The symbolic representation of community in social isolation and loneliness among older people: Insights for intervention from a rural Irish case study.
Social isolation and loneliness are common experiences of ageing in rural communities. Policy responses and interventions for social isolation and loneliness in later life are shaped by sociocultural understandings of place, relationships and social interaction. This study examined how representations of rural community in Ireland influenced the focus, relationships and activities within a befriending intervention designed to tackle social isolation and loneliness. Through a qualitative case study conducted in 2014, the symbolic meaning of the intervention was explored using interviews and focus groups with participants (8 befriended, 11 befrienders and 3 community workers) from one befriending programme in rural Ireland. Reflected in the programme was a representationOur Staff

Lead Pastor

Office Manager/Bookkeeper

Associate Pastor

Office Assistant

Lead Pastor

Pastor Dylon and Sam Brown, with daughter Rei, joined Newberg Nazarene in February 2018 following God’s call to serve as the lead pastor. Dylon is a graduate of Nazarene Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity and a Bachelors degree from Southern Nazarene University. He has served in pastoral ministry in Kansas City, Florida, Maine, and Arizona before moving to Oregon.

Associate Pastor

Pastor Steve and Jeanette Hamilton joined Newberg Nazarene in April 2014 after moving from the South Salem Nazarene Church to be closer to home. Steve is a student at Northwest Nazarene University and also works as the office manager for the denominational district office. Steve served as our children’s pastor and on the district children’s council for three years before taking