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magazine Issue 02

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Puzzles Recipes Stories Advice Gardening groups • • • • • ...and much more! Inside: with top chef Interview PHIL THOMPSON – I’m Pick me up

The magazine ofThe magazine ServiceIndependent Living

and Barry tell all

siblings Marion in the 1940s:

Life in Herts • Tel: 0330 2000 103 www.hertsindependentliving.org • [email protected] In this issue: 4: Dementia Fun Club: Jean shares what it’s like to attend Welcome to the second our Kingfisher Club in edition of our HILS magazine, Delivering more than 5: Volunteering in Herts 6: Growing up in Hertfordshire: ‘Independent Living’. Two siblings catch up on life in Herts in the 1940s just a meal 8: Herts residents receive meals We all know that Hertfordshire is from local Lord a delightful place to live, but did 9: Maintaining a healthy weight / you know that the motto on Enriched milk recipe Hertfordshire’s historic coat of 10: Puzzle Page arms is: ‘Trust and Fear Not’. 12: Interview with top Isn’t that a really encouraging chef Phil Thompson statement, and a great thing to 14: Gardening groups with SMILE live by? 15: Meet Rhona: There is a lovely combination HILS Team Leader of tradition and innovation in 17: Poem & puzzle answers Hertfordshire, from our wonderful medieval 18: More than just a meal: buildings, to science and technology centres, and Margaret tells all even a state of the art film studio. We’ve also been 19: How we make you feel: recognised for innovation here at HILS after a HILS impact stats successful year of awards, creating new services to help keep local people safe and well. Send your comments and contributions to Herts Independent Living Service: We’ve got lots to look forward to, with exciting

By email to: new ventures starting such as Hertswise, offering [email protected] community support and fun activities to help people with dementia live independently, in partnership with By post to: Hertfordshire Independent Living AgeUK Hertfordshire, Herts Mind Network, Carers in Service, Unit 16, Green Lane One, Herts, and other local partners. Blackhorse Road, Letchworth, Herts, SG6 1HB And of course, the continuing provision of all of our services with the ongoing support of Hertfordshire To find out more visit: www.hertsindependentliving.org County Council, and our wonderful teams, helping us to keep older and vulnerable people in Hertfordshire With thanks to: healthy, happy, and independent in their own homes. Editor – Gemma Payne, HILS Meals on Wheels - making a real difference Designer – Mike Jones Design We hope you enjoy reading the second issue of Printer – CZ Design & Print Independent Living, and we look forward to hearing Hertfordshire Independent Living Service is the operating name of Hertfordshire your stories and ideas; do get in touch! apetito is proud to work in partnership with Community Meals Limited, a registered society number IP30206R under the co- Hertfordshire Independent Living Service. operatives and Community Benefit Societies Sarah Wren MBE Act 2014, registered with the Financial Conduct Authority and as a charity with Chief Executive HMRC registration number XT37228. Hertfordshire Independent Living Service

Thank you to our advertisers who have enabled us to produce this magazine for our readers. Independent Living // Issue 2 3

