiday environment for people with disabilities - including Alzheimer's and dementia - and carers at three accessible UK centres: Netley Waterside House in Southampton, Jubilee Lodge in Chigwell, and Sandpipers in Southport. Each centre provides 24-hour nursing care on-call, personal support and a range of accessible excursions, activities and entertainment.
People with disabilities and carers wanting more advice and information about Vitalise breaks are requested to call 0303 303 0145, email bookings@vitalise.org.uk or visit http://www.vitalise.org.uk
Vitalise - essential breaks for people with disabilities and carers
Registered charity no. 295072
Media contact:
Sally Rudge Head of Marketing and Communications
+44(0)7789433218 / +44(0)303-303-0145 Email srudge@vitalise.org.uk
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