The Older Person's Forum in Conwy have published advice for elderly people struggling to deal with the high level of Coronavirus information and advice which is changing almost daily.

One of the main concerns is how to tackle the issue of self-isolation which the Government have said all older people should do until health officials say it is safe to do so.

Age Connect Wales that runs the forum have just published a handy newsletter which outlines much of this essential information.

Getting Support

Ask family, friends and neighbours to support you, and help you make arrangements for the delivery of food, medicines and essential services and supplies. If this is not possible, then please contact public sector services or a charity that can provide help for those advised to stay at home.

If you receive support from health and social care organisations, through the local authority or health care system, this will continue as normal.

Local Telephone Buddying

Eluned Jones from the forum is a retired Social Worker, living in North Wales. She and some of her retired colleagues have set up a telephone buddying service to help people get through the coming weeks. If you know anyone who might benefit from having a phone buddy, please call Eluned on 01745 860422. Eluned speaks fluent Welsh.

Age Cymru ‘check-in-and-chat’ telephone service for the over 70s

From this week, Age Cymru are offering a service that will help provide some reassurances to older people, answer basic queries and link people to local services and support during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Anyone over 70 in Wales can register free of charge, to receive a regular telephone call from the charity in either English or Welsh. Call the Age Cymru Advice Number on 08000 223 444 or email enquiries@agecymru.org.uk.

Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) Service Information

Relate delivers support to all Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel, veterans, reservists and their families across the UK, free of charge. To access, clients must call Relate ensuring they have their Service Number to hand, on the designated RNRMC Line – 01302 380279.

Home Life Social Enterprise

Age Connects NWC has a new service called “Home Life” which provides a holistic approach to supporting people so they can live in their own home for as long as possible. The support is tailor made to the requirements of each person. This is a social enterprise service so a fee applies, and details can be discussed with each person requiring the service.

Services available include shopping, dog walking, IT support, companionship, cooking, ironing and others.

During the coronavirus emergency the service can provide some distanced support including shopping, collecting pharmaceuticals and companionship calls. For further information please contact: Jayne Spencer – 01745 472004 or Information and Advice Team – 0300 2345 007.

Important information about over 75 TV Licences

The BBC has decided that, because of coronavirus and the challenges to the UK, changes to over 75 licences won’t now happen until August 2020. This means that your current free licence will remain valid until July 31st, 2020.

Whether you receive Pension Credit or not, you don’t have to do anything just yet. There’s plenty of time. You will be contacted by letter before the policy changes to let you know what you need to do. If you receive Pension Credit If you receive Pension Credit and have already applied for your new licence then your application is being processed.

For any further information: Tel. 0300 2345 007 or 01492 871 124 Email: alessandra.thomas@acnwc.org or enquiries@acnwc.org.