Sarah Jacobs, Author at Age Concern Hampshire

Sponsor essential provisions an older person this Winter

15% PER CENT OF PEOPLE AGED 65 AND OVER SAY THEY WILL NOT USE THEIR HEATING AT ALL IN THE COMING MONTHS IN ORDER TO SAVE MONEY, A YOUGOV POLL OF 3,415 ADULTS CARRIED OUT ON BEHALF OF INDEPENDENT AGE FOUND.

As we know, the latest forecasts for energy bills are unprecedented and will be unaffordable for millions, including many pensioners who depend on their State Pension to make ends meet.

As we age it becomes harder to regulate our body temperature and we become more vulnerable to the effects of the cold. As a result we fear that because fuel prices will be so high, some older people will skip meals and switch off their heating to try to save money, putting their health at serious risk.

According to recent research from the Centre for Social Investigation there is a gap in the UK where a substantial number of older people living in food insecurity which is likely to become more severe with the impact of the rising cost of living crisis. Similarly, Pension Policy Institute has reported that the cost of living is increasing more quickly for pensioners than their income, with rises in housing and energy significantly impacting this group meaning those living alone and in poverty are unable to afford essentials such as food and are skipping meals.

We NEED you to help us support vulnerable older people through what is predicted to be one of the harshest winters...

We are urgently looking to offer Winter Warmer Clubs to support Older People from our Care and Wellbeing Centres and other venues located across the county. The Winter Warmer Club sessions will run on a daily basis with a 2 course nutritious lunch every day from 10.00 until 3.00.

Winter Warmer Clubs will provide vulnerable older people across Hampshire with an opportunity to get out of the house, meet friends and make new ones in a warm, friendly setting and be provided with a healthy 2 course hot meal. The Winter Warmer Clubs will help attendees deal with the cost of living crisis by providing a warm environment and access to a selection of interesting activities to keep beneficiaries stimulated and mobile this winter. The Clubs will be run by experienced staff with the support of a group of volunteers who wish to give something back and support their local community.

Sponsor an older person to stay warm and well this winter…
£150 per month will help provide access for an older person to attend a Winter Warmer Club once a week for 2 weeks

In order to launch the Winter Warmer Clubs as soon as possible we are urgently looking for sponsorship from our supporters. Whether your business can sponsor one session for one person over the winter or perhaps all the clients coming to one Winter Warmer Club venue, you will be making a tangible difference to older people in your local community. To raise the profile of your organisation we will publicise the brand on both our website and in the Winter Warmer venues.

Please get in touch to find out more at email enquiries@ageconcernhampshire.org.uk

Together we can make a difference to our local communities

The Impact of the ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ on elderly people.

The rising ‘cost of living crisis’ is having a detrimental impact on everyone from affording to cover rising bills to astronomical prices of essentials such as food. Among the groups hardest hit by the crisis are older people / pensioners, who are often on a fixed income and tend to spend more on home energy bills than other households.

It’s true to say that many over-65s are reliant on their pensions that do not rise in line with inflation and price increases. In April the state pension went up by 3.1%. The average energy bill of just under £2,000 is 20% of the £9,627 a year paid through the new state pension. As such, a large proportion of older people are being hit particularly badly with the effects of the cost of living crisis.

The Pension Policy Institute reports that the cost of living is increasing more quickly for pensioners than their income, with rises in housing and energy significantly impacting this group.

The data from the Pension Policy Institute, reveals that pensioners spend a growing portion of their income on essentials such as housing, bills and food as they become older and have less to cover transport or leisure activities, leaving many isolated and lonely.

"It is asking the impossible to expect people on low, fixed incomes, including the UK’s more than 11 million pensioners, to shoulder such [price] increases. A high proportion of the UK’s 66 and over population are dependent on the state pension alone.”

Becky O’Connor

The Head of Pensions and Savings at the website interactive investor

The impact of the crisis is already evident as older people are become more and more reliant on local emergency provisions and services such as food banks seen here in the Sky News report:

We are here to support you...

Ensuring you are receiving everything you are entitled to is very important, many people aren’t aware of the money they should be receiving. Our Team will be able to discuss with you the different options available and guide you through any necessary application processes. We can provide support in whatever form suits you best: we can chat to you over the phone, send you information in the post or meet you in person.

Benefit Checks

These checks explore whether there are any benefits you could be claiming currently. Our Information Team can take you through this process and talk through the outcome. Dealing with benefits and claims can be confusing, we will ensure you know the next steps if there are unclaimed benefits you could be accessing.

