Road show gives advice for the over 60's
Winchester's Community Safety Partnership members are staging a 3-day road show in the district providing free advice to anyone over 60 on a variety of subjects."Good health and a sense of well-being is vital to everybody," said Cllr Brian Collin, Winchester City Council's portfolio holder for Healthy and Inclusive Communities. "Especially with older people, this often comes from feeling safe and feeling able to participate in your local community.
"This partnership road show will be taking useful information to people in rural communities to help them access the services they need. There will be a focus on home and personal safety, fire prevention and lots of other health and well-being advice.
"Older people are more likely to remain in their own homes, be more confident, physically active therefore stronger, and enjoy an improved quality of life if they know how to stay fit and healthy and the services that are there to help them," he added.
Using the Safety Partnership van, the road show has been organised by Mid Hampshire Primary Care Trust, Winchester City Council, and Hampshire County Council.
The 'Stay on Your Feet' Project Manager Sara Owen will give advice on how older people can prevent falls in and around their own home, while the City Council's Homecheck officer, Denise Sturgess, will be talking to people about how to ensure their home remains secure and safe. She will also be taking names and addresses to arrange visits by the Homecheck team.
Hampshire County Council Trading Standards will be providing information about the sort of tricks used by door-step callers. For example, an overgrown garden can be used as a clue by bogus callers that a potentially vulnerable older person is living there - more information is available on www.helptheaged.co.uk
Visitors to previous road shows said they were a thoroughly worthwhile venture and what they particularly liked was that the services had gone out to them, making them far more accessible.
The road show is taking place between 16 - 18 May at the following locations and times:
Monday 16 May: Sutton Scotney (Post office - lay-by in Oxford Rd) 10-12noon; South Wonston (lay by near the village Post office in Downs Road) 1-3pm
Tuesday 17 May: Swanmore - in the village hall car park 10-12noon; Bishops Waltham in the Basingwell Street car park 1-3pm
Wednesday 18 May: Whitely (Sports Centre) 10 -12noon; Colden Common - Community Centre 1-3pm
For further information please contact Sara Owen on 01962 863511 ext 3661 or email her at sara.owen@midhampshirepct.nhs.uk