Age UK Cheshire – Going home from hospital?

GOING HOME FROM HOSPITAL?

Age UK Cheshire is here to help!

If you are aged 55 or over and living in the Cheshire area, then you can count on Age UK Cheshire to support you. We are working hard to run as many activities as possible in a covid-safe way, but some may have to be paused as we adapt to new guidance.

Information & Advice

Our Information and Advice telephone service offers free, confidential and impartial advice on a wide range of issues. If you think you may have difficulty coping with everyday tasks and need a bit of extra support, you may qualify for additional financial help. Our team will be able to provide expert advice and can help on other issues such as what to do about getting your house adapted to suit your needs, where to find a reliable tradesperson and who to speak to about your rights. Our free Information & Advice telephone service is available on 01244 401500. Our Connect All – Digital Inclusion project is here for you. We know there are several reasons why some people don’t go online: • They don’t think it’s for them. • They don’t think it’s safe. • They don’t have support or have the correct kit. • They think it’s too complicated. • It’s just too expensive. If this is you, you’re not alone! Age UK Cheshire wants to help you understand how useful it can be. We can help you stay safe, loan you kit if needed, support you and explore with how the internet can be accessed as inexpensively as possible. Our ‘Connect All’ project shows you lots of different ways that the internet is useful and can help you stay connected with the world. We hope that it encourages you to think about taking the first steps online – and we’re here to help! If you already have a tablet and just don’t have the confidence to use it – give us a call! If you don’t have a tablet and would like to loan one from us free of charge – give us a call! We will then link you up with a volunteer who can support you, by telephone, in taking your first steps online and finding out about all that the internet has to offer. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, please get in touch with Amy on: 01606 720 431 and we can discuss with you how best to help.

Making the right choices

The Independent Living Service offers independent information, advice and support to assist older people who have to fund their care privately to make informed decisions regarding their care needs and requirements. They also support people with all aspects of their direct payments. Direct Payments are payments which are made by the Local Authority. These would be paid directly to you if you decide to organise your own care. Our skilled and experienced Independent Living Advisors have access to a wide range of information on local services and activities. We can offer information and advice to support you in sourcing the care and support that best suits you and your needs. Including (but not limited to): • Arranging care with a care agency • Assisting with recruitment of a Personal Assistant • Providing ongoing technical advice and information on all aspects of directing your own care and employing staff legally • Managing paperwork • Carrying out DBS (police checks) on your

Personal Assistants We will work with you and / or your family to set up your support package. We provide as little or as much assistance as you choose - you remain in control at all times. If you require advice and support in relation to maintaining your independence at home, then you can contact our Supporting You team. They can put you in touch with local services that will be able to help you maintain your independence as well as determine whether you might be eligible to claim benefits. For more information on our Independent Living Service, please contact us on 03333 660 107 (in Cheshire West and Chester only) or for our Supporting You Service, please contact us on 0151 348 8113.

Keeping healthy and active

Exercise is incredibly important to our overall health. It can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, some types of cancer, strokes and Type 2 diabetes. Exercise can also help to keep bones strong and assist in reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Recent studies have shown that exercise may improve memory, slow down mental decline, aid sleep and improve strength and balance. We can signpost people to many independent activity groups across the county. Our Falls Prevention Service works to reduce the number of people who need to attend the Accident & Emergency Department because they have fallen in their homes. By carrying telephone assessments, home visits to individuals, and talks to groups, we are able to highlight possible hazardous areas within the home and in turn offer advice on where to make minor alterations where necessary. For more information on the Falls Prevention Service, please contact us on 0151 348 5495/6.

Social groups

Loneliness and isolation are major factors in the deterioration of health and wellbeing. Age UK Cheshire aims to relieve this by promoting independence and helping people join activities in their local community. Our Day Activity Groups provide a valuable service to many older people in Cheshire. Located in Northwich, Ellesmere Port and Chester, the groups provide companionship and fun and aim to reduce social isolation. The groups run on: • (Northwich) Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Contact 07917 638810 • (Ellesmere Port) Wednesdays and Fridays. Contact 07917 638822 • (Chester) Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact 07917 638821 We also run Pub

Lunch Groups

on a Monday in and around Northwich, on a Wednesday in and around Winsford and on a Friday around Winnington and Castle. Our Lunch Club runs on a Tuesday at Little Neston Methodist Church, and is for older people who simply want to meet up, on a weekly basis, with friends for a natter and a home cooked lunch. Contact 01606 720431 or email amy.jones@ageukcheshire.org.uk Monthly Coach Trips depart from Middlewich, Winsford, Hartford and Northwich. For full details of our upcoming coach trips, please visit our website at www.ageukcheshire.org.uk Men in Sheds provides a focus on socialising, sharing skills and learning new ones. We have our Crewe shed, where we always welcome new members to join us for camaraderie and to learn new skills or reviving old ones. For more information on Men in Sheds, please contact Joe on 01270 748645. It is often said that time is the greatest gift that you can give. Sharing Time is a telephone and face-to-face befriending service which operates across Cheshire. The service is suitable for people aged 50+ who feel that they would like regular companionship through a weekly visit, and people who would like to volunteer their time to make a new friend. For more information, please contact us on 01606 884920 / 07590 861 403. For general information please contact us on 01606 881660 or visit our website.