Attendance Allowance

If you’re over State Pension age (currently 66 years old for men and women) and you need help with your personal care because of a physical or mental illness or disability, you may be able to claim Attendance Allowance. There is an application process which must be worked through for this. Our Information Team volunteers will be able to go through the whole application with you, aiming to show your situation as clearly as possible.

Email

info@ageconcernhampshire.org.uk

Opening hours

Monday to Friday from 09:00 am to 16:00 pm.

Call our Freephone line on...

0800 328 7154

Please contact the Hampshire County Council Coronavirus Support on the Helpline number (0333 370 4000) if your query is urgent outside of our opening hours.

We are delighted to have been awarded funding to help Tackle Loneliness with Transport

“We are delighted to be partners on this exciting programme. The community transport will enable us to extend the reach of our services and help improve the quality of life for older people in Hampshire.”
Helen Callen (CEO)

We are working with Action Hampshire, Good Neighbours Network and MHA to provide older people in Hampshire with access to new, greener community transport to help them stay connected to the people and activities they love.

As a coalition of organisations we have been successful in winning a government grant of £566,000 from the Department of Transport to trial new innovative approaches to tackling loneliness through transport across Hampshire.

As a collective we will be investing in electric transportation and new programmes of activity designed to help reduce or prevent loneliness. The programme will be evaluated by local academic partners at the University of Winchester and overseen by Action Hampshire.

The bid is also supported by Hampshire County Council and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System. This will include training provided by the national Campaign to End Loneliness.

The Communities Tackling Loneliness with Transport in Hampshire scheme will include three pilots, aimed at reducing loneliness across rural and urban populations in the county. The first is an e-bicycle based shopping delivery service, the second an accessible community transport pilot and the third will pilot the use of leased electric cars.

Long term loneliness can have a major impact on physical, mental and emotional health. As well as the impact it has on an individual, loneliness has broader implications for communities and society. People who are lonely are more likely to visit the GP more often, have longer stays in hospital and are more likely to enter residential care and suffer from long term health issues such as diabetes, depression and stress.

Leah Campbell CEO of Action Hampshire, said: “This is great news for Hampshire’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector. We know that supporting people’s relationships by keeping them connected and delivering local affordable transport options based in their communities, have a huge impact on preventing loneliness and maintaining independence in later life.

As communities, we can take action to help remove some of the obstacles people may face in creating create and sustaining connections. As a sector, VCSE organisations often offer a more personalised response: rather than someone simply being a ‘service user’, they are more likely to be seen holistically – and we hope these pilots will help demonstrate that.”

Dr Debra Gray, Reader in Social Psychology and Director of the Volunteering Research & Innovation Hub at the University of Winchester said: “This investment will mean we can learn more about the impact community transport schemes, including those run by volunteers, can have on loneliness, particularly among those older residents who may also be impacted by low income and living in remote areas. We will also be sharing learning more widely so that other community groups can look at how they can also make an impact on loneliness through their work.”

Helen Callen, CEO of Age Concern Hampshire said: “We are delighted to be partners on this exciting programme. The community transport will enable us to extend the reach of our services and help improve the quality of life for older people in Hampshire.”

The Reverend Canon Nick Ralph Executive Director of Council for Social Responsibility which hosts the Good Neighbours Network, said: “The work of our network involves more than 4000 volunteers working to help keep people independent in their own homes. Our new e-bike delivery service will connect older residents with new, younger volunteers in line with our ethos: people looking after people in their own communities.”

Jonathan Mace, Director of Communities at MHA, said: “This project gives us an opportunity to work innovatively, using environmentally friendly vehicles to transport older people to social activities and help reduce the risk of loneliness.”

Ros Hartley, Director of Partnerships at Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICS, said: “This programme is a great example of multiple partners working together on a shared priority and we look forward to seeing the learning shared across our health and social care system – enabling us to build resilient communities for the future.”

Impact Report 2021

Age Concern Hampshire (ACH) has been supporting older people and their carers throughout the COVID pandemic and thereafter.

This report sets out our impact on local people in 2021 and reflects the hardwork of our entire team. Over the course of the pandemic, our teams have worked tirelessly to support older people and their carers as well as the NHS, social care services and the wider voluntary sector. We have developed our offer to ensure vulnerable people have access to efficient services following long periods of social distancing and isolation.

Moving forward ACH will continue to develop and enhance our services to ensure older people are given opportunities to make the most of their ageing journey. Even though we are still living with COVID, we will strive to ensure our clients, their carers and families have access to support to ensure they achieve the very best quality of life.

