AGE UK LANCASHIRE
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Mission Statement
Our vision is that 'everyone is living their best later life' and we work towards achieving this by providing services and solutions that are outstanding, responsive, and inclusive. We aim to: • Support older people living with long-term conditions to remain as independent as possible. • Connect older people to their communities to combat isolation and loneliness. • Ensure that older people are fully informed of their rights and entitlements.
About This Cause
During the 12 months to 31st March 2024, we: • Reached 74,910 people, including older people, carers, and family members across Lancashire. • Completed 753 individual advice appointments. • Improved the mobility and foot hygiene of 410 people. • Responded to 34,204 enquiries regarding health and care issues, claiming benefits, housing and local services. • Supported 9,143 people to live independently at home following a hospital stay. • Supported 329 individuals living with dementia. • Facilitated 30,000 hours of volunteer time to help older people. • Connected 206 isolated Veterans to local groups and activities. • Helped 1,022 people to manage their long-term illness and live independently. • Made 8,608 telephone calls to isolated and vulnerable people. • Provided 36,313 hours of support in people’s homes to help them remain independent and comfortable. • Reached 1,383 people with scams’ awareness talks and information. • Supported 360 people to become more digitally confident. • Provided 54,215 hours of respite and care through our Day Clubs. • Signed 2,427 people up to the Extra Care Register to ensure they get help during power cuts. • Supported older people to claim £2,884,143 in previously unclaimed benefits enabling them to improve their quality of life. This matters because every older person should be included and valued. The United Kingdom population is ageing, and a greater proportion of people than ever before is older. Despite this, older people are facing significant challenges, and too often are completely unsupported. 1.9 million older people are living in poverty, thousands will go days without speaking to another person and our health and social care system is broken. Whether it’s loneliness, poor health, poverty or not getting the care they need to live with dignity, older people are struggling, and society isn’t adjusting quickly enough to help, or to see the potential older people offer. Deryl’s Story At the age of 88, Deryl found himself struggling with loneliness and the challenges of living alone after the passing of his beloved wife, who battled dementia. His life took a further turn for the worse when he was diagnosed with dementia himself whilst he was still grieving for his wife. However, his story took a positive turn when he was introduced to Age UK Lancashire and our Support at Home service. Deryl and his wife shared a lifetime together, spanning over 66 years, filled with love, companionship, and a shared passion for gardening. As Deryl faced the realities of the impact of dementia, he found himself struggling to keep up with the gardening and with the upkeep of his home. Following the recommendation of his Social Worker, Deryl's daughter reached out to Age UK Lancashire, seeking support and guidance for her father's situation. This led to a meeting with Lucy, Age UK Lancashire’s Personal Independence Coordinator, who provided valuable information about available services and support networks. Lucy made Deryl and his daughter aware of various local groups and support options tailored to Deryl's needs. This included Lucy helping them with an application for Attendance Allowance and a Blue Badge, both successful applications for Deryl. The most significant support Deryl received was the introduction of Kath, a compassionate and dedicated Age UK Lancashire staff member from the Support at Home service. Kath, a Support at Home worker, not only assisted with household chores but also provided companionship and emotional support to Deryl. Her weekly visits brought joy and a sense of connection back into Deryl's life, alleviating his loneliness and fostering a newfound sense of independence. Age UK Lancashire became a beacon of support for Deryl and his family. Deryl said: “Kath really brightens up my week! She takes me to buy flowers, then takes me to the cemetery to visit my wife. She sometimes takes me to the barbers too. She is marvellous and a whizz when cleaning and taking care of my home but always makes time for a cup of tea and a good old chat with me, sometimes even a game of dominoes.” In addition, Kath has been really encouraging and supportive with Deryl, doing some gardening and assisting him with seeding plants and watering them. Donna Studholme, Director of Operations at Age UK Lancashire said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to support Deryl and his family through a challenging period. Our Support at Home Service has been supporting older people in Lancashire for over 15 years. The service itself is so much more than house chores and cleaning; whilst this is fundamental, our staff offer wellbeing support and go above and beyond to meet the needs of our clients.” With the support of Age UK Lancashire and the companionship provided by Kath, Deryl's quality of life improved significantly. He regained his confidence to live independently, allowing him to remain in his own home surrounded by memories of his beloved wife. The burden on his family lessened, knowing that Deryl was in capable and caring hands. Deryl's experience serves as a testament to the invaluable service and support provided by Age UK Lancashire and its staff. For individuals and families facing similar challenges, contacting Age UK Lancashire can make a profound difference in enhancing quality of life and promoting well-being in later years. Eileen’s Story Eileen, 82, from Garstang had no idea the difference one call to Age UK Lancashire would have on her life. Caring for her husband, Han, who has long term health conditions, Eileen found herself struggling with isolation and loneliness. Emerging from an extended period of lockdown, the weight of Eileen's situation was further intensified by the loss of three close friends and the relocation of another, leaving her social circle shattered. Recognising the need for support, Eileen turned to Age UK Lancashire, a familiar organisation where she had previously worked and volunteered. Having come across a poster advertising their services, Eileen took the initiative to make the call. Little did Eileen know that this one call would open so many opportunities to support her and Han. The dedicated Customer Service team promptly directed her to our 'Good Day Calls' service, for telephone befriending, staffed by trained professionals offering weekly wellbeing chats. Through these conversations, Susan Croft, a Good Day Calls’ Handler, identified further avenues of assistance for Eileen. This included a benefits’ check by our Information and Advice team and a referral to our Scams’ Awareness service in response to helping her address a debit card fraud issue. Susan said: “Eileen is such a lovely character, and I always look forward to our chats. It’s been fantastic to see the change in her wellbeing since contacting Age UK Lancashire. I now contact her every other week which I know is reassuring for her, knowing that we are there to help if needed, as most older people don’t know who to turn to for support. Through our conversations, I noticed the additional support that Eillen and Han could benefit from, and this has certainly been the case. I’m happy that we have been able to play a part in improving both of their lives.” Eileen noticed a significant improvement in her overall wellbeing because of the support she received. The alleviation of financial concerns, thanks to a successful Attendance Allowance claim, allowed her and Han to focus on their needs without the burden of worrying about bills and heating costs. The Good Day Calls’ Service provided Eileen with the opportunity to reconnect with her social self, fostering a meaningful connection with Susan. Eileen said: “The support I have received from Age UK Lancashire has been incredible and I can’t thank them enough. The support and kindness myself and my husband have received since initially contacting them has really eased our worries and increased my own confidence. It opened the door to so much support which I wasn’t even aware of. I know there will be so many older people that aren’t aware of the support from Age UK Lancashire and there are benefits out there. I do wish people would use their service, as it been fantastic, and I will keep championing Age UK Lancashire.”