What we do...

Calling every day at a pre-arranged time, Befrienders build a trusting relationship which helps us to monitor the well-being of our members. By being interested in people: their lives, values, beliefs - what makes them them - the Project becomes a “friend on the phone”. This helps build resilience for coping with difficult and challenging events associated with advancing age such as the the deterioration of physical health or the loss of friends and family.

Having regular contact and good relatationships allows us to monitor the well-being of our members, making referrals to other services when they're needed.

Good Morning alerts to potential health problems at an early stage. If a member fails to answer their telephone a Befriender will attempt to locate them and verify their safety. If a member cannot be found and their safety cannot be verified the Project will alert nominated contact persons or the Emergency Services. The service operates every day, including all public holidays, in recognition that vulnerable groups are more at risk when other services stop.

Referrals are exchanged with statutory social work and health services and voluntary sector services. Members are referred to Strathclyde Police for a home security visit and Strathclyde Fire & Rescue for a home fire safety visit.

Good Morning also provide: safety package, bogus caller alert scheme and Good Afternoon Service. A monthly Good Afternoon Get Together brings members together to visit places of interest and a monthly newsletter keeps members up to date with project and community news, promotes local services and has recipes and quizzes to keep your brain active.

Annual Review 2010/2011: Quantitative Indicators

Case Studies

Mrs G, aged 75 years, was referred by her daughter in 2007 and gets a call 5 days per week. Mrs G is not very mobile, uses a walking frame and enjoys watching the world go by from her window. She has a pendant alarm from Glasgow City Council, but unfortunately keeps it in a drawer. When Mrs G failed to answer her Good Morning Call in September we checked that she was not attending a doctor or hospital appointment before alerting her daughter. On visiting she found her mum lying on the living room floor and called out the doctor. Mrs G having tripped and fallen over, was unable to get herself up.

I’m so very grateful to Good Morning. You’re a lifesaver, you really are. Mum would’ve been lying there ’til tomorrow if you hadn’t phoned me this morning.

The GP treated Mrs G for minor injuries and there was no need to go to hospital. We told Mrs G and her daughter about the help available from the Falls Prevention Service (NHS). Two months later we again alerted her daughter to an unanswered call. Mrs G’s son found her on the living room floor, again unable to right herself. Thankfully she was not physically hurt but saw the value in the Falls Prevention Service and agreed to be referred. Is the pendant alarm still in a drawer? Mrs G says she now wears it most (but not all) of the time.

Mrs M, aged 70, self-referred in 2006 and gets a morning call 5 days per week plus an evening call over the winter months. When Mrs M failed to answer her Good Morning Call in December, we checked that she wasn't at a doctor or hospital appointment before alerting her Nominated Contact – a neighbour with keys. Mrs M was found lying on the kitchen floor, unable to get up and in considerable pain. Mrs M had been cleaning cupboards when she had tripped and fallen hurting her back and elbows. The neighbour was unable to help Mrs M to her feet and called an ambulance. On this occasion Mrs M suffered only minor injuries, however a second fall in January required a stay in hospital for a few days. What does the Good Morning Service mean to Mrs M?

I’ve always appreciated our conversations, I don’t know where I’d be without my phone calls. But now I appreciate the alarm side – thank you, I can’t be any more grateful. I lay there saying 'don’t panic they’ll send help' and you did.

Mrs S, aged 85 years gets a Good Morning Call and Good Night Call 5 days per week. When Mrs S didn’t answer her Good Morning Call the Telephone Befriender tried to locate her. We passed on our concerns to a club she attends regularly. Mrs S hadn’t arrived at the club the previous day, and was not due to return for a couple of days. We alerted Mrs S neighbour who, on checking the house, found a set of keys in the lock on the inside. She called for an ambulance. Paramedics found Mrs S on the bedroon floor, conscious but unable to move. Mrs S was cared for in hospital with minor injuries and able to return home after 3 weeks.

I hate to think what could’ve happened to me if you hadn’t checked up. God knows how long I’d have been lying there.

Good Morning®: light-touch support enabling older people to live independently at home

©Good Morning Project Ltd 2000-2012