hils ADVERT.indd 1 30/06/2016 08:32:37 dementia fun club Volunteering I’ve done an awful lot in Herts “I enjoy helping people, that’s been of entertaining over the my life really. I just do some good deeds, and belong to little clubs to help people.” years – now it’s my turn Maureen has been a volunteer for almost two years at our St Albans site, helping out in our to be entertained! dementia fun club twice a week. Jean enjoying the arts & “I love coming here, and it Our dementia fun club clients crafts at our Kingfisher Club teaches me a few bits too! I’m not share what it’s like to attend working, so it gives me something the Kingfisher Club in St Jean with friends Jean and Alf around, and some friends keep to do. I’ve always enjoyed helping Albans at our Jubilee Centre. their distance once they hear people – and I’ve made friends too about a diagnosis of dementia. as I’ve gone along. Meet Jean – a natural in the “My mum really comes out of her “People should consider taking limelight, who has starred in up volunteering: it’s always nice to shell when she’s at the club. It’s a Maureen with Kingfisher various movies and musicals help people: that’s what this world great, fun place to go. She’s there Club Client Marie after attending the prestigious needs, community spirit.” with great staff and volunteers, who Italia Conti Stage School, the make it a great day out for her. world’s oldest theatre arts How can I volunteer in Herts? “It really helps to know she’s There are lots of ways you can get involved in volunteering training school. having a day out of the house and in Hertfordshire. Hertfordshire County Council has been “That was when I was much is in good hands – it takes the celebrating the ‘Year of Volunteering’, a year-long younger you see!” quips Jean. pressure off me too. campaign to promote the benefits of volunteering Now in her eighties, Jean has “I visited the club once and I and celebrating the contribution of volunteers. been coming to our Kingfisher thought it was fantastic. There’s Find out more at: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/volunteer Club for around 18 months, and painting, and I’ve got a house helpful, they really encourage no pressure to do anything – they attends three times a week. We are always looking for volunteers in our full of drawings now – I think I’m us here. have activities going on, but also a “I love coming to the club, I’m dementia clubs to help with general volunteering going to sell them! “It’s very friendly and my son quiet area with armchairs where enjoying it very much; I really look and specific activities, for example, singing and crafts. “My favourite thing about the is so pleased that I’m going people can go and read if they forward to coming and wouldn’t club is the people: being able to to this very lovely place. We don’t want to join in. It all seems Visit: www.hertsindependentliving.org/volunteering want to miss it! chat and make friends. It’s much always have a lunch at the club to work really well here – long for more information or email: “We do lots of colouring and better than being indoors on – they’re all very nice. Today I’m may it continue!” [email protected] artwork here. I love doing the your own – I love it, it’s great having the meatballs. It’s nice Would you or a loved one like to fun. It’s wonderful having the to have a fresh hot meal rather join our dementia fun clubs? company. than sandwiches. I’ve done an Our dementia fun clubs are “Everyone who works awful lot of entertaining over the welcoming and engaging, with here is very nice, and I years, and now it’s my turn to be every session offering an exciting always have a chat and entertained!” mix of activities. Our clubs are run we have lots of laughter. Jean’s son Richard adds: by highly-trained staff supported The volunteers who work “When you’re older, the friends by a team of caring volunteers. here are excellent, and very you had might not still be Location & days: Weekdays www.hertsindependentliving.org/dementia-fun-clubs/ St. Albans Jubilee Centre or call 01727 847264 for more information. Jean with her son Richard