"My volunteer is a very good companion, he always makes sure I am ok and checks if I need anything. He has assisted me with all kinds of wonderful things, and recently helped me with information on sell my car. I have nothing but praise for all the help and support he has given to me."

B.B
Feedback Community Information Service client

July 2021 Services Update

Census 2021 Community Partner

The voices of older people in our community matter...

We are proud to be a Community Partner / Census Champion for the 2021 Census.

Now that the Census 2021 data collection operation is closed, we’d like to thank all those involved in providing information for your contribution. We’re delighted by the level of support we’ve received.

Our support in the lead-up to Census 2021 and around ‘Census Day’ has helped boost response rates for the National Survey. We played our part to ensure older people have their say, and our work is supporting this group plays a crucial part in the picture.

Information from the census

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) call the anonymised census information and release “outputs” in spring 2022.

The ONS team is looking into the best way to bring information collected during Census 2021 to a wide audience. You can learn more about the progress and development of the Census 2021 outputs and register for our email updates.

August 2021 Census 2021 News

Service Delivery Update – July 2021

Our teams have been working hard to get services back up and running following the restrictions of COVID.

Our teams have shown immense dedication and bravery throughout the pandemic by prioritising the health of our beneficiaries over themselves. Support Workers and Hospital to Home Coordinators delivered services both in the community and at Community Hospital Rehabilitation wards where the virus had been most prevalent. Through providing these front line services some staff were directly affected and contracted COVID-19, but once they had recovered, they continued to be committed to their work supporting patients with the virus.

In order to protect the health and safety of clients and carers as well as our staff and volunteers, Age Concern Hampshire (ACH) Care and Wellbeing Centres were closed from March 2020. As these services provide a lifeline for many vulnerable older people in our community, the precautions caused involuntary isolation and loneliness for many of those we support. Similarly, unpaid carers have been under immense pressure to support the ‘cared for’ alone without access to respite or additional help.

Our Information Service continued to operate throughout the pandemic with our dedicated team of volunteers giving many hours of their time to answer queries from anxious members of the public.

Our volunteers within the Village Agent and Basingstoke Wellbeing services adapted their work to provide phone calls instead of group/home visits and were joined by new volunteers to make regular calls to people who were feeling isolated. Many of these regular calls are still being made while we wait for local groups and coffee mornings to restart.

We are now finding that months of shielding at home has had a detrimental effect on many older people we support causing muscle weakness from deconditioning. This can commonly result in a reduced sense of balance and increase the risk of falls. Similarly, many clients have been struggling with depression, low mood, lack of support for meal preparation, deteriorating physical health, increased pain due to untreated health conditions and a general loss of hope. This has also affected appetites and diets, which in turn threatened to weaken their resilience still further.

Lastly, as a an independent charity, COVID-19 significantly hindered our ability to sustain support to beneficiaries as ACH was forced to close all revenue generating services leading to a loss of 88% of our revenue income. Therefore, we have been even more reliant on the generosity of the communities, grant funders and local councils to sustain services for those considered most vulnerable.

To ensure our charity can carry on supporting its beneficiaries now and in the future, ACH have taken the learnings from the last year to ‘Survive, Adapt and Thrive’. We have learned many valuable lessons as a result of the pandemic, mainly the extraordinary resilience and commitment of our workforce who have shown incredible bravery by prioritising the needs of those we support over themselves. This especially applies to those working in high risk work places such as Community Hospitals on wards with COVID patients.

"Thank you for all the times you stood outside in the cold, for all the games and hard work in preparation for returning to normal"

B.B
Feedback from Lockswood Centre Client

Our Services now...

As of 6th July, Age Concern Hampshire have re-opened 7 of its Care and Wellbeing centres across the county. We have also successfully re-opened many of our Footcare Clinics in Andover, Basingstoke, Overton, Odiham, Havant, Locks Heath, Petersfield and Winchester. Please visit the service pages to make an enquiry.

All of our services operate under strict COVID- compliant processes to ensure the safety of Staff, Volunteers and clients at all times. Our teams have access to PPE and regular testing, as well as the Covid19 vaccinations.

July 2021 Services Update

Lack of Vaccination for key front line support workers impacts on the vulnerable people in our communities

Government state that frontline workers working in social care are more likely to be exposed to COVID-19 at work – so why are we not eligible for vaccinations?

Age Concern Hampshire (ACH) are currently in a situation where our 150 front line staff are providing vital support to older people (50+) across Hampshire who are not included in the government / NHS plans for COVID vaccinations. Staff appear to have been disregarded because they work for a charity, not the NHS or a Care Home, even though the work that they are undertaking is very similar to that of a Care Home worker.

