Help and support from Age UK Solihull

We are experiencing high temperatures here in Solihull and across the country. The Met Office has now issued an Amber Warning of extreme heat across the West Midlands.

The heat can be dangerous for certain groups of people such as older people, those with existing medical conditions or very young people. We urge you to check on vulnerable friends and neighbours every day during the heatwave, particularly those who are on their own without support.

Birmingham and Solihull Commissioning Group and Public Health Solihull have provided some tips for staying safe in the heatwave. These are for everyone, whether you are in a vulnerable group or at peak physical fitness, as anyone can become ill if they are not careful.

Tips for staying safe in the heatwave

NHS Information on heat exhaustion, heatstroke and dehydration

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke

Dehydration

Age UK Solihull continues to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and provide support to older and vulnerable people in our local communities. The way in which we deliver our service has adapted throughout this challenging time, but older and vulnerable people and their health and wellbeing remain at the forefront of everything we do.

The Community Advice Hubs continue to provide all services by telephone, email and have now reopened for essential face-to-face appointments. These services include Information and Advice to any adult resident of Solihull and specialist services including Benefits, Debt, Disability support, Direct Payments and help with your Health and Wellbeing. Whatever your query, please telephone 0121 709 7590. Some of our Hubs team remain working from home, therefore you may be directed to leave a message and then you will be called back but we are trying to answer as many calls as we can directly. You can also contact the Advice Hubs by email at admin@solihullcommunityhub.org.uk.

The Age UK Solihull Clubs remain closed, due to the social distancing regulations and the higher risk of transmission indoors. The planned date for reopening is September 2021. As we are unable to open our clubs and as a response to the pandemic, we have significantly increased the number of telephone befriending and welfare calls we make to older people. We have also resumed home visits for face-to-face befriending. If you or someone you know is feeling lonely or isolated, please contact the Linking People Together Team on 0121 704 7846.

The Postural Stability Classes for frequent fallers continue to run but are presently virtual classes, delivered by telephone and, for those with internet access, via online videos. You can access the online videos here. We continue to take referrals for this service, so if you are 65 and over and have a history of falls in the last 12 months, please speak to your GP and ask for a referral to the service, or contact the Postural Stability Team on 0121 704 7845. We plan to restart face-to-face classes in August 2021.

The Age UK Solihull Home Support Service is resuming all its help in the home tasks. If you need help with shopping, preparing meals, light housework or maybe a respite break from caring responsibilities please contact the team on 0121 704 7848. Please note this is a chargeable service currently charged at £18.50 per hour.

Our shops have now reopened in accordance with the Government's roadmap out of lockdown.

Volunteer Drivers

We urgently need volunteers to take an older person their weekly Postural Stability Instruction (PSI) classes, which are due to restart in August 2021.

This a rewarding role as you will get to know your client (who will have had a recent fall) and see their strength and confidence grow each week.

Expenses are paid and masks, gloves and infection control training provided.

More about becoming a Volunteer Driver

Shirley and her Volunteer Driver, John, (above) were recently featured in the Solihull Observer, where you can read about how the classes have improved Shirley's confidence.

Read the article

Volunteer Veterans Champions

We are also looking for volunteers to support our new Linking Veterans Together service, which is designed to tackle loneliness and improve wellbeing amongst older veterans and their spouses living in Solihull.

Veterans Champions will support clients to improve connections, try new things, and increase their independence. This role is completely flexible and will vary based on the needs of the client, but could include accompanying clients on short walks or public transport, escorting clients to activities and meetups, attending initial club visits with clients to provide encouragement or moral support, assisting clients to get started with digital technology or supporting those with some experience to improve their skills, helping out at quarterly activities and more.

More about becoming a Volunteer Veterans Champion