4 Independent Living // Issue 2 life in Herts

– although not all at the same Lunchtime at HILS that the meals are nice, so that’s time!” M: “Oh the lunches here are good.” M: “There were two, there was…” very good. My favourite would B: “It’s tough when you’re getting be lamb steaks; sometimes it’s B: “John, and …” older, so don’t get older – I refuse Moroccan lamb, that’s nice and to! Poor old Marion, I feel sorry Growing up in Hertfordshire M: “Edgar! They all came from flavoursome.” for her really.” , and they would all walk B: “I like the chicken curry! And along the road with their little M: “In all honesty, it really is nice Two siblings catch up on life in Herts in the 1940s the sausages.” boxes, and the people in the here. We’re quite happy, aren’t There weren’t as many people a war on, but all the boys had to Marion, 84, and streets went out and picked one M: “Over the years they’ve we boy?” or cars back then, and everyone do the national service.” Barry, 82, grew and took one home! And my changed the menu to keep it B: “Sometimes!” on our street had kids a similar M: “Near where we lived growing interesting. The shepherd’s pie up in St Albans, mum came home with John.” M: “Yes he is!” age – it’s not like that now. It was up, there was an area where here is great and the puddings B: “The nearest bomb we had Hertfordshire. For all adventures when we were they built these huts for the here are really nice.” land was in – that the past four years, growing up, there was hopscotch prisoners of war. They used to was just about four miles away. B: “Yes it’s all well worth coming in the road – the things we used walk up and down our road, and Jubilee Centre they’ve been getting And when it landed, it knocked up here.” to get up to!” they used to talk to us children. The Jubilee Centre is a community some of the white wash off the M: “It gives me a break! The price together at our B: “We used to go out to the Our dad was a gardener after he centre in St Albans with a weekday ceiling! Doodlebug it was called.” is very good for a dinner and a St Albans Jubilee forest to get a fir tree for our left the navy, and my mum used drop in restaurant. pudding, and it’s red hot meals! Christmas tree when we couldn’t to grow rhubarb, and veggies – M: “I remember bits about • £4.55 hot meal and dessert Centre Restaurant. How can you complain at £4.55?” afford one, and we used to put we had the best garden on our the war, but not a great lot. I • Food available between half pennies on the train track road. So we used to give these remember the wardens calling M: “None of us get the meals 12.30 and 1.30pm M: “We crack jokes, play a to make pennies. Lucky they men sticks of rhubarb, and then out, ‘put that light out!’.” delivered yet – not to say that in • No need to book in advance little game of cards, have our a few years’ time we won’t! But found me under a gooseberry they would carve little clogs or Rooms for hire lunch, and then we go our at least we know it’s there, and bush. That’s what they used to something for us.” Our Jubilee Centre also has a own separate ways. We were say when you asked where you M: “A lot of these men, they’ve all number of rooms to hire for all born in St Albans, that’s Marion and Barry with sister Patsy enjoying came from – and I believed it, got mums, or wives, families back community groups, private events why we like meeting up here.” a game of cards at our Jubilee Centre because I was prickly!” home, they must have felt really or meetings. M: “He’s always full of nonsense! sad mustn’t they?” Website: Growing up in Hertfordshire: He was a little devil when he was B: “We used to have the odd www.hertsindependentliving.org M: “There were six children young – they were choir boys but children now and again, the /jubilee-centre/ you see, all born in St Albans: they were naughty boys.” evacuees, from London!” Email: jubilee.centre@ Raymond, Kenneth, Marion, B: “I just found that life was fun, M: “Yes, we did.” hertsindependentliving.org Barry, Patsy, and Coral, and we it’s always been fun for me. Even B: “In our house, when we were Phone: 01727 847264 all lived here with our mum and when I was in the army, and I didn’t growing up. My mum, she had dad.” like it one little bit, but I made Or pop in for a cup six children but she still managed M: “St Albans has changed quite the most of it and I still had fun. I to look after a few evacuees of tea or coffee! a lot since growing up here. wasn’t in the army when there was

6 Independent Living // Issue 2 Independent Living // Issue 2 7 out on a round recipe

Recipe: Enriched Milk Herts residents receive Enriched milk helps maintain weight, promote weight gain, and prevent unintentional weight loss. meals from local Lord Each pint of enriched milk provides 580 calories, 38g protein, and 52g The former High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Lord Charles carbohydrate. The nutrients in enriched milk also help promote Cecil, helped deliver our meals on wheels during a visit to repair and recovery from illness. the HILS Letchworth site, joining driver Ray out on a round. Ingredients: • 4 tablespoons of skimmed Delivering to 22 people in know exactly where it was, by a dessert of summer fruit milk powder , , and and where the drivers are at crumble and custard, adding: Maintaining a • 1 pint (568ml) of whole milk Weston, Lord Cecil said: all times.” “Well that was excellent, I must (blue top) Lord Cecil got chatting to say, and just as delicious as a “Some people wanted their our team member Ray, saying: home cooked meal! I certainly healthy weight Method: meals dished up, others take “It was very nice to hear Ray wouldn’t complain if this came 1. Whisk the milk powder into it at the door, and some say ‘I’m much happier now to my door. Maintaining a healthy weight is enough milk to make a paste wanted you to come in for than when I was working in “It’s not only healthy, but important for good health. A lot 2. Add the rest of the milk a chat. insurance’ which is a good also a pleasure to eat, and of attention is paid to problems and mix well “I met some great people; thing to hear!” what’s good about your 3. You can now enjoy your there was one client who Following the delivery round, service, is that you can be associated with being overweight, enriched milk! started having the service Lord Cecil joined us for a food flexible.” but being underweight or suffering when they broke their leg, tasting to try our meals out for Top Tips: from unintentional weight loss can but enjoyed it so much they himself. Thank you Lord Cecil, you’re • You can make up enriched milk continued having it ever since. Lord Cecil tasted our chicken welcome to come back and help lead to health problems too. in a water jug and keep it “There was another lady with fricassée meal, finished off us out again any time! in your fridge to use

