For anyone concerned about keeping themselves and their home warm this winter, Careline Community Service and Care & Repair can help.

Careline Community Service and Care & Repair, part of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, are advising local residents to prepare their heating systems now, for the coming winter. Small measures, such as bleeding radiators or installing door brushes can help improve energy efficiency in the home. Careline Community Service offer free home assessments to see if improvements like this can be made. And if major repairs, or a whole new heating or hot water system, are needed, Care & Repair offer a reliable and friendly service.

A reliable and efficient heating system can cut fuel bills. In the UK one-in-ten pensioners is in fuel poverty, this means they cannot afford to heat their homes. Living in a cold environment can affect people’s health, especially if they are already vulnerable due to your age, illness or disability. It’s thought that around 10% of excess winter deaths are caused by fuel poverty. So it’s important to check heating systems now, before the colder weather begins, and make sure they’re as reliable and cost-efficient as possible.

For lower level works contact Careline Community Service on 01553 760671 to arrange a free comprehensive home assessment.

For substantial repairs or a new heating system contact Care and Repair on 01553 616677.

They offer simple and effective solutions, the cost of which may be covered by a grant (subject to meeting eligibility criteria).

For more information please visit www.careline-cs.org.uk and www.careandrepair-wn.org

Careline Community Service will be delivering a talk at Gaywood Library on Thursday 30th June from 1-2pm. There will be samples of equipment on display and the team will be available to answer any questions or queries you may have regarding the service.

No booking is necessary, just come along on Thursday.

In support of Dementia Awareness Week, 15 – 21^st May, Careline Community Service, part of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, are offering free home assessments to local residents. The aim of the service is to help people who may be living with memory loss, dementia, or are elderly and less mobile, to identify concerns in their property which may be affecting their day-to-day life. The assessor, trained by the Disabled Living Foundation, will inspect the home to see whether measures could be introduced that could help with confusion or memory loss, reduce the possibility of slips, trips and falls and generally make it easier for people to live safely and independently in their own homes. The assessors will also be able to advise whether grant funding is available for any works required.

Measures that could be considered include signage or colour differentiation for those who suffer with memory loss and are visually impaired, installation of a Careline personal alarm, improved lighting arrangements, smoke detectors and easy-to-use taps along with recommendations for other adaptations that may reduce any potential risk to the resident.

Senior Visiting Officer Johnny Stromberg, who is a Dementia Care Coach said: “Here at Careline Community Service we are passionate about helping older and vulnerable people and we are working constantly to improve the lives of people with dementia. With one in three people over the age of 65 developing dementia, and an increasingly ageing population in Norfolk, the problem is only going to get worse.”

Supported by the Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia Awareness Week is a national initiative aimed at encouraging people who are worried about dementia to confront their worries by addressing dementia directly and seeking support and further information.

If you are interested in having a free home assessment please contact Careline Community Service on 01553 760671. For more information about dementia please visit www.alzheimers.org.uk

Careline Community Service – Supporting you to live safely and independently in your own home.

Help older and vulnerable people in Norfolk stay warm and safe this winter

Simply keeping warm in the colder weather can be a challenge for many vulnerable and elderly people due to poverty and inadequate housing which inevitably leads to health issues. ‘Heat Vs Eat’ is a particular reality for many elderly people. The Surviving Winter Appeal in Norfolk is led by the Norfolk Community Foundation with its delivery partner, Age UK Norfolk to support the elderly and vulnerable during the winter months.

Launched with the idea that those who don’t need their fuel allowance might donate all or part of it to the appeal, the campaign has grown significantly and the wider general public have been inspired to contribute. The money raised is used to support those who need help with their energy bills and heating improvements.

“A high proportion of individuals seek help to combine a grant from the fund with their Winter Fuel payment to meet the cost of heating oil, gas and electricity. We also receive requests for support for new heaters and warm clothing so the money raised through the appeal is essential in helping to keep some of Norfolk’s most vulnerable people safe over the cold months.” – Age UK Norfolk.

As a result of the appeal, Age UK Norfolk also provide signposting to other organisations for long term help with budgeting, debt advice or checking all benefits are being received.

