A

Adaptations

If you need an adaptation to your home you should first contact your local health and social services and ask for a Community Care Assessment by an Occupational Therapist who will establish whether your condition warrants an adaptation, you will also be subject to a financial means test:

For larger works, this may lead to the possibility of a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). Please see the Disabled Facilities Grant section for further details.


Agents (Planning)

Planning applications must be accompanied by the necessary plans of the site. You can do this yourself or get a professional planning agent or architect to do it for you.

Age UK

Age UK provides a wide range of services to help people in later life throughout the UK. Bristol will support people with food shopping.

Alarm Pendants

These can act as a simple way of calling for help, or can be used by those who need assistive technology as an essential way of detecting falls or helping with memory loss.

B

Beds and accessories

Benefits advice

  • Talking Money
  • Gov.uk – Benefits
  • Turn2Us
  • Age UK services in your area – Age UK will help older people with benefit applications, the age may vary depending on the county.
  • Bristol City Council Welfare Rights and Money Advice Service (WRAMAS) – provides benefit advice/applications in Bristol and work with younger people.
    For further advice call their helpline number (0117) 3521888. Opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 AM to 1 PM (closed on Wednesdays). WRAMAS can also advise you if you have applied for PIP and been turned down, or if you feel that you have not been given the correct rate. WRAMAS advise that if you have received a letter inviting you to apply for PIP you must do so within the timescale, and if you think you qualify, you must apply for it. It is not an automatic transfer from DLA to PIP.
  • Bristol Water – Help with paying your bill

Blue Badge

Disabled parking permit enabling drivers to park in disabled spaces:

Boiler / Boiler Replacement Schemes/Energy Advice

How often should I get my boiler serviced?
You should aim to have your boiler serviced yearly to make sure it is running efficiently.

Why should I consider replacing my boiler?
It might be that your boiler isn’t energy efficient anymore or that it requires constant fixing. You might end up spending a lot more on energy bills because of it. For more information on how a new boiler can save you money.

Which boiler should I choose?
If you’re replacing your boiler, we’d recommend a combi-boiler for maximum efficiency but we do offer a range of heating options for every household.

How much is a boiler?
This depends on the boiler you’re having fitted. We’d recommend getting in touch with us for a relevant quote. We do offer our boilers on finance now so you can spread the cost throughout the year.

Why does my boiler keep losing pressure?
There’s a variety of reasons as to why this might be happening. The two most common reasons are water leaks or faulty pressure release valve. Read more about common reasons your boiler might lose pressure.

What is the difference between a boiler and an electric heater?
Both offer a way of heating your house, however gas boilers combined with radiators are much more efficient than electric heaters.

Why is winter the best time to get my boiler serviced?
Contrary to popular belief, winter is not the best time to get your boiler serviced. Winter is often the busiest time of year for heating engineers as many people will turn their boiler on after the summer and find it doesn’t work. Get your boiler serviced in the summer instead and avoid the winter rush.

Boiler replacement schemes
These schemes change all the time so always advisable to check with the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) first.

Do check Npower subsidised insulation and boiler replacement service as they offer a replacement scheme from time to time.

Bristol Older People’s Forum

Bristol Older People’s Forum (BOPF), The Voice of Older People in the City of Bristol.

Become a BOPF member and receive The BOPF Magazine with information about our work and the things that matter to you, such as our Open Forum meetings, our Transport and Housing Action projects, key local contacts and much more…  Tel: 0117 9041172, email: bopfadmin@ageukbristol.org.uk, web: www.bopf.org.uk.

Building Control

Advice and guidance to help with building regulations:

Carers – Support for

Cleaning – deep clean

  • Crawfords Property Restoration & Cleaning
    Unit 38, Worle Quarry, Lower Kewstoke Road, WESTON SUPER MARE, BS22 9LF
    Contacts: Andrew Crawford, 01934 513862, 07815 814128
    Email: info@crawfordsprc.com
    Website: www.crawfordsprc.co.uk


Community meals

Community Support at Home

  • British Red Cross – 0117 301 2601

Companionship

Condensation

Conversions
Garages – These may be converted under a Disabled Facilities Grant to provide ground floor bedroom and bathroom facilities. Housing departments will only look at garage conversion or extension if there is not a more cost-effective solution which meets need. Client may be able to fund the difference between Occupational Therapy recommended scheme and what they would like.

Loft conversions – These may be carried out using Wessex loan funding, providing there is a situation of overcrowding within the property which fails the Decent Homes standard.