mild dementia who had a nice Have you experienced any of the following? throughout the day terrier, and luckily I had some • Milk powder is readily available dog biscuits in my pocket! • A long-term loss of appetite in supermarkets at a very low “The continuity aspect which or feeling more tired than usual price. It is usually located near the UHT milk or baking section HILS provide with timing and • Finding clothes, jewellery, staff is clearly invaluable and or dentures have become loose Five ways to use provides consistency for the your enriched milk: client. Ray’s a really nice guy • Losing weight without any intention to 1. Use in your hot drinks, like and knew all of the clients milky coffee or hot chocolate, really well. • Eating or drinking less than you used to throughout the day “I was impressed 2. Pour on your cereal or If you have answered YES to any of the above, by the heat test use to make porridge halfway round, and you may be at risk of being malnourished. 3. Use to make a nourishing cold learnt about the drink such as milkshakes sequencing and By eating plenty of foods rich in nutrients, 4. Drink a glass of enriched routes. It’s great further weight loss can be prevented, and milk with a snack that you have these weight can be gained if you need to. Nourishing 5. Use it to make custard or tracking systems, so drinks are packed with important nutrients, so sauces, and add it to soups that if you do have why not try our recipe for enriched milk! a problem, then you

8 Independent Living // Issue 2 Independent Living // Issue 2 9 puzzles HILS Puzzle Page of St Albans PROUD TO SUPPLY

Across 5 1. Wishing to do one’s work well and thoroughly HYUNDAI CARS TO HILS Crossword 8 2. Free from outside control; not subject to another’s authority Hertfordshire 3. Provide (something promised or expected) Independent Living Service Supporting your independence Down 1 1. The county we deliver meals in

7 2. A group of people living in the same place or having a particular 4 characteristic in common 2 3. Food or nourishment 4. Displaying kindness 1 and concern for 6 2 3 others 5. Relating to the assistance of 18-20 Catherine Street, St Albans, AL3 5BY those in need 01727 854 342 www.coupers.co.uk 6. Our site which has a drop in restaurant 7. Our food supplier 8. We install 3 community x alarms for this + 64 Herts based service In Common - - - What is the one thing shared by all three items in the same group? x + 37 1. Penny Pig did not A C build a brick house. HILS Logic – Three Little Pigs x + + a cow a potato The three little pigs, as you know, built houses, 2. The straw house a shoe a hurricane - / 0 one of straw, one of sticks, and one of bricks. By was not medium sized. a baby a target reading the six clues, figure out which pig built 3. Peter’s house was made -5 7 -2 Answer: Answer: each type of house, the size of each house, and of sticks, and it was the town in which each was located. Use a chart to neither medium nor D keep track of your information and your logic. HILS Number Square Puzzle B small. a river Try to fill in the missing numbers! Use numbers a zip

MATERIAL 4. Patricia Pig built her 1 to 9 to complete the equations. Each number a person TOWN SIZE house in Ware. a shark is only used once. Each row is a maths equation. a comb a cave Each column is a maths equation. Remember that Patricia Pig 5. The house in Hemel Answer: Answer: Hempstead was large. multiplication and division are performed before Penny Pig addition and subtraction. 6. One house was in a Peter Pig town called Letchworth.

