Coronavirus

17th March 2020: We have suspended all our activities, lunch clubs and events until further notice.

We will endeavour to remain open Mon-Friday 10am-12noon throughout this period. We hope to always have someone on the end of a phone.  Our tel is 01706 817 926 

We are looking at how we can help, but mainly we can:

• Lend a listening ear
• Provide information and signpost you to organisations
• Help with admin/phone calls
• Check out possible scams
• Apply for attendance allowance and pension credit

Currently looking at helping with

•  shopping- including animal food/cat litter.
• Delivering books/puzzle books/art materials
• Dog walking
• We can’t come into your home, or do any cleaning, personal care.

Other helpful numbers:

• Gateway to Care- Calderdale social services: 01422 393 000 (particularly around your social care needs at home)
• Age UK advice line: 0800 678 1602 (Advice about money, care, health, housing etc)
• Healthy Minds Todmorden: 01706 810311 (anxiety support)
• NHS 111: (for health advice)

We are trying to collate information about what services are continuing, what businesses are doing local deliveries and who can help you. Call us if you need some information and hopefully we can help. Volunteers welcome!! 

Current Government Guidelines (17^th March) 

People over 70 are encouraged to stay at home for the next few months. This is not only for your own safety, but to help stop the spread of the illness, and relieve the NHS. Cutting physical contact is vital to help you stay safe.

You must not leave the house AT ALL for 7 days if you live alone or 14 days if you or your partner have been displaying any symptoms (particularly dry cough, and fever, but any cold/flu like symptoms).

Age Concern Todmorden recommendations to help you keep more comfortable whilst you remain at home during coronavirus. 

• Watch the news once a day. The situation is changing daily, and you need to keep informed about what to do.
• Limit the news to at most twice a day- don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by how depressing it is.
• Listen to the radio, including Classic FM and BBC local Radio – this will help to feel more like companionship than constant TV or silence.
• Phone people- even if you’ve never called them before. Use your telephone and chat to people- call friends, family, people you attend church/groups with. If you’re nervous you could always start with “is this a good time to talk, I can always call again later?”. Many people are living alone through this and we all need social interaction.
• If you have received a note through the door offering help from neighbours, then USE THEM! Don’t feel anxious, many people are eager to help you. If you have any worries contact us and we can help you think through using a volunteer safely.
• You can (currently) still go out for walk. Go and get some fresh air and stretch your legs. Wash your hands thoroughly when you get home.
• Keep active and moving- get out of your chair EVERY HOUR. Walk up and down stairs. The threat of stroke, falls and DVT is very real, so ensure you are walking about, lifting your knees, swinging your arms.
• Wear your pendant alarm. Keep a mobile phone in your pocket if you have one- then you can contact someone if you feel unwell or have a fall. Have an arrangement with a neighbour that you will open your bedroom/lounge curtains at a certain time- if you haven’t you call each other to check you’re ok
• Drink plenty of fluids. Not drinking enough is a cause of falls. Get up every hour and get a cup of tea or small glass of squash, and go to the toilet so you don’t worry about accidents.
• There are lots of facebook groups who can offer help or online socialising including Tod Chat and that, Todmorden Kindness, etc, do take a look.
• SCAMS- there is already an increase in scams. People are more likely to be caught out as it’s a confusing and stressful time. Take 5 minutes, pause. No company (eg Amazon)/bank etc will ever need to contact you via telephone. If you are not sure then speak to us first before doing anything-every decent organisation will be happy to wait for a few days whilst we check them out.
• If you have a cleaner/carer and would like to retain them maybe stay in a separate room, and clean the door handles etc after. They must not come into your house for 2 weeks if anyone in their family has any symptoms, nor should you let them in if you have any symptoms.
• If you have a mobile phone/tablet see if you can learn to skype or facetime with your family so that you can see them and share group chat.
• Keep your brain active- read, do puzzles, sort old photos, write down family stories.
• Remember, we’re all in it together. This will end. Keep in touch with each other.

About Age Concern Todmorden

We are a small local charity supporting older people in Todmorden, Walsden, Cornholme, Portsmouth and surrounding areas.

Please get in touch to find out more about any of our services, how we could help you, or how you could help us. We'd love to hear from you.

Our drop-in is held Monday-Friday 10am-12noon at 11 Burnley Road (next to the Todmorden Information Centre).

Contact us on 01706 817 926                            

email  ageconcerntodmorden@gmail.com   

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