Options - click an option to find out more	How Help and Care could help you
Who else could help you?	Getting involved

 

How Help and Care could help you

Help and Care offers support, advice and services to people who need them. Many of those are older people and many are people who care for a friend or relative and are concerned about being alone or isolated.

GATEWAY

Our Gateway Information Service is a local-rate telephone number that anyone can call to gain information on a particular issue or about services or organisations that might be able to assist you.

We have a team of staff who have a wealth of knowledge about what is available to support you if you live alone or feel lonely.

Telephone us now to see how we could help you on 0845 4500 418

HELP FOR CARERS

It can be very lonely if you are alone and caring for someone else.

We support Carers in a number of ways offering help that is tailored to an individual.

Depending on who you pay your council tax to you may be eligible for one of our free services.

HELP with HOUSING RELATED ISSUES

If you live alone or feel isolated it can be difficult keeping your home safe and feeling secure.

Help and Care could help you keep your home safe through our various Housing Related Support services.

You may be eligible for a grant to improve your house to better suit your needs. Or we may be able to help you find a reliable builder or someone to carry our small repair jobs.

OUR VOLUNTEERS

Help and Care have a very dedicated team of volunteers who help people in Poole and Bournemouth in lots of different ways from giving a helping hand with shopping to providing a lift to hospital appointments. If you live alone one of our volunteers may be able to help you out. Give us a call to find out.

TELEPHONE BEFRIENDING

Help and Care have a team of friendly volunteers who can telephone you on a regular basis just to make sure you are feeling safe and have everything you need. If you would like this service give us a ring to find out how we can help, 0845 4500 418

ADVOCACY

Sometimes it can be difficult to sort out difficult problems like completing complex forms or knowing how to get the right help. At Help and Care we have a team of Advocacy Support Workers who can help you with these and other challenges. If you are alone and don’t know where else to turn for help then maybe one of our Advocacy Support Workers could help you.

HELP AND CARE SUPPORT AT HOME SERVICES

Help and Care, aswell as providing a range of FREE services, can also provide many other services that you can buy in order to keep you safe and well. These range from a Moving Home Service to Private Care Management. 

 

Who else could help you?

If you feel alone or isolated there are many ways that you can receive help.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Everyone is entitled to an assessment from their local Social Services departments. Why not give yours a call to find out how they can help you?

• Poole: The Borough of Poole has a 24 hours a day HelpDesk (01202 633633) who may be able to help with your query.
• Dorset: Telephone your nearest local office
• Bournemouth: Telephone 01202 451 451

In order to receive support directly through Social Services you will need to be ‘eligible’. This means that an assessment of your ‘needs’ will be carried out and consideration given to your financial situation.

GETTING OUT AND ABOUT

If you have difficulty getting out and about then, depending on where you live, there is help at hand.

Poole’s Community Transport Service helps people in Poole get out and about independently.

Bournemouth Community Transport operates a number of schemes within the Borough of Bournemouth to provide assistance to people with mobility problems.

Bournemouth Council also regularly publishes activities and events.

There are a number of wheelchair accessible schemes in Dorset that provide transport for people who find it difficult to use existing transport services

 

Getting involved

 FORUMS AND GROUPS

Help and Care host a number of community forums and groups including Patient and Public Involvement Forums that have their say about NHS Services.

In Poole and Bournemouth we also run an Older People’s Strategy Group who work closely with NHS Trusts, Local Authorities and other agencies to talk about Older People’s Issues.

Want to know how you can get involved?

Age Concern’s Senior Forums Association run a number of Older People’s Forums in Dorset.

The Poole Opinion Panel (POP) is one way that Poole Council keeps in touch with the views of Poole residents. Panel members take part in 2 surveys each year and are also invited to take part in discussion groups on topical issues that affect the town and the services we provide.

In Dorset there are a number of ways for you to have your say.

BECOMING A VOLUNTEER

Help And Care is always seeking to recruit new volunteers. We have an enthusiastic team of volunteers who help us to support many older people and carers in many different ways. Would you like to join our team? You could offer anything from a few minutes or a few days – we are always grateful for another pair of hands.