Tapestry has been providing services to adults across Havering and Barking and Dagenham for nearly 70 years. Because of the needs of society, over that period, this has been mostly to the over 50’s.
Over the past 5 years however, whilst delivering a range of practical services providing care to people in their own homes and in Wellbeing Centres, the organisation has become aware of two key issues that were vital to address, alongside the provision of quality care, if older people living on their own are going to live healthy, happy lives.
These are, the importance of daily access to good quality nutritious food and, to combat the scurge of loneliness, the need for individuals to stay connected with their communities.
Without these two basic necessities it has become clear that individuals are less likely to benefit from the care they were being provided with and, as a result, physical and mental health would deteriorate resulting in them having to leave their own homes and go into full time residential care more quickly than they and families want.
As a result of this, Tapestry has developed a range of services and opportunities for people to both access food and stay connected to their communities.
Our wellbeing centres provide freshly made, nutritious and affordable food. The centres also provide activities that bring people together and form friendship groups. Tapestry provides transport that enable people to attend the Community Hub whatever their health conditions are. In this way we are able to reach the most isolated and provide them with an opportunity to interact with others, make connections and form friendship groups.
Tapestry's staff are trained to do more than just provide care to people, they also provide companionship and work to protect the individual. We work closely with social services and/or other agencies to put in place a care plan, with the individual, to do this.
We also support carers by providing peer group sessions, information and advice and respite opportunities.
We beleive pasiontely in the power of community interaction and integration as an imortant part of keeping people safe, healthy and most importantly connected to society, which is vital for good health and wellbeing
Our Hubs are designed to fascilitate this and the pub, like all community pubs, will be at iits heart.
