DDF November Newsletter 2016

1 N E W S L E T T E R I S S U E N O V E M B E R

3 6

2 0 1 6

Greetings from Gloria The Management Committee campaigns for appropriate action on an ongoing basis for its members, we have recently submitted our comments for the Consultation on the Future of the Stephenson Court, Kilsby Day Services.

Gloria, Chairman, DDF

If you would like this newsletter via email, contact eparry@ daventrydc.gov.uk.

If you require it in an alternate format, phone 01327 302523. For type talk, prefix with 18001.

Or email equalities@ daventrydc.gov.uk.

We are grateful for the continued support of Daventry District

Dear Members, Time seems to pass so quickly and autumn is now here with lovely coloured leaves so remember the risk of slipping on them. Still at least we have had spells of good weather which should hopefully build us up for winter. Extensive work and commitment has been undertaken

by Daventry District Council in respect of the Ageing Well Consultation across Daventry District and thanks go to Emma Parry and Viv Wardle for all the efforts put in in composing the draft strategy and evaluating feedback.

Roz Tidman and her team continue to strive to address loneliness and isolation across the district and continual feedback is given to the partners of the Health and Wellbeing Board which I attend.

With this in mind Emma and Roz Tidman are proactively forging links with the Good Neighbour Scheme initiated by Northamptonshire Acre in order to identify key issues across the District and enable a partnership approach to addressing them. Personally I feel that, with a continually ageing population, the success of all projects will depend

on collaborative interagency working and commitment at all levels in and between all relevant statutory and voluntary organisations. Funding shortfall is an ever increasing problem but the commitment is apparent. We all want to live independently in our own homes as long as possible but the loneliness and isolation of the elderly and carers is often a hidden problem and those that need help advice and support need to have access to services often need extra support in being enabled to do so. It is crucial that we support lonely isolated residents at community level through the help of Parish Councils, relatives, neighbours and agencies at ground level. There will be many Remembrance Services across Daventry District, DDF committee members are planning to attend the Daventry march and place a wreath at the War Memorial. Yes we over fifties are becoming a force to be reckoned with as our membership grows and the more we as individuals engage and work with relevant agencies the extended success of the greater good for all can be achieved. Next year our priorities must include working across the District and securing sufficient funding to allow this to happen. Emma is currently linking in with First for Wellbeing and the Falls Prevention Team, Northamptonshire with the possible aim of joint events within Daventry District.

I look forward to seeing you at the December AGM and Tea Dance on Wednesday 7th December.

Kindest Regards, Gloria

For all the latest news from DDF please visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/ddf

2

DAYS OUT Dec 2016 Would you like to visit a variety of places but find it hard to gain transport? DACT Days Out can provide this for you and take you to places from Winchester Christmas Market to Blooms Garden Centre, Dunchurch, there are also chances to have a pub lunch at The Wheatsheaf in Crick and go to Solihull for shopping.

To register FREE for the DACT ‘Days-Out’ Scheme, simply telephone the number below stating you wish to register as a new member. You will be asked for your full name, address and date of birth. If you have any kind of mobility difficulties which you think we should be advised of, please notify us. (e.g. you perhaps need to bring a tri-walker on a trip) Departure is from Daventry Bus Station unless otherwise advised, and return time is the anticipated time of departure from the venue visited unless otherwise stated.

For costing information and bookings call DACT on 01327 701665, email: info@dact.uk.com or visit their website: www.dact.btck.co.uk

Care & Repair helping deliver life changing home adaptations Mr Tighe struggled to get in and out of his bath and getting up and down stairs was a nightmare due to suffering with osteoarthritis in his spine. Things got so bad for Mr Tighe as he even struggled to get in and out of his home due to a large step outside his front porch.

Mr Tighe said his life had been transformed thanks to Care & Repair who helped him secure a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to pay for a new stair lift, walk in shower room and a level access ramp to help him get in and out of the property safely and with ease.

Mr Tighe, a retired Cummins employee took early retirement due to his mobility issues. Once he made contact with Care & Repair his dedicated caseworker arranged for an occupational health therapist to visit him and assess his needs and helped him to complete and submit his grant application.

Mr Tighe’s caseworker Amy then organised for

trusted contractors to make appointments with Mr Tighe to come out and quote for the work and once work started Amy made sure all work ran smoothly and to Mr Tighe’s satisfaction.

Mr Tighe went onto say: ‘The process was easy – my caseworker Amy explained everything to me at each and every stage of the process and works’.

‘The contractors who came out were just great and nothing was too much trouble. I would never have been able to afford to do the work myself so Care & Repair helped me a great deal. They’ve totally changed my life and everything is just so much easier now.’

‘What’s more, Care & Repair took all the worry, hassle and hard work out of organising the works and I would recommend them to anyone that’s interested in getting a grant and a home adaptation.’

