Informal conversational strategies to talk about loneliness and isolation

Capturing insight from and using informal conversational strategies with older people less likely to access formal groups and support.

The Good Practice Mentor team invite you to join them for a practical workshop session, exploring informal conversational strategies to talk about loneliness, isolation and capture insight from people less likely to access formal groups, activities, services and support.

Based on a proactive outreach approach to finding and engaging people out in the community – including on the streets and on the doorstep, this session will introduce you to practical conversational strategies and what questions to ask, to gain a picture of an person's social world and connections. We’ll also discuss how the approach can be adapted as a tool for social action research, to inform community building and to provide a ‘nudge’ towards participation.

During the workshop you’ll hear about:

• The value of weak social ties and informal feeling conversations - making the most of your interaction

• Key conversational indicators of loneliness and isolation and how to respond

• Using a light-touch conversational approach to build rapport and to ask the person about their social world and connections and how they would like to connect with others

• How to provide a ‘nudge’ towards participation and community connection

• Effective tools and techniques to informally manage the interaction including bringing conversations to a positive close

• Adapting the approach for social action research to capture insight from the people you are less likely to meet in other settings