Council Tenants

See also Home Choice

D

Debt Advice

  • Talking Money (Bristol and South Glos)
    Talking Money play a vital role in making free, independent, confidential and professional advice available to people in financial difficulty.

Deep Cleans – see cleaning

Dementia

  • Alzheimer’s Society
    Alzheimer’s Society is a membership organisation, which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia.
    Tel: 01225 396741
    Email: pat.wilson@alzheimers.org.uk
  • Age UK Bath & North East Somerset runs a Dementia Challenge scheme in conjunction with its Home from Hospital service, supporting people living with dementia.
    Tel: 01225 462641
    Email: sally.hathaway@ageukbanes.co.uk
  • Dementia Wellbeing Service delivers dementia services in Bristol.
    Tel: 0117 904 5151
  • The Peggy Dodd Centre
    Support for older people living in Bath and surrounding areas with Alzheimer’s and other dementia illnesses.
    Tel: 01225 835520
    Address: Brierley House, Summer Lane, Combe Down, Bath BA2 5JX

Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs)

Disabled Living Foundation

  • Disabled Living Foundation
    The UK’s leading source of impartial information and expert advice on independent living. A national charity, they have built up over 40 years an unparalleled range of information on daily living equipment and other useful advice for people who might need some help in living their live to the full.

Downstairs toilet/Level Access Shower (LAS) – see Adaptations

We Care Home Improvements are specialists in installing these types of adaptations in your home. Call  0300 323 0700 for more details

E

Equipment and Demonstration Centre

We have a variety of  Home independence products available at our
Home Independence Centre in Bristol which can support you to live independently in your
own home. Visit us at 5, Hide Market, St Phillips, Bristol BS2 0BH

Environmental Health

If you think that disrepair to a neighbour’s property is affecting your home, Environmental  Health are the people to contact.

Equipment Provision

  • DLF is a national charity providing impartial advice, information and training on independent living since 1969. Beds and chairs, This includes: Clothes and footwear, Communication and Sensory, Eating and Drinking, Household and Environmental Controls, Memory, Mobility and Access, Moving and Handling, Personal Care
    DLF Daily Living Factsheets

Equipment Repairs

Equity Release

Extra Care Housing

A means of independent living with care.  It provides older people, who have some care needs, with an assured tenancy in a self-contained flat in a purpose-built or adapted scheme. If you require help with personal care and daily activities and your present accommodation is not suitable any more, then extra care housing might be the answer. Extra care will enable you to have the care and support you need whilst maintaining a high degree of privacy and security.  A trained care team is based in the same building to assist you with personal care and any other tasks you are unable to do alone. You will have the benefit of your own front door with the security and support of a safe environment. You will also benefit from the services of a manager who will be on site to deal with any problems you have with your flat.

  • Bristol – For a flat to rent, referral is needed via Care Direct, for a social services assessment of need. Individuals must be receiving at least 5 hours of personal care each week to get on the waiting list.
  • Bath & North East Somerset – as above.
  • South Gloucestershire – as above but must also register with HomeChoice.
  • Some purchase options available via Brunelcare, Housing & Care 21, St Monica Trust.

F

Falls

Health and Social Services have a Falls Prevention Service which may be accessed through:

  • Bristol: Care Direct – Tel 0117 9222700.  Find out about Staying Steady strength and balance classes 
  • Bath & North East Somerset: Sirona – Tel 01225 396000 option 2
  • North Somerset: Care Connect – 01934 888801
  • South Gloucestershire: South Gloucestershire Community Care – Tel 01454 868007

Fire Safety

  • Home Fire Safety visits provide householders with free advice on all aspects of fire safety in the home.  Home owners who need to have smoke alarms fitted or batteries changed have to call the Fire Service.
    Tel: 0117 926 2061
    Website: www.avonfire.gov.uk

General advice

  • FirstStop Advice is an independent, impartial and free service offering advice and information to older people, their families and carers about housing and care options for later life.
  • Well Aware provides information on a wide range of organisations; support groups, community groups, events and activities that can help improve your health and wellbeing in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

 

H

Handrails

If you need handrails fitted to help you get around your garden or help to navigate steps, give us a call on 0300 323 0700 and we’ll arrange a quotation.

Handyperson Service

Hoarding or Making Space

The aims of We Care’s Making Space service is:

  • To provide an alternative approach to supporting people with hoarding tendencies to that offered by statutory services.
  • Achieved by volunteers visiting clients every 7-10 days, building up a trusting relationship and providing emotional support rather than purely practical.
  • To focus on sustainably supporting clients to let go of their possessions by understanding their motivations for making space and empowering them to do this is in a way and manner that they are comfortable with.