The 2015-16 appeal will include support to essential services delivered by local community groups working with the vulnerable and isolated people of all ages through small grants to the likes of Meals on Wheels, lunch clubs and community transport projects.

For ideas on how people can stay safe and warm this winter and how you can help people in your community visit the Age UK website here

To apply for a Surviving Winter grant, please contact Age UK Norfolk on 0300 500 1217.

Older, disabled or vulnerable residents of West Norfolk are being encouraged to book an appointment for a free home assessment from Careline Community Service. The assessments, which are carried out by a team of qualified staff, will help residents, who may be living with a disability or dementia, or who are simply older and less mobile, to identify concerns in their property which may be affecting their day-to-day life.

The assessor, trained by the Disabled Living Foundation, will inspect the home to see whether measures could be introduced that would reduce the possibility of slips, trips and falls and generally make it easier for people to live safely and independently in their own homes.

Measures that could be considered include installation of a Careline personal alarm, improved lighting arrangements, heating checks, draught proofing, smoke detectors and easy-to-use taps along with recommendations for other adaptations that may reduce any potential risk to the resident. The assessors will also be able to advise whether any grant funding is available for any works required.

Cllr Adrian Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community, said: “As people get older, it gets harder for them to do all the things they used to and many don’t like to ask for help. Simple measures can make a real difference and help people keep their independence. These home assessments are a really easy way for people to identify and implement those small changes in their homes that will help keep them safe and warm. “I would urge anyone who has a friend or family member who could benefit from such an assessment to get in touch to arrange an appointment.”

To book an appointment call the Careline Community Team on 01553 760671 or click here for further information.

Free Home Assessments Available

Careline Community Service has received winter pressures funding to support older people living in West Norfolk to stay safe, warm and well in their homes this winter.

The Winter Pressures Initiative is aimed at predominantly reducing falls in and around the home, but also aims to reduce cold related deaths by considering housing conditions and accessing support and funding where possible.

The funding will support a 1.5 hour home assessment which will incorporate:

• Falls prevention
• Safety and security
• Lighting
• Warm and Well
• Community alarm and assistive technology
• General handypersons works and property maintenance
• Fuel poverty
• Housing options and home choice information if appropriate
• Housing adaptation referrals

The funding covers the first hour of any works identified from the home assessment plus grab rails, handrails and bannisters which will be provided free of charge. Any additional works will be subsidised by the local authority at a rate of either £10 of £20 per hour plus VAT if applicable.

We aim to reach 200 clients from now until the funding runs out on 31^st March 2015.

The service is open to clients over the age of 60 or with a registered disability. The client must either feel at risk of falling or may have had a fall in the past.

For more information or to book a Free Home Assessment call the Careline office on 01553 760671.

The Age UK Surviving Winter Appeal

Helping older people in Norfolk stay warm and safe this winter

For the past 3 years, we have worked with the Norfolk Community Foundation over the autumn and winter months to administer the Surviving Winter Appeal. We are doing so again this year.

The idea is that those who receive, but do not depend upon, the Government Winter Fuel Payment might prefer to give some or all of it to someone who needs it more than they do. Even if you don’t receive a Winter Fuel Payment you can still make a donation of any size.

Over the 3 years since the appeal began, 970 grants totalling £156,499 have been given to support older people who are in need of help with their energy bills or their domestic heating systems.

Helping older people living in fuel poverty

Heat or eat is a reality for many older people. Simply keeping warm in the colder weather can be a challenge for many vulnerable older people due to poverty and inadequate housing, leading to preventable health issues. Many older people are dreading the cold weather and will have to choose between heating their home and eating a meal.

• Each winter one older person dies every 7 minutes from the cold weather
• Over a third of older people say they live mainly in one room to save money
• 1.7 million older people can’t afford to heat their homes
• In winter 2011 to 2012, there were over 300 winter deaths among people over 85 years of age living in Norfolk.

Key messages to keep warm and protect your health are:

• Keep your living room temperature at 70⁰F (21⁰C)
• Keep your bedroom at 65⁰F (18⁰C)
• Keep your bedroom window closed at night when the weather is cold
• Make sure you wrap up well when going out in the cold.

