We’re Supporting The Give a Dog a Bone Charity

The Give a Dog a Bone Charity helps to combat loneliness in the over 60s whilst reducing the number of dogs in shelters.

Being a home care provider, we appreciate that the UK population is ageing as people are living longer. According to the MHA, there are now 15.5 million people above the age of 60. This makes up 23% of the UK population. It is estimated that by 2041, there will be over 3 million people above the age of 85 which is double the number in this age bracket at the moment.

As there is an increase in the number of people over the age of 60, we're happy that we can provide a service that allows people to stay safe at home. It is commonly known that when an individual begins to struggle with taking care of themselves, they typically go into residential care. This gives them the support they need whilst also providing them with companionship, but what that does mean is that their whole life is upturned and they now need to fit into the routine of the care home. Here at Bluebird Care Ayrshire, we help people remain at home where they can carry on their everyday lives but with a little support and companionship from us.

We can't be around 24/7 unless the individual requests live-in care, which is why we are so passionate about the charity Give a Dog a Bone.

The charity was founded by Louise Russell in November 2013 and it aims to tackle loneliness in the over 60s, whilst also reducing the number of dogs in rescue shelters. They do this in two different ways.

• If an individual is over 60 and already has a dog but they are struggling with the ongoing costs, the charity will step in to assist with these costs to avoid a dog being put into a shelter.
• If an over 60 would like to adopt a dog from a shelter but they have a financial barrier, once again the charity will assist with the costs.

It can be quite lonely as you get older as it's not easy to meet up with people and sometimes families can be going about their lives and not always able to find the time to stop by. Having a furry friend at home can help provide some company and help combat loneliness. According to the RSPCA, the fact that dogs are affectionate, loyal and consistent help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. This is across any age, but as we know the elderly are more likely to feel isolated. For the past 8 years, the charity has helped thousands of older adults and their pets to have a happier life together.

To help make this possible, Louise and the team raise funds throughout the year and that's where we come in. We are extremely passionate about the charity which is why we are one of their official Charity Partners. This means we sponsor their annual calendar and participate in their regular raffles, but we'd love to become more involved in their activities. Over the next year, we will be dedicating time to ensure we support this charity through their events as well as looking at what we can do ourselves.

Donating is easy, simply click here and decide whether you would like to donate as a one-off, monthly or you'd even like to fundraise for them: https://www.giveadogabone.net/donate/

Source: 

https://www.giveadogabone.net/

https://www.mha.org.uk/get-involved/policy-influencing/facts-stats/

https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/blog/trending-now/loneliness-and-how-pets-can-help