ERIC DAILLEY: OTHER HALF

ERIC DAILLEY: OTHER HALF

Eric Dailley’s case shows that losing someone you love can be one of the hardest things to go through. But, that is only made harder when it leaves you isolated from the outside world. For many elderly people in the community, loneliness becomes daily life and the world can feel like it is passing them by.

Eric Dailley lost his wife in January last year. Afterwards, he struggled to leave the house despite the unwavering support of his daughter.

Speaking about that time, Eric said: “You have good days and you have bad days. When my wife passed away, I couldn’t do anything. My daughter said to me ‘you can’t carry on like this. So I started coming to these sessions and meeting people like me. It gets us out of the house and we talk. If I wasn’t doing that, I would be home watching the TV or falling asleep.”

Generation Gains, which is sponsored by Zurich Community Trust, is a project that looks to get people over the age of 65 exercising and interacting socially with people in a similar situation to themselves. It looks to connect those living in isolation, whilst also preventing falls and trips, so independence can be kept.

Eric added: “The Saints Foundation’s project officers keep me in check. If I don’t do something right they are telling me to stand up straight and get moving. We all have a good laugh.”

Saints Foundation’s project officers run sessions daily throughout the city and surrounding areas with activities varying from circuit training to playing bowls – something Eric has proven quite the dab-hand at. Not only do these officers lead the sessions – and count the scores during the bowls matches – they also provide a supportive shoulder and a bit of banter too.