The Manager of the Island branch of a charity which supports older people to continue to live independently has been promoted. Jo Dixon, currently Island Manager for the MHA Live at Home charity, became MHA Area Manager for the Isle of Man, Scotland and North West of England May 1st. She began working for the charity in 2004 and took up her current role in 2013. Jo will continue to be based at the charity’s Isle of Man HQ at Willaston Church.

There are five Live At Home schemes on the Island – Western, Northern, Onchan, Douglas, Laxey & Lonan – and the charity also runs the Northern Men in Sheds group. All of these schemes are run by the local branch of the UK-based charity MHA. Through their Live at Home schemes, they offer a range of services designed to enhance independence, and include regular social groups, lunch clubs, film clubs, shopping clubs, men’s groups all with transport provided. They offer advice and signposting on accessing other support services, both third sector and Statutory. They also run befriending initiatives in which volunteers make regular visits to an older person to have a chat and a cup of tea, providing friendship and company. Currently there are approximately 700 older people who are members of the Island schemes, which are run by a team of 12 MHA staff and around 500 volunteers.

Nationally MHA runs 75 Live at Home schemes, along with 64 retirement living schemes and 86 care homes, supporting 16,000 older people. Its mission is to eliminate loneliness and isolation among older people by creating communities that care

Jo said she was looking forward to taking up her new role, and added: “We have experienced significant growth in the need for our services on-Island and in the UK over the last few years, and have been able to respond to that need in new and innovative ways by knowing our members and listening to them. My new role will be on a more strategic level. I will use the good practice demonstrated by our Isle of Man schemes to establish services and develop opportunities in line with identified needs of older people and their communities in parts of the UK which currently have minimal Live at Home community services. I will be able to utilise the experience and skills acquired here on the Island to drive growth, development and innovation throughout the communities of both Scotland and the north west of England. With a growing ageing population, I feel we have a fundamental part to play in supporting our older generation to live independently in their own homes for a long as they are happy and safe to do so, by offering a range of services which offer quality in later life, and with a clear vision to reduce social isolation, loneliness and foster community engagement for all.”

David Gawne MBE, Chairman of Isle of Man Live at Home Schemes, said “I am delighted that Jo's abilities, her drive and enthusiasm, which has resulted in the increasing and very considerable contribution which Isle of Man Live at Home Schemes are making to the lives of older people in the Isle of Man has been recognised by this significant promotion. The appointment reflects an appreciation by our parent charity of what has been achieved here and reflects that the Isle of Man can and does produce the leaders and the blue print for the wider development of support to older people throughout the UK. Jo leads a team of dedicated staff and volunteers who make a very real difference to the lives of potentially vulnerable people.”

If you want to volunteer to help one of the Isle of Man Live At Home schemes – or are over 60 and want to take part in its activities or know someone who does – phone 616571, email Isleofman.liveathome@mha.org.uk or find the charity on Facebook. You can also visit the MHA website www.mha.org.uk. 

Photo - David Gawne MBE, Chairman of Isle of Man Live at Home schemes, pictured with Jo Dixon, Island Live at Home Manager. Jo will become MHA Area Manager for the Isle of Man, Scotland and North West of England from May 1st.