Reminder to check on older neighbours during heatwave
News from our partners Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin
Whilst many of us are enjoying this hot weather, spare a thought for older people who may need some help during these extreme temperatures.
Local charity Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is urging people to check on older neighbours who may not wish to go outside during this heatwave. Older people may require help with food shopping or collecting prescriptions, and ensuring they stay hydrated with cool drinks.
Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK STW, said:
“With temperatures staying high 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 heat. We are urging people to check on their older neighbours to ensure they have all they need and are keeping cool during this heatwave.”
Age UK STW warns that 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 plenty of water, asking if they need any prescriptions collecting, or have enough supplies of food and refreshments, is particularly important during this heatwave.
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin offers a wide range of services to improve the quality of later life. For further information call 01743 233123 or visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/shropshireandtelford
Further information
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is a local charity which has been working tirelessly for over 67 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, Lunch 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
