MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET
Very few of us would refuse extra money to help us pay the bills, have a more comfortable retirement and be able to treat our grandchildren. However, many of us are missing out on extra money each week simply because we don't know what we are entitled to, or because we don't claim what's rightfully ours.
That's why Age UK has launched the More money in your pocket campaign - to help us claim all the money we are owed. Last year‚ Age UK helped put more than £100 million in unclaimed benefits in the pockets of those of us in later life and our carers‚ and we plan to do even better this year.
There is nothing to lose and everything to gain!!
For more information about our ‘More Money in Your Pocket' campaign call our; Information and Advice Helpline at Age Concern Leicester Shire & Rutland. 0116 2992233 (1.30pm - 4.00pm) Monday to Friday.
OLDER CARERS
In the autumn, Age UK will be launching a national campaign to raise the profile of older carers who were largely ignored in the recent care reform debate. We want to make sure that the new Care Commission recognises older carers' need for financial, emotional and practical support and values their contribution.
Age Concern Leicester Shire & Rutland will be supporting this campaign and we would urge people to order your own freepost card on which you can write your own thoughts on these topics by emailing margaret.crear@ageuk.org.uk or call her on 0208 765 7626.
The launch of the event will be a photographic exhibition. One of the displays at this will be of hundreds of completed cards, completed by older carers detailing their experiences of caring, and their thoughts on what things would help them to look after their loved ones and to improve their own quality of life.
HUNGRY TO BE HEARD
This campaign focuses on older people's mealtime experiences whilst in hospital.
For many of us in later life, a stay in hospital can be made worse by hospital mealtimes being an unpleasant experience. Problems experienced by patients are:
Food Trays being placed out of reach.
No help given with cutting up food or opening lids on difficult containers.
No help or encouragement is given to us to eat and drink, and food trays are taken away untouched without any questions.
A relaunch of this campaign took place in August and Age Concern Leicester Shire & Rutland are working alongside Age UK to ensure malnutrition becomes a thing of the past in our hospital wards.
CHECK YOUR BOILER
"Don't leave it till winter!!
Delays with fixing broken boilers could cause chaos this winter unless people take action and check their boilers now. We are urging local older people to have any repairs done before the cold snap sets in to avoid joining the long queue for repairs this winter.
Last winter's freezing conditions caused many local residents severe difficulties as they had to wait days, weeks and sometimes months without heating and hot water while waiting for a heating engineer to repair their boiler.
It is important that older people or their friends and family check their boilers NOW so that if there are any problems they can be fixed quickly before winter sets in.
Anyone who is concerned about keeping warm this winter should contact us on our Information & Advice Helpline on 0116 2992233 (1.30pm - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
If you want further information regarding any Campaign issues please contact me on 0116 2237348.
Shirley Stokes
Campaigns Co-ordinator