Lady Bader

Lady Joan Bader was the widow of Battle of Britain flying hero Sir Douglas Bader.

She was a former Red Cross nurse who worked during World War Two and who later gave much of her time to charities, including Guide Dogs for the Blind and Riding for the Disabled and was awarded an OBE for services to disabled people.

In 1982 Lady Bader established the Bader Foundation to encourage other people who had lost their limbs to rebuild their lives.

Lady Bader's Legacy is of a very special significance, because of the relevance to her own journey through various unsuitable care home systems towards the end of her life.

Had she been able to have the opportunity for your companionship and a caring listening ear, she would not have been so lonely or so bored, and would have had

someone outside of her family to turn to for trust and for confidence and understanding when she had her feelings of sadness and being isolated within care.

This also stand true now for so many of the Veterans still in the care systems, and why more of our current military personnel are needed to volunteer their dedication to the needs for our former servicemen and women.

Research shows that loneliness can contribute to serious mental and physical health problems, which require costly health and social care interventions.

Studies on interventions that reduce loneliness has found that they result in:

·         Lower use of medication,

·         Fewer GP visits,

·         Lower incidence of falls

·         Reduced risk factors for long term care

·         Fewer days in hospital, physician visits and outpatient appointments

·         Fewer admissions to nursing homes and later admission

With the detrimental impact of loneliness on health The Lady Bader Ambassadors is a vital resource for understanding the picture of loneliness and service provision aimed at commissioners, service providers, clinical commissioning groups, public health teams and anyone interested in addressing loneliness in their community.

We are asking today, to support the Prevention of Loneliness Campaign by providing much needed funds.

Lady Bader, 17 March 1918 – 18 December 2015