Age Uk Tunbridge Wells Guide by Excell Media

Tunbridge Wells

Guide to services ............................................................................................................................... .....

Working with and for older people in Tunbridge Wells ............................................................................................................................... .....

Stockland Green Road, Speldhurst, Kent TN3 0TU Tel: 01892 863559 • Email: birchwood@birchwoodhouse.org.uk www.birchwoodhouse.org.uk

If you are looking for residential care for your loved one, we provide a home that enables them to live as fulfilling lives as possible. We offer both long and short respite care depending on your specifications. Our philosophy at Birchwood is simple: we provide a true home for the elderly and enable them to live as fulfilling lives as possible. Birchwood is a fabulous house in a stunning setting. A former manor house, it still has the feel of a relaxed country house, enhanced by the beautiful 9-acres of landscaped gardens, which can be enjoyed all year round. Visiting is unrestricted. We laugh and celebrate together, as a family. We don’t have clients, we have residents. Our communal rooms are all attractive and enjoy views onto the stunning gardens. Residents can choose to sit in one of our two spacious lounges or our beautiful Victorian conservatory, complete with a passion-flower canopy and red and white grape vines. Lunch, tea and supper are enjoyed in our sunny, inviting dining room, where residents can sit at small tables with their friends. All our food is home cooked. Our 31 bedrooms - including some double rooms for couples - are mostly south and west facing with views over the glorious High Kent Weald. Each bedroom is different and individually decorated, they all have en-suite toilets and hand basins.

“I feel my mother is very lucky to be in such a kind and caring environment.”

LOOKING FOR CARE?

The philosophy of Birchwood Care Services is simple: we treat our clients how we would like to be treated. Our aim is also simple: to enable our clients to enjoy living as fulfilling, independent lives as possible in their own homes, for as long as possible. We provide bespoke homecare packages structured to meet the individual needs of each of our clients to support their independent living, and we employ genuinely caring staff who go the extra mile and treat our clients with kindness and respect. We provide a comprehensive range of services for health and social care in the home to enable our clients to continue living independently for as long as possible. Our packages are tailored to provide personalised support that meets the individual needs of each of our clients, with person-centred care at the heart of each plan: we recruit genuinely caring staff who treat our clients with kindness, dignity and respect.

To arrange a no-obligation assessment for you or a relative:

Tel: 01892863710 • Email: careservices@birchwoodhouse.org.uk Birchwood House, Stockland Green Road, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TU www.birchwoodcareservices.org.uk

................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ...................

Our Services .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Information and Advice

....................................................................................................................................

Age UK Tunbridge Wells offer confidential information and advice on issues that concern older people. Often we can feel overwhelmed especially when we need help, and sometimes we can be fearful of sharing private information. Our advisors are trained and the service is confidential and it is always your choice as to how much information you share, and how much assistance you wish to accept. We can: • explain what benefits are available to older people • help check an individual’s eligibility • assist with applications • arrange a home visit where necessary We have access to the wide range of very informative factsheets produced by Age UK, as well as information on local services and opportunities.

....................................................................................................................................

Age UK Tunbridge Wells Wood Street Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2QS t. 01892 522591 e. info@ageuktw.org.uk www.ageuk.org.uk/tunbridgewells

We provide a wide range of services for older people in Tunbridge Wells.

....................................................................................................................................

• Advocacy Our advocacy service is designed to support and help older people to express their wishes. • Chiropody & Podiatry Our specialists can examine your feet and treat a wide range of foot problems. • Day care services A day care service providing older people with a comfortable, safe and stimulating environment in which to spend their day. • Dementia Day Care Service Our Dementia Day Care Service is a safe and enjoyable experience and offers an opportunity for carers to rest. • Exercise classes We offer a variety of exercise classes with trained instructors within our day care centre. • Independent Living Support Service Helping older people remain independent in their own homes by assisting with day-to-day living tasks. • Computer learning centre We run a computer learning centre where you can find out about computers and how to use them. • Information & advice Our confidential service offering information and advice on issues that concern older people. • Home bathing service Enabling older people to retain access to their home bathing and showering facilities. • LGBT Befriending Service We have volunteers with a diverse range of backgrounds and interests who are ready to befriend older people like themselves.

Independent Living Support Service

....................................................................................................................................

The Independent Living Support Service is designed to help older people remain independent in their own homes by assisting with day-to-day living tasks. These tasks might include: • • • •

Domestic cleaning Laundry, ironing and changing bedclothes Shopping Dealing with correspondence

We tailor the service to your preferences and needs, and will visit you first to discuss the requirements and agree with you the tasks you would like carried out. Our coordinator will then match you to a suitable support worker who will always carry identification, visit at pre-arranged times, and carry out the tasks we have agreed with you. The temptation is often to enter into private arrangements with cleaners and gardeners, but sometimes this doesn't work out. It's unlikely you have the resources to thoroughly check someone's credentials and often you have to take the person at face value or rely on recommendations. With the Independent Living Support service from Age UK Tunbridge Wells, this is a worry you needn't face. All our staff are carefully selected, screened and vetted. They are employed by us and, if you are unhappy with any aspect of the service you receive, you can call us directly and ask the service co-ordinator to deal with the issue.

