A Guide to Independent Living in Torbay Home There’S No Place Like It
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A Guide to Independent Living in Torbay Home There’s no place like it Being able to live at home can be one of the most important comforts in an older person’s life, and because family and friends can’t always be there, Home Instead Senior Care are here to help. From an hour a day, to full time care, our service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide: Home Instead in South Devon is part of a national organisation rapidly building a reputation as one of the UK’s leading care companies allowing older people to continue living in their own homes. Contact us on 01803 611630 www.homeinstead.co.uk/southdevon Each Home Instead Senior Care® franchise office is independently owned and operated. A Guide to Independent Living in Torbay WELCOME We all want to be in control of our own lives. This booklet gives you information that will help you stay independent, healthy and support you to do what’s important to you. If you do need some help, there is information about where to go to find it. CONTENTS Chapter 1: Health and Wellbeing Page 4 Chapter 2: Staying in Your Own Home Page 9 Chapter 3: Getting Out and About in the Community Page 17 Chapter 4: Looking After Someone Page 19 Chapter 5: Arranging Your Own Care Page 22 Chapter 6: Requesting an Assessment from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust Page 26 Chapter 7: Other Information Page 36 Whilst we have taken every care in compiling this booklet, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. The inclusion of any advertisement in no way endorses the services or products sold. A Guide to Independent Living in Torbay 3 Chapter 1 Health and Wellbeing The Torbay Healthy Lifestyles Service offers a wide range of healthy living information, advice and guidance. They can support people to: • Quit smoking • Get more active • Eat more healthily • Lose weight • Improve wellbeing The specialist team includes health coaches, physical activity specialists and experts in supporting people to quit smoking. It also has links with commercial organisations to support people to lose weight and increase physical activity through free or subsidised activities e.g. Weight Watchers, Rosemary Conley Online and Fitbay (GP exercise referral scheme). In addition to its dedicated team, its website offers straightforward, easy to follow steps through tailored advice and guidance. Go to: www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/healthy-lifestyles A) HEALTH CHECKS As we get older, we have a higher risk of developing conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease or type 2 diabetes. Your free NHS Health Check can spot early signs and help prevent these happening to you, which means you’ll be more likely to enjoy life for longer. This programme aims to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and certain types of dementia. Everyone between the ages of 40 and 74, who has not already been diagnosed with one of these conditions or have certain risk factors, will be invited (once every five years) to have a check to assess their risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes. They will be given support and advice to help them reduce or manage that risk. Contact your GP if you think you should have a health check. B) STOP SMOKING Stopping smoking is essential if you want to live a healthier life and prevent major diseases. Smoking is the primary cause of preventable illness and death with 100,000 people dying every year in the UK. But we all know it can be difficult to quit – nicotine is a drug. Every year thousands of people successfully quit smoking. If you want to stop smoking, help is available from the NHS Stop Smoking Service which exists to support people in Torbay to stop smoking. For free help, advice and support to give up smoking contact your Torbay Stop Smoking Service on: 0300 4561006 or go to: torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/healthy-lifestyles/stop-smoking 4 A Guide to Independent Living in Torbay C) DRINK LESS Drinking more than the recommended daily allowance can increase your risk of developing a drinking-related illness and approximately 10 million people in England drink above the recommended guidelines every year. Women who regularly drink more than 35 units per week (or more than 6 units per day) are at higher risk of developing a drinking-related illness (including breast cancer) and men who drink more than 50 units per week (or more than 8 units per day) are at a high risk of developing a drinking-related illness. Alcohol affects all parts and systems of the body and can play a role in many medical conditions. Drinking less reduces the longer term risk of serious diseases such as liver disease and stroke and will improve the condition of your skin, have a positive effect on sleep and will give you more energy and money. Drinking less also means you’ll be less likely to develop high blood pressure and put on weight. Women should not regularly drink more than 2 to 3 units of alcohol a day. That’s no more than a standard 175ml glass of wine (ABV 13%). Men should not regularly* drink more than 3 to 4 units of alcohol a day. That’s not much more than a pint of strong lager, beer or cider (ABV 5.2%). For advice and support go to: www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/healthy-lifestyles/alcohol For specialist advice and support contact Torbay Drug and Alcohol Service: www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/drug-and-alcohol-service/ Or telephone: 01803 604334 D) EAT HEALTHILY Don’t skip breakfast. Breakfast gives you the energy you need to face the day along with some of the vitamins and minerals needed for good health. Reduce your fat intake: • Choose lean cuts of meat and trim off any visible fat; • Choose low fat, polyunsaturated spread instead of butter; • Measure oil for cooking with tablespoons rather than pouring it straight from a container; • Grill, bake, poach or steam rather than frying and roasting; and • Choose lower fat versions of dairy foods whenever you can. Aim to have five pieces of fruit and vegetables every day: • Try fruit sliced over cereal for breakfast; • Snack on fruit mid-morning or mid-afternoon; • Put some extra vegetables, beans or lentils in your casseroles and stews (and less meat); • Stock up on frozen vegetables for easy cooking; or • Remember – a third of your lunch and your dinner plate should be vegetables or salad. For advice or support contact the Health Lifestyles Team on 0300 456 1006 or www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/healthy-lifestyles * Regularly means drinking this amount most days or every day. ABV is the percentage of alcohol in the drink. A Guide to Independent Living in Torbay 5 E) MOVE MORE Regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis as well as raise your mood and self-esteem. It can also raise the levels of ‘feel good’ hormones and reduces levels of stress. Inactive people have nearly twice the risk of developing heart disease. Adults should aim to be active daily. Over a week, activity should add up to at least 150 minutes (2½ hours) of moderate activity in bouts of 10 minutes or more – one way to approach this is to do 30 minutes on at least 5 days a week. Simple ways to getting more physically active include: walking the dog; digging the garden; using the stairs rather than taking the lift; getting off the bus one stop before your destination; or joining a dance group, jogging/walking/games club or the gym. • T orbay Leisure Card - is free and offers Torbay residents on low incomes reduced entry charges to a wide range of indoor and outdoor sport and leisure activities. Available from Torbay Leisure Centre, the Riviera International Centre, Swim Torquay and Admiral Swimming Pool, Brixham. • Fitbay - Torbay’s GP Referral Scheme – Did you know that you can be prescribed exercise rather than medicine? Physical activity has a key part in improving health and well-being. It helps to prevent coronary heart disease, stroke and some forms of cancer - our countries leading killers. It can also reduce the risk of developing hypertension, diabetes, overweight and obesity. Ask your GP for more information or contact the Lifestyles team on 0300 456 1006. • 49ers - Regular exercise is one of the best ways to get the most out of life for all ages, but especially for 50+. The body at 50+ is changing and may be presenting some challenges along the way, but regular exercise will make a positive impact on your wellbeing. The 49ers meet at Torbay Leisure Centre every Monday and Wednesday from 12 – 2pm. Activities include badminton, squash, swimming and exercise classes. Contact Torbay Leisure Centre for further information on 01803 522240. For local advice and support and links to other resources go to: www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/healthy-lifestyles/move-more F) IMPROVE YOUR MOOD People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their emotions and their behaviour. They are able to handle life’s challenges, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks. But just as it requires effort to build or maintain physical health, so it is with mental and emotional health. • If you are in crisis, contact the Samaritans on 116 123 • If you are at all worried about your mental health talk to your GP • Struggling with mild to moderate stress and anxiety contact your local Depression and Anxiety Service (DAS).