The Prama Foundation

As a Christian charity, we help those who live with vulnerability or isolation to age well, enjoy their independence, lead fulfilling lives and

PramaCARE was founded in 1982 to provide help and care for people in their own homes, enabling them to live independently without being forced into residential care.

Dr. Chris Moran, a consultant at Christchurch Hospital, witnessed this growing need first-hand as he saw patients having to remain in hospital care because there was no support for them at home. His vision was to provide Pain Relief And Management, from which the name “PRAMa� originated.

Since PramaCARE’s formation, the vision has broadened to include personal care, health management, community activities, holidays, hospitality and entertainment, as well as influencing for change in attitudes to ageing.

Today, the organisation has grown from a handful of dedicated volunteers to around 400 volunteers and employees. As the work developed, Prama developed a group structure in 2017, with The Prama Foundation as the overarching charity. Each component part of the group has focus on specific areas.

The Prama Foundation’s “Pathways to Dignity*” We all age and we all want it to be an enjoyable experience, where we retain our independence, self-worth and dignity. The work of the Foundation is based on these 8 core statements – our Pathways to Dignity. These values are at the root of all our work.

1. Support

2. Empowerment

Older People need to be surrounded by and will respond to, people who love, care, appreciate and accept them.

Older People need to feel valued and valuable. This happens when he/she feels safe and respected.

3. Boundaries and expectations

4. Constructive use of time

Older People need clear expectations of what they can contribute to, and expect from, society; it’s rules and expected behaviours, as well as the consequences for breaching them. All people should be encouraged to do their best.

Older People need opportunities to continue learning & growing. To develop skills and interests with others.

5. Engagement in learning

6. Positive values

Older People need a sense of the lasting importance of learning and a belief in their own abilities.

Older People needs to develop & maintain strong guiding values or principles to help them make healthy life choices.

7. Social competencies

8. Positive identity

Older People need the skills to interact effectively with others, to make difficult decisions, and to cope with new situations.

Older People need to believe in their own self- worth and to feel that they have control over the things that happen to them.

“Pathways to Dignity” are adapted, with permission, from the principles of developmental assets developed by one of our research partners, the Search Institute, Minneapolis. We are seeking to develop a new model of engagement which will feed good practice in providing services that combat stereotypes and encourage dignity in later life .

Our Vision A world where no-one is unfairly disadvantaged or excluded, because of age or infirmity - and where every person can enjoy life as they age.

The Foundation is the overarching charity that fundraises for and oversees all Prama activities. It is internationally recognised as a United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) representative and engages on issues of Ageing and Demographics along with Human Rights Watch, for it’s work in promoting the Human Rights of Older People. It is a full member of the Global Alliance for Right of Older People (GAROP).

Locally the Foundation funds work promoting dementia and disability-friendly churches and address issues of spirituality in later life as well as supporting issues of Ageing Without Children (AWOC).

In 2018 the Foundation was pleased to partner with the Borough of Poole working towards accreditation as an Age Friendly Community, as recognised by the World Health Organisation. Further partnerships include promoting Intergenerational Practice and falls prevention.

The Foundation is funded by legacies, grants and donations from supporters as well as income from a network of community charity shops and other trading activities.

Established in 1982, PramaCARE is a highly regarded and award winning domiciliary care provider that achieved “Gold Standard” in End of Life care. It provides 150,000 hours of care every year and enables those living with vulnerability to retain independence at home. It was recognised as “Outstanding” in the delivery of care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

In addition to Domiciliary care PramaCARE also provides foot and nail care to around 1,200 elderly clients.

The costs of providing care is often considered expensive so PramaCARE provides charitable subsidies to around 10% of eligible clients. Through the Smile Project, paid staff members clients can spend additional time with clients, supporting them to enjoy activities, at no cost to the client, bringing joy, such as visits to the beach, reminiscing through a photo album or simply baking a cake!

Working to combat loneliness and isolation, PramaLIFE provides over 35 support clubs and activities for those living with dementia and loneliness, as well as supporting those caring for friends & family members whilst recognizing the increasing issues faced by those Ageing Without Children. It co-ordinates a befriending and chaplaincy service and promotes health and well-being (resilience) in mid and later life.

PramaLIFE develops “all-age friendly” activities at the heart of local communities and runs the Barrington Community Centre in Ferndown including Penny’s, an “age-friendly” community café.

PramaTRAVEL is a fully ATOL registered Travel Agent that was established to provide day trips and holidays to those living with loneliness and isolation. From trips to the beach or a show, to local attractions or the Houses of Parliament, to short breaks in Edinburgh or Devon, or overseas holidays to destinations like South Africa, our team support single travelers, accompanying carers, couples and larger groups. The locations are age-friendly and the trips always encourage friendships and a sense of community.

PramaTRAVEL can provide corporate clients with bespoke travel services and conference arrangements.

The profits made enable us to offer subsidies to eligible private clients.

PramaHEALTH is a new initiative to support local health services at times of tremendous pressure by providing semi-clinical services to GPs and Hospitals.

PramaHEALTH is exploring the development of Cancer and palliative care advocacy Private nursing Early hospital discharge services Alternatives to hospital care

The Foundation is an active participant in Ageing issues across Europe and has signed up to the Covenant for Demographic Change.

We partner with the national UK Charity “Ageing Without Children� to raise the issue of who will care for the 20% of the population in these circumstances.

We are working with our Local Authority to register the Borough of Poole as an Age Friendly Community by the World Health Organisation.

We are also working with Poole to promote a network of excellence in Intergenerational Practice, Falls Prevention and to raise issues of Ageing Without Children.

We are a research partner with Bournemouth University, recently completing an investigation into nutrition in later life.

We partner with East Dorset District Council in the provision of communities for all ages through a service level agreement at the Barrington Theatre.

We partner with Faithworks Wessex to provide advice and support to over 50 churches on issues of Dementia

We partner with Ferndown Town Council in the delivery of community centre services to the community of Ferndown as well as hosting the Council Offices and co-ordinating the Ferndown Conversation, a networking event to bring all local charities together.

The Foundation is recognised as an United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) representative to the United nations on Issues of Demographics and ageing and successfully lobbied for the inclusion of ageing as part of the 2017 Global Social Development Goals We partner with Hope in the Community in supporting area co-ordinators for church befrienders and referring those living with loneliness to church based activities.

We are a part of the Poole Wellbeing Collaborative which works to reduce social isolation and loneliness in the Poole area by working with statutory partner agencies as well as the community and voluntary sector.

We are partners with the Search Institute, Minneapolis, in adapting their extensive work on Developmental Assets in younger people into an age friendly context within UK culture.

Dear friend, Thank you for your interest in the work of Prama Foundation. As we all know, the challenges and changes of an ageing population bring with them the opportunity to celebrate long life and the contribution that the older population have made. It is a strange contradiction that, although we have a larger population than ever before, we also face huge issues of isolation and loneliness amongst the elderly. We should never be afraid of ageing. As a society we have a responsibility to show kindness, respect, and to take care of the elderly. Yes, we are to respect all people, but there is a certain type of respect that we give to the elderly unlike our own age group. There is a certain way we talk to, and honour, them.

We owe them our support.

Even as we create a community that helps older people, so we also create a community from which we ourselves will benefit as we age. As a local charity the Prama Foundation is dependent upon the goodwill and support of local people.

Would you consider supporting our work?

Thank you so much.

Steve Robinson, Chief Executive Prama Group

The Prama Foundation Moran House, Sterte Ave West, Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom BH15 2AA Tel: +44 1202 207300 Email: admin@pramafoundation.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1174197 Limited Company No. 1077830