We do not offer personal care services. However, if your needs are beyond what we can provide, we will be able to assist you in finding the right support through our information and advice service. For further information or to speak to one of our members of staff about the Independent Living Support Service, please contact us using the details below. t. 01892 522591 e. info@ageuktw.org.uk

How you can help Age UK Tunbridge Wells ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Volunteering

....................................................................................................................................

The services we provide rely heavily on our team of dedicated volunteers and we are always keen to hear from potential volunteers who want to get involved in the community. Opportunities range from practical hands-on-tasks such as helping with the provision of day care, to involvement in our one-on-one community services such as advocacy, and information and advice. Our Board of Trustees is comprised of local interested people with valuable skills and expertise, who wish to play a part in shaping direction and future of the charity. If you have an area of expertise that you feel would be beneficial to us, we would be very happy to hear from you.

Donation

....................................................................................................................................

We offer training and support in addition to reimbursing any expenses incurred. All our volunteers undergo an application process and are subject to an enhanced Criminal Record Bureau check to ensure the safety and integrity of our services.

We really appreciate your donations that help us continue the work we do with and for older people in Tunbridge Wells.

To register your interest in volunteering with Age UK Tunbridge Wells, please contact us using the details below. Find out about volunteering:

Age UK Tunbridge Wells Wood Street Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2QS

t. 01892 522591 e. info@ageuktw.org.uk

If you would like to support our work, please pop into our offices or post any cheques to:

Dementia Day Care Services ............................................................................................................................... .............................................................................................................................. ....................

Our Dementia Day Care Service has now relocated to our Day care centre in Wood Street Tunbridge Wells. Most of us want our loved ones to remain independent for as long as possible, but sometimes a diagnosis of dementia makes caring for them a little harder than it used to be. Our new Dementia Day Care service combines a safe, enjoyable experience for them with an opportunity for you, the carer, to recharge your batteries for a day.

At the Day Centre we can offer people with dementia:

............................................................................................................................... .....

• Day Care from 9.30pm – 4.00pm, or for a shorter period by arrangement • A secure, peaceful environment • Activities designed to engage and stimulate • Help with personal care if required • The opportunity to socialise with others within a small group • A two-course lunch and refreshments • Signposting to other services for carers

............................................................................................................................... .....

Is it suitable for you? Age UK Dementia Day Care service is suitable for those who are living with dementia but are able, with support, to enjoy spending time with others in a group setting. If you feel that the person you care for might benefit from Day Care, please contact us and we will arrange to meet both of you to make sure that this is the right option for you. We might suggest that you visit the Day Centre to have a look round. Once we’ve agreed on the day or days that Day Care will be needed, we can offer your loved one a four-week trial of the service. Call 01892 522591

Advocacy Service ............................................................................................................................... .............................................................................................................................. ....................

Sometimes in life we need support to do things we want to do. It can be difficult to stand alone, especially in situations where you need to challenge others. Our advocacy service is designed to support you to express your wishes. This might be a simple situation, perhaps to challenge a utility bill, or may be far more complex; perhaps you are being made unhappy by those around you. Sadly, older people are sometimes written off as being too old or a bit confused and are stopped from making their own decisions. Others around them start deciding what should happen in the older person’s ‘best interests’. On occasions this can even be family members, doctors and nurses, solicitors and social workers; it’s very hard to make a stand or to disagree, especially when those around are only trying to help.

However, we all have the right to make choices in life, no matter who we are and sometimes those choices may be unconventional or seem irrational to others. Equally it is not always possible to do everything we want or have everything our own way, but if we have expressed how we feel and we have sufficient understanding of a situation it is often then far easier to compromise or accept limitations. Please get in touch if you or someone you know needs an Advocate. The support of someone on your side can make all the difference. Our advocates are not here to judge you or tell you what you should do, they are here to listen to your wishes and ensure others do too. To speak confidentially to one of our advocates, please call and ask to speak to the advocacy service. Call 01892 522591

The cost of long-term care is a major consideration for many in the UK, and the ageing population suggests that the need for care in our futures is a likelihood for many of us. Currently one in five people over 70 now receive care at home and 400,000 currently live in residential care - and as the number of elderly people continues to rise, preparing for care costs is a vital part of Financial Planning. Residential care in the South East is now over £30,000 per year and one in ten people will spend £100,000+ during their lifetime as the average tenure in a home is around 4 years, so it’s clear to see how the costs can spiral. Property wealth means that most people will have assets exceeding the £23,250 threshold (the current Government level at which state funding ceases) and will be required to fund their own care fees. Getting the NHS to fund care outside of hospital is only available to those with acute primary health needs and is becoming difficult to obtain.