10 Independent Living // Issue 2 11 our new patron Our new Patron says the food we serve you is just like his Mum

used to make. can blanch a tomato? Phil was hooked, and after catering college worked as commis Praise indeed! chef at The Lanesborough in Hyde Park. Interview by Phil was Executive Chef HILS cater for a wide Phillippa Le Marquand of Brocket Hall when its range of nutritional and restaurant, the Auberge du Lac, religious requirements What’s on your menu today? At HILS we are passionate about the quality was awarded a Michelin Star from gluten-free to Halal of the half a million hot meals we deliver every year, and so it is brilliant in 2009. When he left to open and Kosher, producing his own restaurant, many of his more than 100 variations that our first Patron shares our passion and values. He is award-winning staff moved with him, and he of the menu, shaped Hertfordshire chef Phil Thompson, whose fine-dining restaurant Thompson really values his close knit team. around clients’ needs and St Albans, established three years ago, is one of the finest in the county. Phil is also keen to acknowledge preferences. Phil also takes the essential role of his fiancée pride in accommodating his Phil was “impressed and can’t consistently deliver food starting with stews and apple and business partner Marianne customer’s particular eating amazed” when he ate at as good as this. It is warm, pies. His uncle and mentor, in the smooth-running of the requirements. He explains, the HILS Jubilee Centre in St tasty comfort food, the sort Michael Vango, had a contract business. “We moved into “We do a special menu if Albans and surprised how my Mum used to cook. You catering business with Phil our house in a week we know a vegan is coming, tasty the food was. “The are doing an amazing job and washing up at weekends and before we moved into the with a choice of starter, main chicken and mushroom dish deserve the full support of the learning food preparation. restaurant. Marianne runs the course and dessert. They is lovely. The meat pie is community.” How many 14 year old boys business and our home, she is are delighted as restaurants great. The puddings are real Phil, now 38, is an Essex up before me and works more rarely offer them any kind of comfort food – favourites boy from Dagenham and hours than me!” he says. choice.” like sticky toffee pudding, cooking is in his DNA - his Despite numerous TV Phil’s customers are work. The trouble with being lemon sponge and fruit Nan, mother and sister appearances Phil bears little generally aged 40 and over, a chef is that no one else ever crumble which go down were cooks in the Ford resemblance to the larger- but he has many older clients. wants to cook for me. I would very well with my staff for Dagenham staff canteen. than-life celebrity chefs. He “There are three gentlemen be happy with beans on toast their lunches.” Schoolboy Phil learned confesses, “I am quite a shy who come here by themselves if someone else cooked it, but Phil told Sarah Wren MBE, the basics from his Mum, person and find it intimidating once a week for lunch. They friends don’t invite us round Chief Executive of HILS, “I to walk round a restaurant get quite a welcome and for a meal.” We are delighted am truly amazed by what full of people even if the clearly feel very much at to welcome Phil Thompson you do. There is so much restaurant is my own! If we do home. I still love cooking, and as our ambassador, to help involved. I have known 100 covers on a Saturday night am very hands-on. I wake spread the word about how restaurants working with and one person complains, it up every morning happy and good our food is. We will even far bigger budgets who ruins my evening.” looking forward to coming to cook for him!

12 Independent Living // Issue 2 Independent Living // Issue 2 13 garden story Meet Rhona: Rhona first joined HILS in 2006 as a community Get Gardening with SMILE team member, delivering

