Older people
Getting older gives many people the chance to do the things they enjoy, relax and spend more time with family and friends.
However getting older can also bring with it a whole range of problems and challenges, particularly if ill health starts to make it difficult for people to do the things they want to do.
These web pages provide a guide to the care and support services available in Wolverhampton, so that older people and their families can find the help they need when life gets difficult.
Support at home
There are many services available that will help you to continue to live an independent life in your own home some can be accessed directly for others you may need an assessment.
Care at home
Living with ill health or disability can cause all kinds of problems and worries, for example:
- It may be difficult to get out and about , leading to loneliness and problems with practical things like shopping
- Getting up and down stairs and using the bath might become a problem
- Being able to get help in an emergency (after a fall or being taken ill) by using the Carelink alarm system may help to reduce anxiety
- worry about money may be causing problems you can get advice from the welfare rights team
- Everyday activities like getting up and dressed or preparing meals might be difficult
- Help may be needed while recovering from a spell in hospital.
The Care at Home pages give information about the wide range of services that can help. Some can be accessed directly; for others you may need to ask Adult Care Services for an assessment, particularly if you need help in paying for them. Some of the ways we can help include information about:
Care away from home
Most older people feel very strongly that they want to stay in their own home in spite of all of the problems they have with day to day life there. Many services are available to enable them to do that. But some people do eventually come to feel that moving to a place more suited to their needs would be a good idea information can be found on the Care Away from Home pages.
If you need some help in thinking through what the best option would be for you, you may find the web site Housing Options for Older People useful. It poses a series of questions about the good and bad things in your current home circumstances to help you weigh up the right answer for you.
There is also First Stop which offers a telephone helpline and advice on care, housing and financial options for older people and their carers.
The decision to move away from home is a very difficult one, but may be necessary if someone is no longer safe or comfortable in their existing home, even with all of the care and support services available. There are now a number of different options for people in this situation.
Assessing your needs
Before you receive care or some support services, you will need an assessment.
We can talk to you about:
General and emergency contacts
We provide an emergency social work service out of office hours. The aim of the service is to deal with crisis situations that cannot wait until the next day.
Protecting vulnerable adults
We are committed to preventing the abuse of adults and responding promptly when abuse is suspected. If you suspect someone is being abused, call us on 01902 551199.
Your feedback on our services
We want to know what you think of the services we provide. So we encourage our customers tell us about their experiences - whether it is a compliment, comment or complaint.
Older people's strategy
Wolverhampton's Strategy for Older People lays out the plans for developing older people's services in the future. It was drawn up in consultation with older people living in the city and their carers.
To download the strategy, click on the PDF icon below:
There is also an information page on policies and strategies for older people with some useful links and downloads.
Over 50s involvement
If you would like to be involved in the process of planning and developing future services, you can join the Wolverhampton Over 50s Forum, which puts forward the views and wishes of older people in Wolverhampton.
There are other older peoples groups such as All Cultures One Voice (ACOV) and the Pensioners Convention in Wolverhampton click on the links to get their information:
The booklet Live Life to the Full which is available from the Health and Community Care Information Service is designed to help people find the services and opportunities that they might need to make the most of their old age.
There is a small grants scheme available for small community and voluntary groups.
Involving You
There is a participation officer for older people who holds regular engagement activities to help involve older people in the development of services. The involving you pages give you more information about how you can become involved.
Contact us
For more information, visit the respective sections using the links above or down the column on the left hand side of this page.
For general information about services for older people, contact us by either using our online form or by:
e-mail: social services@Wolverhampton.gov.uk
Phone: 01902 551199
Minicom: 01902 555554
Fax: 01902 551195