Types of Help Available for Elderly
As we get older, there are many things that we are less able to do than once before. This isn’t anything to be afraid of. There are many organisations, people and mobilitiy aids out there that can help us to carry out day-to-day tasks as well as we could 10 years ago. Below are just a few of the types of help available for the elderly, to ensure you that you have nothing to worry about when getting older.
Care at Home
When you find everyday tasks are becoming that little more difficult such as cooking and washing yourself you can get someone to assist you. Many organisations such as Extra Care at Home provide this service. They will come to the home to help with a person’s care. They are paid workers who may be employed by the local authority or by, or on behalf of, the person who needs care. Visit www.extracareathome.org.uk to find out more.
Residential Homes
If you become lonely and day-to-day tasks are more of a struggle, you can move to residential care homes. This refers to long-term care given in a residential setting, the amount of care give can depend on the individual’s needs. Residential Homes ensure you have someone looking after you 24/7 and often organise activities for you to socialise with others in the residential home.
Adaptions to Your Home
Adaptions can be made to your home to help you get around easier and do day-to-day jobs easier than you would without them. Organisations such as Effectable specialise in the installation of aids and adaptations for the elderly and less able. They can make adaptions in the kitchen, with bathing and showering and help with accessibility including ramps, platforms and hoists.
Advice
Many organisations have been set up with the idea to help the elderly. A popular website is Age UK (http://www.ageuk.org.uk/ ) which has many articles that give advice on all aspects of ageing including the care journey and even advice on travel and lifestyle. There are also help lines that you can call that will give you local advice. DIAL is an independent network of local disability information and advice services, run by and for disabled people. They help over a quarter of a million disabled people every year.
Listening Books
Listening books are a UK charity that provide a selection of high quality audio books for those who find it difficult to read due to illness or disability. Audiobooks can provide welcome relief from pain, boredom and loneliness, lifting the elderly out of what are often challenging circumstances.
Government Help
There are a range of ways you can get government assistance. AgeUK have a benefits and entitlements section that helps you to understand the benefits that you can gain. According to them ‘Each year up to £5.5bn Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit goes unclaimed by older people’ – so ensure you don’t miss out!