For more information on Care & Repair and the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) please go to: www.daventrydc.gov.uk/CareandRepair or by phoning: 01327 871100

For all the latest news from DDF please visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/ddf

3

Age UK Lifebook

Many of you will be aware of this, some will have one already, the Age UK Lifebook is free and probably one of the best kept secrets at Age UK! Lifebook was developed after a growing number of people contacted our advice line while trying to sort out their loved one’s affairs following a life-changing event or bereavement. From trying to locate the home insurance provider to tracking down a Funeral Plan policy, without knowing who to contact, tracking down the information needed was proving difficult, adding to the stress of an already emotional time.

When you have completed the book either give it to your next of kin or tell them where it is – why complete the book if your loved ones don’t know about it! Remember to keep the book updated, you can always add extra pages or order another book if you need to.

If something happens to you; you have a prolonged stay in hospital, start losing your memory, or even if the worst happens, you can be reassured your next of kin will know where your important information is.

For your free Lifebook there will be leaflets available at all future DDF Forums, the leaflets can be completed and sent off to the freepost address.

The Lifebook is a simple way you can record the details of your important documents and information about you including; Where your Will is, who you bank with, who proIf you have any questions or would like to order a book vides your gas/electricity, your doctor’s details, who your close friends are, which clubs/societies you belong to, your over the telephone please contact James Gammans at home/car/pet insurance details, and even your final wishes! Age UK Northamptonshire on 01604 631030.

Good Neighbour Schemes - vote now in the Aviva Community Fund Daventry District Council is working with Northamptonshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) to develop Good Neighbour Schemes in villages across the district.

Northamptonshire ACRE has applied for funding from Aviva’s Community Fund to help pay for the scheme but need public support to help them secure the money.

People are being encouraged to vote for the project at https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/voting/project/view/163465 before the 18 November deadline to it the best chance of securing the money.

The scheme will see Good Neighbour coordinators established in villages across the district, who will be on hand to provide day-to-day support for older residents who may need help on an occasional or regular basis. If secured, the funding will help pay for a laptop and mobile phone for the coordinator as well as covering training and other expenses. It could also be used to help villages wishing to set up community car schemes.

The idea of the Good Neighbour Scheme came out of DDC’s Ageing Well Consultation, which gathered the views of older people living across the district in order to identify key issues. People are being encouraged to show their support for a new scheme to support elderly, vulnerable and isolated people in our communities.

You’ll need to quickly register your email before voting so they can check you’re over 18 and keep you updated on who the winners are. Thanks for your support – everybody needs good neighbours!

For further information please contact Emma Parry at Daventry District Council on 01327 871100 or by email eparry@daventrydc.gov.uk

For all the latest news from DDF please visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/ddf

4

Book an appointment today for a wellbeing assessment!

We can help with weight management, smoking, emotional wellbeing, alcohol, financial support, housing support, social inclusion along with employment and adult learning.

Drop in session Monday’s 9.30 – 12.30 at Daventry Library or for further information to see a Wellbeing Co-ordinator in your area call 0300 126 5000 (phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) or email info@firstforwellbeing.co.uk

The Comfort and Joy Campaign is being run by the Community Safety Partnership and The Daventry & District Forum

Dates For Your Diary!

Future Public Forum Events 2016/17 at Daventry Leisure Centre 2-4pm: Wednesday 7th December 2016 Wednesday 22nd March 2017

Thank you for your continued support

The Comfort and Joy Campaign aims to provide men, women and children in refuge this Christmas with a few essentials to help them get by and some luxuries to help make their Christmas a happy one. Many of those who flee domestic abuse do so quickly and may have no personal possessions with them at all, so we are asking for donations of items that could fill a parcel to help people staying in refuges across Northamptonshire.

Donations are welcome for women's, men's and children's parcels, items can be anything from soap, body wash, shampoo, sanitary products, scarf and gloves, nappies, baby wipes, books, toys to advent calendars, mince pies and Christmas puddings.

Drop off points- Daventry District Council Offices, Daventry Police Station FAO - Lindsay Checkley or Emma Parry, for further information please call DDC on 01327 871100 Deadline for donations is the 15th December

For information on free local services please visit our website

Each year a third of people over the age of 65 have a fall. Many of them were in good health and regularly went out and about. Although sometimes a fall may be an indication that something is wrong, often it's treatable. Falls are not an inevitable part of growing older and admitting to falling will not mean any loss of independence. Understanding the risks and putting simple measures in place can help reduce the risk of having a fall. This includes making changes to the home and doing exercises to improve both strength and balance.

Northamptonshire County Council has provided training to exercise professionals to deliver exercise classes across the county that help to reduce the risk of falls. These will start at the beginning of next year keep a look on the webpages for further information, locations and days of classes. For further information on the ‘Standing up for ourselves Strategic framework’ the five year plan for Northamptonshire please see www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/falls if you would like to comment on this information please email: nsellars@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Falls Prevention

For all the latest news from DDF please visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/ddf