The UK has an aging population. There are 10 million people over the age of 65 and, as people are expected to work longer, the older generation is offering a vital contribution to our communities.
As we get older, it is important to think about our finances. Our money section has lots of advice and information about managing your money along with any financial assistance you may be able to claim.
We may also find ourselves becoming a family or friend carer. If this is the case, you are entitled to a variety of support as a carer to help with your caring role
If you are working less or have retired, think about volunteering and helping out in your local community
More information on volunteering here
We all like to keep busy and stay connected, so keep in touch with local groups, friends and family. Our community directory has lots local groups and activities for you to take part in.
Go to our community directory here
To help you to get out and about in Hull, there are a variety of concessions when using public transport including –
More information on Transport here
As we age, we are more likely to have a long-term condition or disability, and may need support to maintain our independence and quality of life. Our health and wellbeing section has lots of information to help you stay healthy as you get older.
Having an NHS Health Check and seeking advice can help prevent crisis situations.
More on NHS Health checks here
As we get older, we may start to feel the cold weather as winter draws in. We may also find ourselves more susceptible to colds and the flu and we may find that we need a longer period of time to recover.
However, if you are 65 and over, you are entitled to a free flu jab every winter to help boost your immune system and fight off the flu.
You can find more information on our keeping warm in winter page
As we get older we may find that we have trouble with our hearing or vision. This is a common issue amongst older people but it should not stop you from doing the things you want to do.
If you notice a change in either your hearing or vision, you should contact your GP. Your GP will be able to run some routine tests to determine the extent of your hearing and vision loss.
Our Sensory support section can offer advice and support for people with hearing and vision loss.
You are more prone to foot problems as you get older so it is very important to take care of your feet.
More on foot care here (Opens in a new window)
Depending on where you live and any conditions you have (such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis), it may be possible to have routine podiatry (also known as chiropody) treatment on the NHS. You should discuss this with your GP about this.
More on Primary healthcare services here
The Foot Health Clinic offers nail clipping, removal of hard skin and general foot-based health and wellbeing for those who may be unable to manage by themselves any more.
This service is available Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9.00am to 4.00pm and costs £20.00 per person or £35.00 per couple and is based at –
Age UK Hull
Healthy Living Centre
Bradbury House
Porter Street
Hull
HU1 2RH
To book an appointment, contact Age UK Hull by telephone on 01482 324 644
Note - this service is independent from Age UK Hull
As we get older if can often be more difficult to keep on top of things such as cleaning, preparing a meal or keeping up with the garden.
Age UK have a Home Support service that can help you with things like cleaning, shopping and pension collecting and preparing a meal. You can contact the Home Support service on 01482 591 521.
To help you stay independent in your home, we have developed a ‘help at home’ section which has lots of advice and support to make it easier to manage your home.
More information on Help at home here.
Unfortunately, as we get older, we may feel more vulnerable when we are in our home or out and about in the community
However, they are some practical things we can do to help us stay safe, whether that be installing some equipment to help prevent a fall, or joining a neighbourhood watch scheme to help keep our communities safe.
More information on keeping safe in the community here
More information on equipment and adaptions here
As you get older, your risk of falling increases. Even if you're still active, you could have poor eyesight, slower reaction times, weaker muscles, or problems with your balance - all of which can lead to accidents or falls.
Tips to prevent you from falling -
If you fall when you're alone, get help and keep yourself warm. If you're worried about getting help, you may want to get a community alarm that you can wear around your neck. Pressing the alarm will alert our response centre staff and they'll ring you to see what's wrong.
When you next see your doctor or nurse, tell them about your fall. They can check whether a health problem is causing you to fall and if it's likely to happen again. If it is, they may give you medication to improve your condition.
Make sure you tell your family that you have had a fall so that they can keep an eye on you and make sure you get any treatment you might need.
If you are worried about falling or have fallen in the past, you should look at ways to make you feel safer in your home. By adapting your home with grab handles in the areas you use most could help you move around your home easier. Using equipment such as a life-line pendant could ensure you get the help you need if you do get into difficulty.
To find out more about Age UK falls prevention in Hull visit the website using the link provided, alternatively telephone them on them on 01482 591 524.
Find out more about Falls prevention in Hull (Opens in a new window)
Age UK Hull is an independent local charity and been working in the local community to help older people for over 60 years.
They have many dedicated staff and volunteers helping to deliver services and activities for older people in Hull.
Their services include –
Age UK Hull also runs weekly drop sessions to where you can talk with specialist advisors about –
These sessions run every Tuesday 1pm to 3.30pm at -
Toll Gavel United Church
Toll Gavel
Beverley
HU17 9AA
More information on Age UK Hull services here (Opens in a new window)
Alternatively, you can contact them by telephone on 01482 324 644