A V T

AV Trinity

Intelligent Independent Financial Advice

Many of us will face the challenge of how to fund the cost of care being provided whilst still at home or in a residential care home. This is where AVT can help. We have been advising clients for over 25 years and our qualified, independent advisers will guide you through the various options with clarity, sensitivity and discretion. Whether you are planning for yourself, a relative or acting as Attorney we will advise on the most suitable way to fund for long-term care fees. An initial meeting is at our cost and without obligation.

The Government have proposed (and scrapped) several proposals to “cap” the amount of care fees that anyone will be expected to pay, but this seems to have been firmly put onto the low-priority list! So, planning is essential, but do speak to a Chartered Financial Planner, who has knowledge and experience in this complex market. Effective planning can help avoid expensive mistakes, wasting money or indeed running out of money too soon. Louise Morris Managing Director – AV Trinity Ltd

Care Fees Planning

A V T

AV Trinity

Intelligent Independent Financial Advice

Louise Morris – Managing Director 77 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells TN4 8BS Tel 01892 612500 Freephone 0800 668 1898 www.avtrinity.com “Intelligent, independent financial advice”

BaptistChurch Church, TN10 3HZ TonbridgeTonbridge Baptist TN10 3HZ 01732 352824 // hello@tonbridgebaptist.church Tel: 01732 352824 Email: hello@tonbridgebaptist.church

Derwent Day Centre Seniors @

Beulah Lodge Rest Home in Tunbridge Wells Located in the heart of the town, Beulah Lodge occupies a large listed Victorian house providing residential care for the elderly. We offer: • Long term care and short stay respite • Excellent freshly prepared meals • 24/7 support from dedicated staff • 20 single en-suite bedrooms and 1 double • Varied activities • A family run, personalised service for up to 21 individuals To arrange a visit, please contact us on 01892 548447 or email

manager@beulahlodge.co.uk Beulah Lodge Rest Home 1 Beulah Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2NP

www.beulahlodge.co.uk

You gave me life and me kindness, Day Centre exists toshowed provide a friendly environment and in your providence watched over my spirit. people within our Job TN10 10:12 community and beyond.

Derwent for older At Tonbridge Baptist Church we offer a warm, friendly, fun and stimulating atmosphere for the “friends” that attend. Derwent Day Centre exists to provide

Our aim is to see lives of all ages being transformed. a friendly environment for older people within our TN10 community and

With various beyond. activities throughout the day including a lunchtime Atmeal, crafts, guest entertainment and regular Tonbridge Baptist Church we offer a warm, friendly,by fun and stimulating services provided health professionals, there’s plenty to atmosphere for the “friends” that keep you attend. occupied. Our aim is to see lives of all ages being transformed.

Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am - 3.15pm £15 per day If you, or one of your relatives, would like to come along, please email the Centre Manager, Maxine Hallett, to find out more or to arrange a visit. Could you join the team?

We are always looking to grow our team of volunteers and drivers that make the Day Centre possible. We would love the gift of your time!

More details from Maxine Hallett maxine.hallett@tonbridgebaptist.church

Equity Release is way of accessing tax-free cash that is tied up in your home, without having to move or make interest payments. There are different types of equity release, but the most common is called a Lifetime Mortgage. With this type of plan, you access some of the money tied up in your home now and a fixed rate of interest is attached to whatever you have borrowed. This interest accrues throughout your lifetime and repaid only when you have died or gone into long term care. It is important to only use a financial adviser who is a member of the Equity Release Council, meaning that the plans they recommend include 2 important guarantees.... • A right to remain living in the property that you have released equity from, either for life or until you need to go into long term care.

Uses for equity release include home improvements, holidays, children’s education/support, extra income, for care fees, and to stay in the family home for their lifetime or until long term residential care is required. Louise Morris, Managing Director - AV Trinity Ltd So, If you are over 55 a Lifetime Mortgage, which is the most used type of Equity Release, could be the answer.

In times of need, family matters

Intelligent Independent Financial Advice

Equity Release

We have been advising clients in Tunbridge Wells for over 25 years and are independent experts in Equity Release as well as all other areas of financial advice. If you are over 55 and thinking about releasing money from your property, we will advise with clarity, sensitivity and discretion. Equity Release is not right for everyone, but it may prove to be the correct decision for you and your family. An initial meeting is at our cost and without obligation.

