Monmouthshire Council Launches Living Well Strategy to Support Vulnerable Residents and Reduce Social Service Dependence

Monmouthshire council has introduced a Living Well Strategy aimed at promoting wellness and reducing reliance on formal social services by supporting residents, particularly the vulnerable, to live independently through community collaboration and accessible health services. The strategy emphasizes a whole-authority approach, focusing on well-being and addressing inequalities with examples like providing guidance to older adults and home adaptations, without immediate new spending but potential reallocation of funds. In Pueblo, Colorado, local residents have responded to SNAP benefits cuts by organizing food drives to support neighbors facing food insecurity, encouraging community solidarity. Additionally, a Nigerian woman has highlighted the growing need for elderly homes in Africa as a profitable investment, citing many men likely to face loneliness in old age. While these initiatives reflect varied community responses to aging and vulnerability, a unique perspective comes from a dog living in a retirement community, observing the adapted lifestyles of older humans and the environment tailored to their needs, including accessible buildings and varied nature paths.