Great Resources and Information for Seniors

Last Thursday (the election day), I attended a rather special event in Chandler’s Ford called “Seniors’ Information and Wellbeing Day”, organised by Home Instead Central Hampshire, a private care service company.

There were 14 exhibitors and a variety of talks during the event, which took place at the Dovetail Centre in Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church.

I met Jon Gapper, the General Manager, and his mother, Jan, who started the home care business and is now the director of care. The business provides non-medical care of older people in their own homes. They are also looking for caring and compassionate people to join their team, to offer care services in Chandler’s Ford area.

It was a very informative afternoon and I have learnt a great deal. I have added some links in this article to help the general public (not just seniors) find out more.

These include:

• Alzheimer’s Society
• Hampshire Library
• Connect to Support Hampshire
• One Community
• Wiltshire Farm Foods
• Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care
• Eric Robinson solicitors
• Independent Lives (a user led charity)

Hampshire Library Service

Hampshire Library supports people with dementia with its vast amount of resources. HCC’s library service offers a range of materials and resources to borrow to help improve and stimulate discussions and memories, especially for people suffering from dementia, depression, and living with the after effects from strokes.

For more information, you can call 0300 555 1387. Service include audio resources, MP3 CDs, and the followings:

The Reminiscence Collection

Reminiscence Collection includes posters, games and quizzes, postcards, memory boxes, jigsaw, printed and recorded music. These are used to help stimulate and support reminiscence.

Playaways

This service is very useful for those who love listening to books. Individual books are pre-loaded onto an easy-to-use MP3 player.

National talking newspapers and magazines

You could ask the library staff to load your favourite newspapers and magazines onto your own memory stick. There are over 150 audio versions available including Reader’s Digest, Which?, Country Living, and others.

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Wiltshire Farm Foods

Wiltshire Farm Foods specialises in frozen ready meals delivery. I met Sue, who was busy preparing food and offering samples (such as sweet and sour chicken, salmon and some desserts, and pudding) to visitors.

Wiltshire Farm Foods was founded in 1991. All dishes are prepared in their kitchens in Wiltshire and they ensure a good, balanced diet. There is no commitment and no contract, and they also cater to special diets.

One Community

Naomi from One Community explained a wide range of services for the community. They have recently created an Adult Carers Centre to support adult carers.

Leightons opticians and hearing care

I also met representatives from Leightons Opticians & Hearing, based in the Mall Shopping Centre, near the library in Chandler’s Ford.

The current store opened in 2014 and is an amalgamation of the previous Eastleigh and Chandler’s Ford branches, and also incorporates Hampshire Hearing Centre.

Connect to Support Hampshire

Hampshire County Council also had a representative there. I was introduced to a useful website called Connect to Support Hampshire, which contains information such as local services and advice, local activities and services, home care, and care homes.

This is particularly useful to help connect people with services or friendship groups, to help people access local services.

I’ve tried this website and found it very easy to navigate. It covers the areas in health and wellbeing advice, local community groups, support for carers, living with a disability, care providers, equipment and aids and others.

Eric Robinson

Eric Robinson gave information and talks on the day. I’ve also picked up leaflets on Top 10 tips about lasting powers of attorney, and Top 10 things to consider when making a will. There have an office on Brownhill Road.

Chiropodist and podiatrist

I met Jon Callen, who explained the importance of foot care. She and her husband Jon are both chiropodist and podiatrist, and her husband also runs his clinic at goPhysio on Bournemouth Road.

Independent Lives (a user led charity)

Independent Lives is a user-led charity working with disabled people, people with care needs, and those with caring responsibilities, to enable people to lead full, active and independent lives.

It also helps empower people with Direct Payments. Direct Payments allow people to make their own decisions about how their care and support is delivered, giving them more flexibility and greater choice and control over their life.