Information for older people

Hello and welcome to the home page for services to older people.

Here you will find information about the wide range of services that are available to older people across Suffolk.

Suffolk County Council believes that older people are at the heart of the community. As an older person you have the right to make choices about the type of services you need. We try to ensure that if you need a service from us or a service provided by one of our partner agencies, that you will be treated with dignity and respect, your privacy will be respected, you will be supported in making choices and you will continue to enjoy the same rights as any other citizen of Suffolk.

Customer Promise explains the standards you can expect from us.

If you contact us for help we will undertake an assessment of your needs with you. With your help we will work out what will suit you best in your current situation.

If you need a service from us we want to try our best to ensure it is provided for you at home. If that isn't possible we want to make sure you are able to choose the right sort of care that is tailored to meet your particular needs. To do that we may have to work with other organisations such as Housing Authorities or Health Services.

We work closely with national organisations such as Age Concern Suffolk, Crossroads and the Alzheimer's Society and also with local groups such as Suffolk Family Carers, local voluntary groups and organisations to procure the widest possible range of services for our customers.

The sorts of services we arrange to help you include:

	Home Care To help with some of the personal tasks you may be having difficulty with such as: getting up, washing dressing, getting to the toilet or going to bed.
	Day Care There are lots of different sorts of day care available such as lunch clubs to day centres where there are specialist staff to help and support you.
	Delivery of meals to your home These can be either hot meals or frozen meals for you to heat yourself
	Respite care in a residential home This is a service to help give carers a break from their caring responsibilities
	Long stay care in a residential care home If you are no longer able to live at home
	Very Sheltered Housing Which offers lots of care and support but in purpose built flats
	The Blue Badge Scheme Which allows special parking concessions to disabled drivers or passengers
	Assistive Technology/Telecare  Consists of equipment and services that support your safety and independence in your own home.

Community transport - a range of transport services for people who cannot access conventional public transport because of where they live or because of mobility impairment.