To apply for a Surviving Winter grant, please contact Age UK Norfolk on 0300 500 1217.

Dementia Toolkit

Carewatch have put together a Dementia Toolkit that can help people with Dementia to cope with the disease. The toolkit includes: includes:

• Some simple facts about dementia
• Tips to help you care for your loved one
• Memory prompts that you can cut-out and use at home
• Details of organisations where you can find additional help.

For further information visit http://carewatch.co.uk/blog/2014/february/11/infographic-dementia-toolkit/

Norfolk ‘leading the way’ to raise dementia care and awareness

Dozens of dignitaries gathered for the launch of a bid to make Norfolk the first dementia friendly county in the country and to join the growing Dementia Friends movement. Around 70 people from local charities, businesses, councils and the emergency services.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Dementia Alliance, with the help of charities such as The Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK Norfolk and Age UK Norwich, is setting up a network of 16 dementia hubs in Norfolk to ensure that everyone is within 15 miles of a support group or dementia cafe.

Norman Lamb, health minister and North Norfolk MP, said he was “proud” that the county was pioneering initiatives to meet the challenges of dementia.

“Our communities are unnecessarily challenging for people with dementia and it is so easy to change them and make communities better. If all public, private and third sector organisations work collaboratively and break down barriers, we have the chance to lead the way in Norfolk in making our whole rural community dementia friendly. The vision for [dementia] hubs so that we are never too far away from advice and support is fantastic,” he said.

Willie Cruickshank, of The Dementia Alliance, added there were a lot of exciting developments in dementia and it was important for people to think differently about dementia and what it must be like for someone with the condition.

Joyce Hopwood, chairman of Norwich Older Peoples Forum, added: “Let’s make Norfolk a beacon of kindness, understanding and helpfulness to those amongst us with dementia and what should be their highly valued carers. Let’s make this a facet of Norfolk which we can be rightly proud of.”

The Dementia Friends session was run by Sky Sports presenter Charlie Webster, who became a Dementia Champion, following her grandmother’s battle with dementia.

Dementia Friends campaign launched

Public Health England and a leading dementia charity have joined forces in a major new campaign to encourage people to play their part in tackling one of the biggest health issues facing the country. Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends initiative aims to show it will take a whole society response to enable people with the condition to live well. It is estimated that 61,281 people in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, and Suffolk are living with dementia – the initiative will show everyone the small things that they can do to make a difference.

Some of England’s best-loved performers, including Sir Terry Pratchett, Lily Allen, Ray Winstone, Ruth Jones, Michael Vaughan, Ruth Langsford & Eamonn Holmes, Leighton Baines, Meera Syal, Simon Pegg, Paul O’Grady, Fiona Phillips, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, will perform the iconic Beatles track ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ in a new ad, which will be shown on national TV.

The advert will encourage viewers to become a Dementia Friend – which simply means learning a few useful tips to help make life better for those living with dementia. To become a Friend, individuals first watch a short online film – which explains what dementia is, how it affects individuals and what people can do to help those living with the disease. Once they’ve watched the film, they then enter their details in order to receive a Dementia Friends badge (to help spread the word), and ‘Little Book Of Friendship’, which includes further ideas and tips on how to be a friend to someone with dementia. Alternatively, they can attend a face-to-face awareness session in their area.

Sir Paul McCartney has also been announced as an ambassador for Dementia Friends, to highlight that people with dementia can still live fulfilling and rewarding lives, with a little help from their friends.

Dr Gina Radford, Anglia and Essex Public Health England Centre Director, said: “Becoming a Dementia Friend involves finding out more about what dementia is, and the small things that they can do to make a big difference to a person living with the condition. People can live well with dementia and we can each help by having some awareness of how we can support people who have dementia that bit better.

The statistics speak for themselves, 61,281 people are living with dementia across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk and we can all do something to support them by signing up to become a Dementia Friend.”

The initiative forms part of the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia, and builds on commitments declared at the 2013 G8 Dementia Summit, which included a call to improve the quality of life for people living with the condition.