John Hawkins: Age UK Essex

Today we had a speaker from Age UK Essex, John Hawkins.

He explained that Age UK was formed by the merger earlier this century of two other organisations, Age Concern and Help the Aged. Age Concern had affiliated groups around the country but Help the Aged did not. When they merged, some of the local Age Concern groups affiliated to Age UK but others decided to become completely independent whilst retaining “Age Concern” as part of the name. Age UK Essex has about 450 full-time and part-time staff and around 350 volunteers.

One of the most significant types of help they offer is their Information and Advice Service. The telephone line is manned Monday to Friday. At weekends calls go through to the national Information and Advice centre in London. Although most advice is given over the telephone they can visit clients in their own homes if they are reluctant to discuss their circumstances on the phone. The information and advice sought often relates to state pensions and social security. It is estimated that some £8.6 Billion is held by the government in unclaimed pension rights. Last year alone Age UK Essex secured the release of £1.6 Million to elderly people living in the county. When you take into account Age UK affiliates in other counties, the amount recovered with their help could be very considerable.

Age UK Essex also tackles loneliness among the elderly. John was careful to point out that loneliness and solitude are not the same thing. Some people are quite content to be on their own. Loneliness occurs when the degree of social interaction falls below that the individual would like. Age UK Essex offer a befriending service. Most of the befriending takes place over the telephone. At one time the local authorities funded home visits but budget constraints have forced them to stop doing this. Age UK Essex would like to offer home visits again if another source of funding can be found.

Another much-appreciated service offered by Age UK Essex is the toenail cutting offered at 78 centres around the county. Those who perform the toenail cutting have all been trained by the NHS Podiatry Service, including receiving the training needed to safely cut the toenails of diabetics and those on blood-thinning medication.

There are two categories of Home Help. Some Home Helps provide personal care, such as help in getting up and dressing. Others provide help with things like cleaning and shopping. Age UK Essex can supply Home Helps in this second category. There is a charge for this, as there is for the toenail cutting service, but it is fixed at a level that covers costs only.

One of our members asked how old someone had to be before they fell into the age-range Age UK Essex is prepared to help. We were somewhat disconcerted to discover that it is 50!