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help and info

Age Concern
Info Line: 0800 00 99 66 (every day 8am-7pm)
Website: www.ageconcern.org.uk
Organisation dedicated to working with older people to improve their quality of life. Provides practical information and advice to older people and their families and factsheets on a range of issues that affect older people in the UK. See Care homes – help and info for details of Age Concern Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Action on Elder Abuse
Helpline: 0808 808 8141 (Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm)
Tel: 020 8765 7000 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm)
Website: www.elderabuse.org.uk
Membership organisation which aims to prevent abuse of older people by raising awareness, research and dissemination of information. The helpline provides information and emotional support for anyone who is concerned about an older person being abused and is totally confidential.

Aid for the Aged in Distress
Tel: 01342 718254
Website: www.agedistress.org.uk
Charity that gives direct financial relief to frail elderly people in distress when they need it. They concentrate their efforts and resources directly to elderly people who, because of ineligibility or, who are only receiving partial funding through statutory or voluntary services, fall through the 'safety net'.

Alzheimer's Society
10 Greencoat Place
London SW1P 1PH
Helpline: 0845 300 0336 (Mon-Fri 8.30am-6.30pm)
Tel: 020 7306 0606
Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk
Provides information and education, support for carers, and quality day and home care. Also funds medical and scientific research and campaigns for improved health and social services and greater public understanding of dementia. Their confidential national helpline is for anyone with concerns about Alzheimer's disease or any other form of dementia. The trained advisors can provide information, support, guidance and referrals to other appropriate organisations.

Alzheimer Scotland: Action on Dementia
22 Drumsheugh Gardens
Edinburgh EH3 7RN
Helpline: 0808 808 3000 (24 hours)
Tel: 0131 243 1453
E-mail: alzheimer@alzscot.org
Website: www.alzscot.org
Scotland's leading dementia charity provides services and campaigns to help people with dementia, their families and carers. The website can help answer an array of questions about dementia, caring for sufferers and sources of support. It can also advise about diagnosing dementia, including explaining other reasons for memory loss and the tell-tale signs of senile dementia

British Geriatrics Society (BGS)
Tel: 020 7608 1369 (general enquiries; Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
Website: www.bgs.org.uk
Professional association of doctors practising geriatric medicine. The purpose of geriatric medicine is to restore an ill and disabled person to a level of maximum ability and wherever possible return the person to an independent life at home. The BGS offers specialist medical expertise in the whole range of healthcare needs of older people, from acute hospital care to long-term care in the community.

Counsel and Care
Twyman House
16 Bonny Street
London NW1 9PG
Advice Line: 0845 300 7585 (Mon-Fri 10am-12 and 2-4pm except Weds)
Tel: 020 7241 8555 (general enquiries)
E-mail: advice@counselandcare.org.uk
Website: www.counselandcare.org.uk
Charity giving advice and information to older people, their relatives and carers across the UK. They specialise in free advice for people over 60, their friends, carers and relatives on a range of practical issues, such as housing needs, paying for care and applying for grants. They give advice by telephone, letter and e-mail and have the capacity to support you through the problem until it is resolved.

Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC)
Advice line: 020 7820 1343
Website: www.eac.org.uk or www.housingcare.org
Charity which aims to help older people make informed choices about meeting their housing and care needs through a range of services. They maintain a database of all forms of accommodation for older people – sheltered housing for sale and rent, residential care homes, nursing homes and close care schemes.

for dementia
Tel: 020 7874 7210
Admiral Nursing Direct: 0845 257 9406
E-mail: info@fordementia.org.uk
Website: www.fordementia.org.uk
The mission of 'for dementia' is to improve the quality of life for people affected by dementia. They run training courses and a carers' network for carers of people with dementia. The charity is also the parent agency for Admiral Nurses – specialist mental health nurses who work in the community with families affected by Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Family carers can call Admiral Nursing Direct on the above number for more information and to find out if the scheme operates in their locality.

Foundations
Tel: 01457 891909
E-mail: foundations@cel.co.uk
Website: www.foundations.uk.com
Foundations is the national coordinating body for Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) in England. HIAs are not-for-profit, locally-based organisations that assist older, disabled and vulnerable people to live independently within their own homes by helping with repairs, adaptations and maintenance to their homes. They can also help with benefit entitlements, sourcing funds for works as well as acting as an advocate to the older person. Many also operate handyperson, security, energy efficiency, gardening or decorating schemes. A searchable directory of HIAs which details services available in each area is available on the website above.

Help the Aged
SeniorLine: 0808 800 6565 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm)
In Northern Ireland only: 0808 808 7575 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm)
E-mail: info@helptheaged.org.uk
Website: www.helptheaged.org.uk
Help the Aged has a range of services, many of them free, designed to help older people remain independent and feel safe in their own homes. The website has a topical news service and offers guidance to handling finances, staying healthy and local events. Their SeniorLine gives free telephone advice on a range of welfare rights issues. As well as the general UK site, Help the Aged's website also has pages for people living in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

IndependentAge
6 Avonmore Road
London W14 8RL
Tel: 020 7605 4200
Website: www.independentage.org.uk
National charity whose main aim is to help older people on low incomes to live independently with dignity and peace of mind by providing regular extra income, grants for emergencies, equipment to aid independence, the support and friendship of volunteers, nursing and residential care and help with fees.

The Relatives & Residents Association
Tel: 020 7359 8148
Helpline: 020 7359 8136 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm)
E-mail: info@relres.org
Website: www.relres.org
Organisation that exists for older people needing, or living in, residential care and the families and friends left behind. They provide a listening ear and information about issues such as paying for care or complaining about quality of care. Their helpline provides support and information about care homes.

United Kingdom Home Care Association (UKHCA)
Helpline: 020 8288 1551 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
E-mail: enquiries@ukhca.co.uk
Website: www.ukhca.co.uk
UKHCA is the professional association for organisations providing care, including nursing care, to people in their own homes. Its primary aim is to promote the highest standards of home care. Provides a free telephone helpline to people seeking home care, geographical lists of regulated or vetted member organisations and a leaflet entitled 'Choosing Care in your home'. The service is available free to users, carers and professionals in the field, who can also search for a homecare provider by using the 'Choosing Care' section of the website and covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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