Following on from a pilot last summer, organisations across Bristol are joining up thanks to Bristol Ageing Better to support vulnerable older people in the city.
The First Contact Checklist project will help older residents get the support they need by ensuring that the first organisation they contact is able to easily refer them on to other services around the city. For instance, if a firefighter visits to check an older person’s fire alarms, they might notice that the house is chilly. The First Contact Checklist will allow them to refer that older person to another service that could help, such as The Centre for Sustainable Energy.
The partnership includes Avon Fire and Rescue Service, Bristol Community Health and other local advice agencies and charities such as the Carers Support Centre for Bristol and South Gloucestershire and Age UK Bristol.
The Checklist covers home and fire safety, health and wellbeing and information and advice such as impartial advice on energy bills for people over the age of 50 living in Bristol.
Keith Sinclair, Chief Executive of Carers Support Centre, said:
“This scheme is a really effective way of linking up services both for older people and the unpaid carers that provide vital support to them.
“It will also help us to identify and ‘reach out’ to more people who are in an unpaid caring role and are not accessing the help and support they need. Many carers do not even recognise themselves as carers and as such are unaware that there are organisations, like ours, that can provide information, advice and support.”
HR and Services Manager Shelley Hankins from Age UK Bristol said: “We’re really excited about being involved with the First Contact Checklist. It’s a simple initiative that will really help older people in Bristol to access the services they need to.”
Bristol Ageing Better is a partnership of organisations in Bristol working to reduce loneliness and isolation in older people. It is able to carry out this work thanks to funding from the Big Lottery Fund awarded in 2015.
Find out more about the First Contact Checklist:
Contact: The Care Forum, the central point for checklist referrals in Bristol on:
T: 01179 654444 or visit www.thecareforum.org.uk
Alex Hodgson
Communication and Marketing Team Manager