THE Doctor Patient Partnership (DPP) is part of the national Good Neighbour campaign to promote positive relations between elderly people living close to each other.

It offers advice on how you can help your fellow residents and how a few minutes of your time can make all the difference to someone isolated or living alone.

The campaign aims to encourage contact between older people and their neighbours to offer mutual support.

Tips include:

Work out a system together for regularly checking in on each other, especially helpful if your neighbour has just come home from hospital or has been ill at home.

Pick up prescriptions, a pint of milk or some shopping.

Share transport to the doctor or chemist.

Simply introduce yourself so you and your neighbour can both benefit from a new friendship, but always be aware of security.

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