A new gardening project No two days are the same at a gardening and SMILE’s range our meals on wheels. has been bringing Caring Gardens hub. Some of of specialist adapted gardening Now a weekday Team people together across the clubs have seen woodwork tools make it possible to take North and East Herts. sessions to build homes for part in comfort. Leader at our Ware site, wildlife, making seasonal flower SMILE also operates in the Caring Gardens is a new arrangements, creating mosaics south of the county. In , Rhona is a highly valued initiative funded by and murals, and even a fruit and , member of our team. Tesco Bags of Help, and smoothie making session. folks have been attending delivered by the SMILE And the fun doesn’t stop on SMILE’s Happy Days sessions, team at Hertfordshire rainy days or if the weather to try their hand at ceramic Rhona shares her story… Rhona’s role at HILS involves “It’s an 11am start and 2pm Care Providers gets chilly! The gardening painting, chair based exercise, “Before I worked at HILS I the general day to day running finish, so it’s ideal for mums, Association, to bring activities themselves can cake decorating and discovering was a mobile school cook all of our Ware site - “Making sure they haven’t got to worry community groups and continue indoors, too – people other cultures – as well as the around Ware, covering chefs it all runs smoothly really. about childminders and are volunteers together in attending the sessions can take ever popular gardening sessions. when they weren’t there. Now “The area that our Ware site there for drop off and pick up. I’m at HILS where we deliver covers is quite rural, and the “Everybody pulls together; weekly gardening clubs part in ‘table top gardening’, If you would like to attend using large tidy trays to hold any of these FREE sessions, or over 1,400 meals each day clients are all very grateful for the community team are all based in care homes compost and pot up plants with for more info, please contact – I’m obviously one of these the service – you’ve definitely very good, and a lot of them around the county. a minimum of mess. These the SMILE team at HCPA, on people who likes a challenge! got some characters! We’ve ring round to ask if people have proved popular with keen 01707 536020. “Doing this has come got thank you cards from need help if they finish early. The benefits of gardening and gardeners of all abilities - if naturally to me, and I just took clients all around the office. “We’ve had lots of fun spending time in the fresh air you use a wheelchair, or find a shine to it. I really enjoy just “It’s such a good service and here – if everyone’s got their are well known – and these bending difficult, table top making a difference to the everybody works really hard to meals and everyone’s happy, clubs are a great way to meet older people’s lives, letting make it all come together and mission accomplished! I just new people and socialise, while them know there are services make the service what it is. We come in every day and do the getting some gentle exercise. out there for them that they all work as a team, and there’s best I can. It’s all we can do Even if hands-on gardening may not know about, and nothing I wouldn’t ask them to really.” isn’t your cup of tea, the giving peace of mind to the do that I wouldn’t do myself, Rhona’s favourite HILS projects are designed and led relatives.” we all just muck in.” meal? “The Vienna steak.” by the group, so there is a chance to learn and practice Are you interested in joining our kind, caring team? all kinds of skills and pastimes. Visit: www.hertsindependentliving.org/vacancies to view current job roles.

14 Independent Living // Issue 2 Independent Living // Issue 2 15 poem Another day, working for HILS I never thought Delivering good food with extra frills Sign in at the depot, check which round I’d make so Checklist the car to be safe and sound Now to the round sheet, new each day Listing clients and their meals per se many friends Hot meals, cold meals and tea packs for some Collect the food bags and we’re nearly done in a care home Load the car and off we go Thankfully today, good traffic flow Quantum Care homes provide a friendly, Careful driving is ever the aim stimulating atmosphere with the human A good safety score again and again warmth to help you enjoy life in a comfortable, homely environment. The first delivery bang on time Exchange pleasantries and all is fine We choose dedicated, well-trained staff Each drop is made with the same good wish for whom caring is more than just a job, Ode to a HILS That all is well as we serve the dish and locations which are in the heart of the local community. Delivery Driver Soon it’s time for a routine check Ensuring meal temperatures are up to spec All is fine and so we move on Real life experiences... at Quantum Care Homes Written by George Hucklesby Almost finished, where’s the time gone? Community Team Back to the depot well on track A successful round, tomorrow we’re back! We have 26 Homes Member at Letchworth in Hertfordshire & surrounding areas Royston HILS Puzzle Page answers: In Common Crossword HILS Logic answers: Letchworth Dunstable Garden answers: answers: TOWN SIZE MATERIAL City Stevenage A. a tongue Across • Residential, Respite and Patricia Pig Ware Medium Brick Hertfordshire 1. Conscientious Day Care B. teeth 2. Independent Penny Pig Letchworth Small Straw A1(M) Bishop’s C. an eye • Accredited providers of Stortford Hemel Large Sticks 3. Deliver Peter Pig Hempstead Specialist Dementia Care Harpenden Garden D. a mouth City Down Hemel • Competitive fee rates, Hempstead 1. Hertfordshire St Albans Hatfield Number Square solution: not for profit 2. Community Abbots Harlow 7 x 9 + 1 64 Langley M25 3. Nutrition Potters Bar - - - 4. Caring Borehamwood 4 x 8 + 5 37 5. Charitable Heath 6. Stalbans x + + 7. Apetito 3 - 6 / 2 0 01707 393293 8. Careline -5 7 -2 [email protected] www.quantumcare.co.uk 16 Independent Living // Spring 2017 Independent Living // Issue 2 17 We delivered 2,440 dementia fun club sessions

