Age UK Darlington
The UK's biggest charity working with and for older people
Information and Advice
At Age UK Darlington we aim to tackle issues that affect older people so you can enjoy a better quality of life - and make sure that you have the right information to make informed decisions about the things that are important to you.
Our team of dedicated staff and volunteers provide a free, independent and confidential service to people aged 50 and over, and to their family, carers and friends
We can provide information and advice on most subjects and if we are unable to deal with your enquiry we will refer you to someone who can. Here are just some of the things we can help you with:
- Benefits
- Housing
- Health
- Residential & daycare provision
- Direct Payments and help at home
- Affordable warmth
- Consumer and legal issues
- Social and personal problems
- Access to local services
Advice is available at our office in Beaumont Street by appointment Monday to Friday.
NEW DROP- IN from 8th November 2011 -
Drop in sessions will be available every Tuesday afternoon between 1.00pm-3.00pm
If you can't make it to our wheelchair accessible office, call us, we are happy to carry out home visits where required.
You can find our information & Advice Centre at:
1 Beaumont Street
Darlington
CO Durham
DL1 5SZ
Tel: 01325 357345
Email: advice@ageukdarlington.org.uk
Opening times 9.30am – 3.30 pm Monday to Friday
Be in the know!
Growing older doesn't come with a manual, but we have a range of information guides and factsheets to help you find out about things like benefits, health and well-being, housing, care issues, saving energy and work and learning. Our information is impartial and easy to digest - its also free of charge.
You can download the guides from the link below or call into our office at Beaumont Street where you can browse the bookshelf.
www.ageuk.org.uk/publications/age-uk-information-guides-and-factsheets/
Maximise your income!
Last year our Information and Advice service dealt with more than 2,800 enquiries, including helping people to claim welfare benefits worth £1,625,665.
We can:
- Help you check if you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to - many older people are missing out on money that is rightfully theirs, including non means tested disability benefits.
- Help you to make benefits claims, and assist with reviews and appeals.
- Provide advice on the management of financial problems - for complex problems we may suggest seeing a more specialist agency
- Offer information on small grants for essential needs if there is no other source of help
- Provide advice when an older person is no longer able to manage their own financial affairs
You can contact the Information Advice Service 01325 357345 or email advice@ageukdarlington.org.uk
Age UK Information Guides & Factsheets contain useful information on a range of financial matters
www.ageuk.org.uk/publications/age-uk-information-guides-and-factsheets/
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Housing & Affordable Warmth
Our Information & Advice Service can provide advice on housing matters to people who are private/ council/ housing association tenants or who are home owners.
We can:
- Advice on housing repairs and adaptations
- Advice on help with heating
- Advice on difficulties with neighbours
- Advice on your tenancy rights
- Discuss with you about housing options e.g. sheltered accommodation, housing transfers, residential care
Age UK Information Guides & Factsheets contain useful information on a range of housing issues.
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/publications/age-uk-information-guides-and-factsheets/
Community Care
Community Care is the combination of services and resources that a person needs to live their lives as independently as possible. This can include housing, benefits, leisure and educational opportunities and social services. These provisions or services can be provided by a variety of organisations within the public, voluntary and private sectors.
For most people 'community care' will mean the support they need to remain at home. However some people will need the higher level of support that is provided in a residential care home or a nursing home.
Some people who need help with their personal care may choose to pay for their services privately but many will ask social services to carry out an assessment of their needs to identify what help can be provided. Social Services have a statutory responsibility to carry out an assessment which will decide eligibility for services and the level of need.
Please also see our page on Direct Payments
Age UK Information Guides & Factsheets contain useful information on a range of care issues..
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/publications/age-uk-information-guides-and-factsheets/
