Age UK Bristol – telephone befriending service

A supportive, listening ear and reassurance for people over 60. Free weekly 20 minute chat with a volunteer.

Contact details: 0117 929 7537

Age UK Website

Alzheimer’s Society provides information on all forms of dementia and links to local dementia support groups. They provide support through a variety of groups and activities, including:

Activity groups

Memory cafés

Singing for the Brain ®

Groups for carers

There is also a Side by Side service that helps people with dementia to keep doing the things they love, or to try something new.  The service helps people to get out and about, doing an activity of their choice through the support of a volunteer. This can be anything from joining a local club, going to the football, going to a local café, or simply having a stroll in the park.

Find out more at the Alzheimer’s Society  website or look at their local support group section  to find support groups and activities in the Bristol area.

For more information call 0117 961 0693 (Bristol office) The service is open Monday to Friday between 9.00am – 2.00pm. There is an answerphone for outside office hours.

There is also a national helpline  0300 222 1122 (local rate call). The opening hours are as follows:

Monday to Wednesday 9.00am-8.00pm

Thursday and Friday 9.00am-5pm
Saturday to Sunday 10.00am-4.00pm

Email address: bristol@alzheimers.org.uk.

As well as being partners in the Dementia Wellbeing Service, Alzheimer’s Society provides support in Bristol through a variety of groups and activities, including:

• Activity groups
• Memory cafés
• Singng for the Brain ®
• Sports and Social Club

There is also a Befriending Service, which provides personalised support for people with dementia and/or carers. There is a charge for this service.

Telephone:  0117 961 0693  9.00am – 2.00pm Monday to Friday. There is an answerphone for outside office hours.

Email: bristol@alzheimers.org.uk

Provide a weekly visit for up to six weeks after somebody has been discharged from hospital having had at least one night’s admission. Support is provided through home visits aimed at encouraging independence by providing shopping, light domestic work, signposting and companionship.

Contact: 0117 301 2601

Contact email: HfHBristolSouthGlos@redcross.org.uk.

Red Cross Website

The Dementia Wellbeing Service is part of Bristol's recently recommissioned mental health services. You can read more about the new services, and Bristol CCG's vision for mental health service provison in the city by visiting the Bristol Mental Health website.

Supported by a network of volunteers, Contact the Elderly organises monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for small groups of older people aged 75 and over, who live alone, offering a regular and vital friendship link every month. To find out more about becoming a volunteer host or a guest in the Bristol area, please go to - http://www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk/about-us/locations/south-west or contact Helen Ker - 01225 873812, helen.ker@contact-the-elderly.org.uk

Dementia Mentors is a website offering online support to people with dementia. The website offers online mentor sessions and virtual memory cafes. The mentors are all people who have a diagnosis themselves.

There are regular support meetings that run across Bristol that aim to support people with any form of diabetes.

To find out more please go to - http://www.diabetesbristol.org.uk/

Bristol CCG has created a handy service finder on its website enabling you to find your local health services. This contains a wide range of services relating to all elements of health.  The service finder includes GPs, pharmacists, your nearest Walk-in Centres, Urgent Care Centres and Emergency departments. All you need to search is your postcode.

Independent Age Helpline aim to provide you with advice or support directly, or to point you in the right direction. Their particular areas of knowledge include:

• care and support
• money and benefits
• health and mobility

The advice and information services are completely impartial.

Call the freephone line on 0800 319 6789

• Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm
• Weekends and bank holidays 9am to 5pm

You can also email at advice@independentage.org. 

Produced by Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, there are several self-help guides for a range of mental health conditions, e.g. depression, anxiety, controlling anger.

https://www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/selfhelp/

Parkinson's UK groups offer information, support and friendship for people with Parkinson's disease. On the first Saturday of each month, there is a group that meets at Oatley Hall at St Monica's Trust in Bristol. For more details, please go to https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/local-support-groups/regions/bristol-branch

The Royal British Legion’s Independent Living Service covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They offer beneficiaries a high quality, friendly and professional service to live safe and well at home. In the Bristol area, the Independent Living Service comprises of two services; the Independent Living Advice Service and the ‘WE Care and Repair’ handy person service.

They offer support face to face, over the telephone and email to help beneficiaries work towards goals that are important to them.

This means they could help with:

• Specialist Information and Advice-About Independent Living Options

• Aids and Adaptations

• Assistance with Disabled Facilities Grants and Challenges

• Small maintenance jobs

• Home safety checks

• Winter warmth checks

• Help and support to navigate social services

• Help and support to challenge decisions

• Help to address isolation and loneliness

• Information on local services

• Setting up your own social groups

• Help to understand your rights and speak up

Who can use this Service?

A beneficiary is anybody who has served, is currently serving in the armed forces or are a carer, dependent, spouse or partner of someone who is serving or has served.

Contact Centre:

0808 802 8080- Open 8am-8pm- 7 days a week

Or visit one of their pop in centres:

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/the-legion-near-you/

 

Toilets with extra room and easier access for the use of disabled people.

To obtain your own key contact 0117 955 9083

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) provides volunteering opportunities that allow older people over 50 to play an active role in their communities.

0117 922 4392

RSVP West Region, The CREATE Centre, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN

SSAFA provides lifelong support for veterans and their families. Their trained volunteers can provide practical and emotional support if and when you need it.

Here are some of the services they offer.

Housing advice

Practical housing advice and support to Armed Forces veterans and their dependents including guidance around housing benefits and accessing social housing.

Debt advice

After leaving the Forces, some ex-service personnel find themselves in financial trouble. SSAFA can give you the support you need.

Help with mobility

Our volunteers can help veterans to help maintain mobility and independence at home including mobility scooters and stairlifts.

Buying household goods

How we can help you get hold of essential household items, including white and brown goods.

Dealing with military mental illness

SSAFA helps military families facing mental health problems, including depression, anxiety or dealing with PTSD.

Mentoring

Helping individuals transition out of the Services, no matter what the circumstances

Armed Forces transition support

Get help for you and your family as you make the transition from the Forces to civilian life.

Help with the loss of a loved one

If you lose someone who has previously served in our Armed Forces, or you are ex-Forces and have lost someone, then SSAFA is committed to giving you support.

Homelessness

We know that significant number of veterans find themselves on the streets so we have developed specialist services to support them.

Support for offenders and ex-offenders

We are committed to providing serving personnel and veterans in custody and their families with support, however their circumstances may have changed.

Residential housing

We offer places to stay for veterans and their dependents

To access help, please contact:

Email: welfare@ssafa.org.uk

Main Phone: 0207 463 9354

 

Unforgettable aims to improve the lives of those living with memory loss and dementia by bringing together specialised products, practical advice and a supportive community.

Volunteer Bristol promotes and supports volunteering in the city. Drop-in available Tuesdays and Wednesday 11.00am-3.00pm.

0117 989 7733

Volunteer Bristol, Royal Oak House, Royal Oak Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4GB

Volunteer Bristol Website

 

Independent website offering generic advice and support for anyone with ageing and elderly family and friends

When The Get Older Website