Abbey Funeral Services Abbey Funeral Services

77 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells TN4 8BS Tel 01892 612500 Freephone 0800 668 1898 www.avtrinity.com

NICOLA JONES PODIATRY Registered Podiatrist

HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) Our clinic is located at The Tunbridge Wells Chiropratic and Shockwave Clinic on Vale Road. Both Nicola Jones and associate Podiatrists have trained in the United Kingdom and completed a three year Bachelor Degree with Honours. All podiatrists are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists.

Abbey Funeral Services • Nail Problems

Our award winning family service from mother and daughter Chris and Jo ABBEY funeral services

Let our family, care for your family

uneral Services

Your final farewell should respect your loved one’s wishes and comfort those they leave uneral Services uneral Services Services behind. Our family has provided funeral services to families and friends in the Tonbridge uneral

uneral Services area, for 30 years, we know this is a time when a caring family can make all the difference. uneral Services

Abbey Funeral

Our promise to you:uneral Services uneral Services We understand your wishes and we’re here to help uneral BEY Services Our emergency service is 24/7 and our phone is always services uneral BEY Services answered personally

services

AV Trinity

• No Negative Equity - which ensures that the amount needed to repay the equity release plan on death or entry into long term care can never exceed the value of the property itself.

uneral Services uneral Services

BEY services BEY services BEY services BEY

A V T

Abbey Funeral Services is independently owned by Chris, Jim and Jo Parker.

We always provide itemised estimates We operate our own mortuary and private chapel of rest We’re proud members of SAIF and BIFD Your family, not profit, is our main priority

01732 360328 www.abbeyfs.co.uk

Talk to us about funeral plans from Golden Charter

For Appointments please telephone:

ABBEY

funeral services Your local family Funeral Directors

Concept 1 - A5 Portrait A-W.indd 1

• Corns and Calluses • Verrucas • Heel and Foot Pain • Ingrown Toenail Surgery Services • Diabetic Assessments and Treatment • Biomechanical Assessment and Musculoskeletal therapy • Nail surgery Nail surgery

10/27/17 09:06

01892 322141

33 Vale Road, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1BS Email: info@nicolajonespodiatry.com

ROCKDALE HOUSING ASSOCIATION An independent supported living community and residential care home for older people in Sevenoaks, Kent.

Rockdale is home to over 200 residents living in our leasehold, rented and residential care home accommodation. All of our apartments are self-contained and enjoy an award-winning garden. We are within an easy walk of Sevenoaks town, where you will find shops, a library, cafes, restaurants, swimming pool, cinema, theatre, doctors, chemist, opticians and the beautiful Knole Park, National Trust. We are proud to offer: • Social activities • 24/7 emergency support • Lunch club

Please visit our website at www.rockdale.org.uk for more information and pictures of the range of accommodation we offer. Rockdale Housing Association is a registered social landlord and a not for profit charitable organisation. We have been supporting older people in Sevenoaks since 1953. Rockdale Housing Association Limited is registered with Homes and Community Agency (LH0869); and is a Registered Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (13507R).

A common sense approach that is surprisingly uncommon. When you need legal advice the last thing you want is to feel worried, so we’re here to guide and support you at every step. It is why families and businesses have relied on us for generations. Services for individuals: • • • • • • • • • •

Elderly & Vulnerable clients Wills, Trusts & Tax Planning Lasting Power of Attorney Court of Protection Probate Family Dispute Resolution Employment Residential Conveyancing Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury

www.ts-p.co.uk @pragmaticlawyer T 01892 510000

............................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ................... .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Contact Our Services .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

• Advocacy • Chiropody & Podiatry • Day Care Services • Dementia Day Care Service • Exercise Classes • Independent Living Support Service • Computer Learning Centre • Information & Advice • Home Bathing Service • LGBT Befriending Service

To find out more about any of our services please contact us on: Age UK Tunbridge Wells Wood Street Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2QS t. 01892 522591 e. info@ageuktw.org.uk www.ageuk.org.uk/tunbridgewells Chief Officer: Sandra Springett

This brochure was produced by Excell Media • The Barn at Westwinds, Bank Lane, Warton, Preston PR4 1AT Telephone: 08450 707040 • www.excell-media.co.uk • admin@excell-media.co.uk We are very grateful to the businesses whose advertisements appear in this publication. As a mark of our gratitude we would like to draw the attention of the readers to their details and announcements. We are required to make it clear however that neither Excell Media or Age UK Tunbridge Wells can accept no responsibility for any services or workmanship that they may undertake.

Although we would like to thank all of the sponsors within this folder for their support, neither Age UK Tunbridge Wells or Excell Media Ltd can recommend or endorse any services or products that they may supply.

Age UK Tunbridge Wells registered charity number 7956458. Company Registration Number 6825798.