Ready For Winter - An Update from Adults' Health and Care - 2018

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Parent Category: Local News

Category: News from around the Parish

Last Updated on Monday, 10 December 2018 15:31

Published on Monday, 10 December 2018 15:25

Written by Parish Clerk

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— Connect to Support Hampshire

This easy-to-use online resource, helps residents with their care and wellbeing by providing information about all aspects of independent living, such as advice about mental health and physical health, help and support for carers, and equipment to help people manage at home. The website and newly launched app include:

• A directory of local services, activities, charities and helplines to support individuals with specific needs
• A directory of Care Quality Commission-registered home care agencies that can provide personal and nursing care in people’s homes
• A directory of registered care homes and nursing homes in Hampshire.

To download the app, simply search for ‘Connect to Support Hampshire’ in the App Store (for Apple iPhones or iPads) or the Google Play Store (for Android smartphones and tablets). More information is available at www.connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk

— Meals on Wheels

Good nutrition is extremely important, and never more so than in the winter. Delivered by Meals on Wheels provider apetito, the County Council’s Meals on Wheels service is now available to young and older adults, including those who have dementia, a learning disability, a mental health issue, a history of substance misuse, or a physical disability.

A two course hot lunchtime meal, with the additional option of afternoon tea is available. Meals on Wheels drivers are also trained to carry out a wellbeing check in addition to the delivery of the meal. This ensures that wellbeing and safety concerns are identified and action taken in a timely way. Drivers report concerns to the relevant Hampshire County Council team or call for emergency services where necessary.

Further information is available at www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/adultsocialcare/olderpeople/mealsonwheels

— Hitting the Cold Spots

If you know of anyone in your constituency who will struggle to keep warm this winter, please signpost them to the County Council’s Hitting the Cold Spots service. The service provides detailed advice over the phone or via email for anyone wanting information on heating systems, including when they are broken, insulation, energy bill worries including fuel debt, the Warm Home Discount and tariff switching.

The service also offers practical support for eligible residents (health/age and financial eligibility criteria apply) who own their home. This includes home visits from experienced advisors, emergency heating and help to access funding for heating or hot water systems.

Accessing the service is easy - Freephone 0800 804 8601 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) or Email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
More information about the scheme is available at: www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/adultsocialcare/coldspots

— Staying Well this Winter - advice for the public

There’s plenty of advice available to help the county’s residents to stay well during the colder months.

• For advice on flu vaccinations: www.nhs.uk/staywell - please do encourage all those eligible for a free vaccination, including carers, to have one
• For general advice on keeping warm and keeping well: www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/keep-warm-keep-well
• For general health advice: www.nhs.uk

The County Council’s adult social care service can be contacted on 0300 555 1386 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday/ 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday Textphone users 0300 555 1390
Out of hours 0300 555 1373 5pm to 8.30am, Monday to Thursday/ 4.30pm Friday to 8.30am Monday All day on Bank Holidays

And finally……

....a word on the work we are doing to get residents home from hospital as quickly as possible. Very positively over the past few months, through the concerted efforts of our social care teams and our independent and voluntary sector partners, working closely with NHS colleagues, we have seen a near 40% reduction in the numbers of people delayed in hospital for social care reasons. We continue to focus considerable resource on supporting people to be appropriately discharged from hospital settings and will be undertaking specific additional work in the build-up to the Christmas / New Year period. 

It is also really important to recognise that across all our services, much fantastic work will continue with all those who use our services, their families and carers,and communities to keep people safe and well this winter, using informal and formal support.