For help and advice about general de-cluttering please visit We Care Making Space  or call us on 0300 323 0700 and we will arrange a quotation for you.

Homechoice

Your council’s housing options service. Services include applying and bidding for social housing (if you are eligible), and free and impartial advice regarding your housing options, including for people in housing need and those who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

Housing Associations

HOUSING OPTIONS: 

Is your current home no longer suitable for your needs?

Would you benefit from moving to a new area or a smaller property?

Call us on 0300 323 0700 and ask for our Housing Options Caseworker.

I

Information & Advice

If you need information and advice on home electrics, problems with damp, boiler or immersion heater repairs, leaking roof or rotting window frames call us on 0300 323 0700 and ask for our Information and Advice service.

L

Legal matters

Listed Building Consent

M

Making Space or Hoarding

The aims of We Care’s Making Space service is:

  • To provide an alternative approach to supporting people with hoarding tendencies to that offered by statutory services.
  • Achieved by volunteers visiting clients every 7-10 days, building up a trusting relationship and providing emotional support rather than purely practical.
  • To focus on sustainably supporting clients to let go of their possessions by understanding their motivations for making space and empowering them to do this is in a way and manner that they are comfortable with.

For help and advice about general de-cluttering please visit We Care Making Space. A Caseworker can help de-clutter a property if a hospital discharge is dependent upon it.

O

Occupational Therapy Assessment (Disabled Facilities Grant)

See Adaptations.

Park Homes

Gov.uk Park Homes – Information for park home residents in England on their rights and obligations under the Mobile Homes Act 1983.

Pendant alarms

These can act as a simple way of calling for help, or can be used by those who need assistive technology as an essential way of detecting falls or helping with memory loss.

Pest control

For pests which are not dealt with by the local council Protect a Home provide  a comprehensive service but are not on our trusted contractor list.

Power of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.

This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and can’t make your own decisions (you ‘lack mental capacity’).

For information about The Mental Capacity Act 2005, Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) and Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) contact:

Removal of furniture – chargeable council services

You can donate large items like furniture to be reused by organisations, and councils can also collect large items from your home.

Removal of furniture – free of charge

Repairs

If you need adaptations or repairs to your home call us on 0300 323 0700 and our experienced team can help you find the best way to do it. This may include referring you to a contractor or We Care Home Improvements acting as your agent. Types of work this could cover are:

Types of repair:

  • Boiler repair
  • Boiler replacement
  • Carpentry
  • Cavity wall insulation
  • Ceilings
  • Central heating system
  • Chimney stack
  • Concrete gutter linings
  • Damp
  • Damp proof course
  • Dehumidifier
  • Dog flap
  • Doors internal
  • Door external replacement
  • Drains
  • Fascias
  • Floors
  • Guttering
  • Insulation
  • Lighting internal/external
  • Loft partition
  • LPG boiler/park homes
  • Gas
  • Electrical rewiring
  • Mould
  • Night storage heaters (NSHs)
  • Rendering/pebble dash
  • Shower blocked
  • Shower leak
  • Solar panels
  • Stop-cock repair/replacement
  • Roof repairs
  • Scaffolding
  • Sealed units for DG windows
  • Structural cracks
  • Tap repair/replace
  • Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)
  • Window replacement

Stairlifts

Visit our Home independence products page.

For those people that are finding it difficult to get up and down stairs, installing  a stairlift or through floor lift may be the answer.

Call us on 0300 323 0700 and we can arrange for a home visit to assess your needs and provide a quotation.

T

Telecare

Local councils provide telecare services

V

VAT exemption

Find out about which goods and services for disabled people and people aged 60 or over that you should apply zero or reduced rate VAT.

Volunteers

If you’d like to find out more about volunteering please visit our jobs and volunteering page.

Well Aware

Well Aware is a free information resource for everyone in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.  Whether personal health services, a lunch club or social group, help around the home or in the garden, transport, advice, counselling or any other form of support, all you need to find is just a few clicks or a phone call away.

Website: www.wellaware.org.uk
Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252
Email info@wellaware.org.uk

Websites

  • My Ageing Parent
  • First Stop Advice – Independent, impartial and free service offering advice and information to older people, their families and carers about housing and care options for later life.
  • Independent Age – Advice and support for older age.
  • Rally Round – free and secure online tool that allows family members, friends and carers to organise support for someone they care about.
  • Well Aware – Improving your health and wellbeing.