More I am better nourished:

I visit my than I feel happier: GP less: 93% 94% just a 74% HILS impact stats Meal: Our 2016/17 client survey revealed It has helped me stay living how we help people across My life is easier: at home: Hertfordshire stay healthy, happy, Margaret and independent. 98% 94% As a result of receiving tells all our services, HILS My family has clients said… I feel more greater peace independent: Margaret, 83, has information on our meals, so I I live on my own, I don’t see of mind: been having our meals was able offer Margaret a list many people. I’ve got no family every day for around of our meals and their fibre or anything, so it’s nice that content. We also identified someone comes in each day”. I feel less lonely: 92% 15 months, and with 97% the help from our the meals that do not contain Following her nutrition and nutritionist Annabelle, specific ingredients that wellbeing check, Annabelle might aggravate her health recommended Margaret our team has been able 90% condition, to help her make to Herts Help for some to help Margaret with informed choices when information on events in her her health condition. completing our menu. area for older people. Margaret says: “I’ve got a “Our service not only “You’re a good crew, aren’t bowel problem which means provides hot meals in the you?” adds Margaret, “The food I have to be very careful with comfort of your own home is good, the service is reliable, what I eat. Luckily there’s – our visits also provide a and the drivers are very, very enough variety that I am able welfare check, and the peace kind. I have another friend to have quite a lot of what’s of mind that someone caring here that might go on meals on HILS needs you! on the menu – and I never get will be visiting you.“ wheels now, because I’ve told We would like to hear from you! Please get in touch with bored of my meals!” Margaret adds: “Not only do her how good they are!” us and send us your letters, poems, memories, favourite Our registered nutritionist I enjoy the food, but I’ve got Our nutrition and wellbeing food or recipes, or anything you would like featured in our Annabelle says: “We have someone to chat to. It can get service is available to all HILS comprehensive nutrition quite lonely here, and because meals clients. magazine. Or perhaps you would like to be interviewed for the magazine yourself? Please get in touch by emailing: Find out more about our nutrition and wellbeing team on our website: [email protected] www.hertsindependentliving.org/nutrition-and-wellbeing/

18 Independent Living // Issue 2 Independent Living // Issue 2 19 Stay independent at home with a pendant alarm from Herts Careline

We know that living independently is very important to our customers. There’s no place like home. Award- winning Herts Careline offers a discreet and low cost way to do this via its community alarm and telecare service. A simple pendant worn as a necklace or on a wrist band can be of great reassurance that help is on hand 24/7 if needed. Over 61,000 people over the age of 65 live alone in Hertfordshire, and Herts Careline offers much needed 24/7 reassurance and peace of mind for the user, their families and carers who might live further afield. If you feel unwell, have a fall or need reassurance, you can press your pendant and speak to a locally based, highly trained operator who will arrange the appropriate assistance. Some sensors and monitors will automatically activate when they detect a risk - if you have a fall or if there is a fire.

There are no upfront costs or long term contracts, and when compared to other types of care the monthly cost of the service is very modest - only £3.25 per week (+VAT if RX-8467applicable). Careline HILS Call HLFPG 0300 advert 999 Jan 2 17_Layout999 or visit1 17/01/2017 www.care-line.co.uk 15:23 Page 1 for more information.

Your trusted community alarm and telecare service

No upfront costs, equipment charges, or long term contracts Helping you or your loved ones stay independent at home

£3.25 per week (includes maintenance of the equipment, monitoring of calls and Emergency Response Fallback Service)

Provided in association with Careline is a Hertfordshire County Council and not-for-profit service of

NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL

Serving residents throughout 0300 999 2 999 Free Medical Alert Card and the whole of Hertfordshire www.care-line.co.uk Keyfinder Key Fob with every If you live in Stevenage, please call Stevenage Borough Council in the first instance on 01438 242666. community alarm.