Check on older neighbours during heatwave
News from our partners Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin (Age UK STW)
Whilst many of us are enjoying this hot weather spare a thought for older people who may need some help during these extreme temperatures.
An older neighbour
Local charity Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is urging people to check on older neighbours who may not wish to go outside to do their shopping during this heatwave. Older people may require help with food shopping or prescriptions collecting, and ensuring they stay hydrated with cool drinks.
Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK STW, said:
“With temperatures rising over the next few days we are aware that some older people are less likely to venture outdoors to do their shopping because of the soaring temperatures. We are urging people to check on their older neighbours to ensure they have all they need and are keeping cool during this heatwave. Extreme temperatures can be particularly dangerous for older people, sustained hot weather can trigger health problems unless care is taken to keep cool.
“There are lots of things we can all do to keep cool, but popping in to see older neighbours to ensure they are drinking cool drinks, asking if they need any prescriptions collecting or have enough supplies of food and refreshments is particularly important during this heatwave.”
Age UK STW is a local charity which has been working over 65 years to make life better for older people across the whole of the county. The charity has over 800 volunteers, with 280 of those supporting socially isolated older people with a befriending service where once a week an older person will receive a visit from a friendly face.
Age UK STW offers a wide range of services to improve the quality of later life. Further information about our local services is available on our website www.ageukshropshireandtelford.org.uk.
Further information
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is a local charity which has been working tirelessly for over 65 years to make life better for older people across the whole of Shropshire.
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin offers a range of services for older people in the county. These include: Information and Advice, Day Centres, dementia support, the Help at Home Service, volunteer befriending visitors, Home from Hospital services, Pub Clubs, Living Well activities, Benefits Advice, and Advocacy on behalf of older people.
Last year over 100,000 volunteer hours were given to support older people, ranging from helping people to fill in benefits forms, supporting people in our 40 Day Centres, visiting isolated older people at home, to acting as receptionists in our Shrewsbury office.
As part of our ‘No one should have No one’ campaign, we are raising money and recruiting volunteers to increase services such as befriending and social activities that reduce isolation and loneliness among older people in Shropshire.
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is based in Shrewsbury and in Telford. The Shrewsbury office is open from 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday, 01743 233123. Our office at Meeting Point House in Telford is open every morning, 01952 216018. Further information about our local services is available on our website www.ageukshropshireandtelford.org.uk