The ‘COVID-19 vaccination guide for social care staff’ states that ‘If you’re a frontline worker working in social care, you are more likely to be exposed to COVID-19 at work’.

ACH staff are being put under unnecessarily risk of exposure to a deadly virus without protection from the vaccine because outreach support workers are not considered to be in the same realm as those providing care in the safety of care/ residential homes. ACH teams feel undervalued, under-recognised and unsafe, despite having sacrificed so much to keep clients safe in their homes since March 2020.

In the last 10 months, ACH is faced with having clients and unpaid carers at home in need of extra help, who are now once again unable to leave their homes.

In order to continue to provide support the organisation have developed essential services delivered by trained Support Workers to ensure that these vulnerable people can shield at home with access to service provisions so they are not left neglected.

ACH front line teams have been providing:

Home visits for older people living alone to provide companionship as well as company for those with dementia or other condition to give their family members or primary carer a break from caring responsibilities;
- Home visits can incorporate stimulating activities and interactive demonstrations using Smart Devices with remote access to the internet to facilitate calls with loved ones or online activities accompanied by a Support Worker.
Regular well-being calls for clients who we would usually have been welcomed to Care and Wellbeing centres;
Shopping and prescriptions deliveries for older people who are shielding;
‘Wellbeing Check-in’ calls for any older person who is feeling lonely in isolation.

Many vulnerable older people (50+) across the County are supported by Age Concern Hampshire, but given the current situation and the contagious nature of the new strain of the virus, it is becoming increasingly difficult. Understandably, staff have become increasingly worried and anxious about visiting clients whom may have had contact with family/friends who have been vectors for COVID over the Christmas and New Year period.

It is unfair and unjust that Support Workers working for voluntary organisation providing vital services in the community to vulnerable older people fall through a gap in the vaccination programme whereby they are not classed as front line staff.

We need your support in contacting your local member of parliament and joining our fight to get front line teams vaccinated as soon as possible to keep them and vulnerable people safe while shielding.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Service Update

We are working hard to ensure no older person feels alone in isolation.

Following our previous COVID19 Service News Post, we have been working hard to adapt and respond to the changing circumstances that we find ourselves in, as we move through the Pandemic. We have been focusing on the demand for services we have been receiving via our Information Line as well as our Day Centre teams who have been redeployed to support our clients through wellbeing and outreach support.

We have developed services based on the needs of those in our community:

Home visits for older people living alone to provide companionship.
Home visits to sit with an older person with dementia or other condition to give their family members or primary carer a break from caring responsibilities
Regular well-being calls for clients who would usually visit our centres and services pre-COVID19.
Virtual well-being group calls; a support network for carers where they can network with others in similar situations.
Shopping and prescriptions deliveries for older people who are shielding.
Befriending and Companionship calls for any older person who is feeling lonely in isolation with a friendly voice to interact with regularly.
Attendance Allowance Form Filling in the Basingstoke and Deane district by our Information and Advice Outreach Coordinator

"Thank you so much to all the staff for caring and supporting the local vulnerable people at this difficult time. We really appreciate what you are doing for those who rely on your support with no family nearby"

J.B
Feedback from Carer of a Centre Client

Our specialised service teams are working hard to ensure no older person, carer or family member feels alone with nowhere to turn because of the safety laws around the Coronavirus. In order to achieve this we have completely shifted our efforts to deliver outreach support as opposed to centre-based services. Similarly, we have an incredibly dedicated and supportive team of community volunteers delivering local support in areas throughout the county.

Achievements to date:

Age Concern Hampshire, like many other charities, is struggling to fund its operations with the limited capacity to generate revenue. We are calling on the public, funders, supporters and community members to help us sustain these essential services by donating through our online COVID19 Emergency Appeal. Your generosity HELPS US HELP THEM in these trying times and supports Age Concern Hampshire to survive this Pandemic.

Support us by volunteering

If you are interested in getting involved with our COVID19 response services as a volunteer, please follow the link for more information and to apply.

Press Release for COVID19 Response Plan

The latest guidelines to support charities, from the NCVO state that the £370m additional government funding will be provided to ‘small and medium-sized charities’ through the National Lottery Community Fund (NCLF), including those delivering food, essential medicines and providing financial advice.

Last week Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the majority of this funding will go to organisations with incomes under £1m with most grants likely to be up to £100k. Age Concern Hampshire finds itself in a situation where we are not eligible for any of this funding. This is because our turnover has become a barrier for government funding and support with the 1m turnover threshold being used as an artificial distinction between ‘wealthy’ and ‘poor’ charities. With a turnover currently over £1m, ACH is not eligible for anything, yet our funding has reduced by 70% as a result of the pandemic and therefore our annualised income will be under the £1m turnover threshold by July 2020.

