Table 1 Key features of the ABC Outreach... | Emerald Publishing

Table 1

Key features of the ABC Outreach approach

Features of ABC Outreach	Function
• Proactively going to find people 60+ in the community, face-to-face and by putting up flyers carefully worded to reassure/avoid alienation	Enables contact-making
• Creating initial and repeat encounters which were non-stigmatising, unrushed, empathic and person-centred	Provides positive social experience to encourage • Development of trust/relationships, creating openness to help • Feelings of safety and social confidence which support subsequent social interactions
• Providing information about local social opportunities and support	• Builds individual knowledge of local social opportunities and support, matched to interests and needs • Combines with positive social experience/developing confidence to increase likelihood of taking up opportunities
• Organising informal “low social risk” pop-up events in the community (e.g. at cafes, libraries and parks) which were inclusive, unpressured and socially supportive	Offers alternative social opportunities which • Can bypass individual reluctance to attend more formal activities and locations (e.g. at community centres) or those which are perceived as “cliquey” • Provide opportunities to socialise and connect with other local older people
• Supporting individuals to attend a pop-up, e.g. if they had mobility problems or lacked confidence to attend	Overcomes additional barriers to engagement
• Using light touch “stepping-stone” approach to signposting social opportunities/support or to fostering interactions between individuals	Provides the possibilities for the individual to make social connections without becoming dependent on Outreach workers

Features of ABC Outreach	Function
• Proactively going to find people 60+ in the community, face-to-face and by putting up flyers carefully worded to reassure/avoid alienation	Enables contact-making
• Creating initial and repeat encounters which were non-stigmatising, unrushed, empathic and person-centred	Provides positive social experience to encourage• Development of trust/relationships, creating openness to help• Feelings of safety and social confidence which support subsequent social interactions
• Providing information about local social opportunities and support	• Builds individual knowledge of local social opportunities and support, matched to interests and needs• Combines with positive social experience/developing confidence to increase likelihood of taking up opportunities
• Organising informal “low social risk” pop-up events in the community (e.g. at cafes, libraries and parks) which were inclusive, unpressured and socially supportive	Offers alternative social opportunities which• Can bypass individual reluctance to attend more formal activities and locations (e.g. at community centres) or those which are perceived as “cliquey”• Provide opportunities to socialise and connect with other local older people
• Supporting individuals to attend a pop-up, e.g. if they had mobility problems or lacked confidence to attend	Overcomes additional barriers to engagement
• Using light touch “stepping-stone” approach to signposting social opportunities/support or to fostering interactions between individuals	Provides the possibilities for the individual to make social connections without becoming dependent on Outreach workers