Due to lack of funding Age Concern Hampshire (ACH) finds itself in difficult times and is fighting for its survival , as a not-for-profit charity we are not in a better position to weather this storm than any other organisation.

Before the lockdown rules where implemented ACH was delivering Health and Wellbeing services from 11 Day Care Centres as well as additional outreach services to over 500 older persons across the county, the majority of whom are suffering with physical frailty and dementia. As of the 23rd March all Centres closed and activities stopped in response to the restrictions around social isolation.

Very quickly ACH developed outreach services to support our socially isolated clients, ensuring that they did not feel secluded during this difficult time and we have continued to work tirelessly to connect older residents with vital services whilst tackling issues caused as a consequence of isolation.

Even though the pandemic has meant a complete change in the ACH business model resulting in a 70% reduction in our income we have developed emergency response services to support older people to stay safe at home in isolation and ensure they are not secluded or without provisions.

We implemented these new services as of the 23rd March and since then we have delivered the following:

Doorstep Services –

Prescription Collection and Delivery
Shopping Services

Daily Wellbeing Calls to clients and carers
Sitting Services – befriending and non- personal care in the home to allow for carers short breaks as well as companionship for older people

Over 3,000 outbound Wellbeing Support Calls to our clients and older people across the county – totalling over 14,000 minutes of virtual telephone support.
Delivery of with 700 incoming Information and Advice coronavirus-related calls and emails
Undertaken 250 shopping trips, prescription and food box deliveries

In addition, our Hospital to Home schemes give vital support on the frontline to discharge elderly patients from hospital safely and effectively. Our teams are working hard, alongside the NHS, in our local community hospitals to make the rehabilitation process for elderly patients as positive as possible. As rehab wards have changed to Coronavirus medical wards, the ACH staff have continued to deliver and our staff are now working in ‘patient liaison’ roles, ensuring regular communication happens between patients and loved ones who are unable to visit. This is making a tangible difference to patients, loved ones and takes pressure off ward staff.

Our ability to fundraise has virtually stopped and without support from somewhere we may not survive this pandemic which I see as a real risk to the extremely vulnerable older people of Hampshire.

This week we have written to all Hampshire MPs and the Chancellor to highlight the situation we find ourselves in. We have had limited response

We would be very grateful if you would highlight this issue to your readers/viewers urgently as we need help and support.

Coronavirus Service Update

Age Concern Hampshire are working to deliver services to ensure older people are not alone in isolation.

At Age Concern Hampshire, we are redesigning the way we work and setting up new services for our clients and other older people across Hampshire to offer as much help as we can during the COVID-19 pandemic. We took the decision on Monday 23rd March 2020 to close all of our Care and Wellbeing Centres and some of our other services to protect the health and safety of clients as well as staff and volunteers.

Our new services include:

Delivering Food parcels
Shopping services
Delivering pre-prepared meals (please enquire with for more information and availability)
Prescription Collection and Delivery
Wellbeing Calls
Carer’s Wellbeing Calls
Sitting Service for our existing day centre clients

The services delivered by staff and volunteers are designed around Safeguarding Guidance from HSAB with the safety of vulnerable people at the forefront.

We have mobilised the workforce, including our volunteers, to expand our Telephone/Email Information Services which now operate Mon-Fri 9am-4pm.

Our primary mission, at this time, is to support older people and their families through the COVID19- Action Plan from government. The well-being of these vulnerable groups has shaped the services we deliver to give those most in need, access to provisions and support. A team of staff and volunteers are making regular check-in calls with both clients and their carers to provide a listening ear and to help prevent people reaching crisis point. We then aim to follow up with solutions such as delivery of food, shopping, prescriptions and nutritional meals where needed.

Prior to the COVID19 outbreak, 80% of our Day Centre clients were living with dementia and other progressive conditions. We are keen to utilise our workforce of dementia specialist employees to give wellbeing support to unpaid carers who are caring for a family member living with these conditions. At Age Concern Hampshire, we understand that caring for a loved one with dementia can become demanding and overwhelming. If you know someone who has caring responsibilities for an older person within their household, encourage them to contact us if they need support through these turbulent times. We appreciate society is in a state of ‘lockdown’ however no carer or older person should be left feeling alone with nowhere to turn.

Please feel free to contact us directly for any further queries regarding the services mentioned above.

How you can get involved...

Make a Donation

Give time by Volunteering