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Age UK Suffolk: alternative sources of support

The charity Age UK Suffolk closed on Friday 24 July. Find out how you can access alternative support from other organisations.

Older man using phone at home

Loneliness and befriending (countywide)

Silverline

Silverline offers a free, confidential helpline for older people. They can provide support with befriending as well as providing advice and information on local groups and organisations. Silverline runs a befriending call scheme which can provide regular contact.

Blossom Avenue

Blossom Avenue offers a telephone support line for any vulnerable or elderly women who may be feeling isolated. The Support line is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 4pm.

The Voluntary Network

The volunteer network offer telephone befriending across Suffolk.

Loneliness and befriending (local services)

Good Neighbour Schemes

Many towns and parishes in Suffolk have an active good neighbour scheme. This may offer support with befriending or practical support from the local community. For details of good neighbour schemes in you area please see the link below.

St Nicholas Hospice Care (West Suffolk)

The Hospice is able to offer neighbourly support through their Hospice Neighbours and St Nic’s Next Door and can offer advice where people are facing a death in the family or a bereavement.

Home, But Not Alone

There are many more local schemes depending where in Suffolk you live. For more information on the schemes available near to you please contact the Home But Not Alone Service who can talk to you about support in your local community.

Suffolk InfoLink

You can find befriending schemes and support for isolated people on our Suffolk InfoLink website. 

Support with shopping

Woman delivering shopping to an older lady at home

If you have difficulty in shopping for yourself there are several different options available to you. All major supermarkets now offer a home delivery service via online ordering. You can find information about this on your preferred supermarket’s website. Many supermarkets will offer priority delivery slots for elderly or vulnerable people.

If you are unable to shop online, then there are a number of local volunteer groups who will collect shopping for you and deliver to your door. These groups will not normally enter your home.

Some home care providers offer a paid for shopping service which you can arrange privately. For information on home care providers you can visit the Care Choices website and view the Suffolk care directory online or order a copy to be sent to you.

For information on local volunteer groups who can help with shopping contact the Home, But Not Alone service.

You can find meal delivery services on our Suffolk InfoLink website.

Help around the home

If you need help to keep your home clean or with gardening or maintenance, there are several options available to you.

Some home care providers offer a paid for cleaning service which you can arrange privately. For information on home care providers you can visit the Care Choices website and view the Suffolk care directory online or order a copy to be sent to you.

Alternatively, there are many local cleaning or gardening companies available. When looking for a company ask for recommendations from people and always be sure that the service you use is reputable. Your local good neighbour scheme may have details of local volunteers or paid for services which are trustworthy.

You can find local services to help with the following on our Suffolk InfoLink website: 

Help with personal care

Wheelchair user at home with his dog

If you need help with personal care or maintaining independence you can visit the Living Well pages on the Suffolk County Council website. Here you will find information on remaining independent, on using digital or other kinds of equipment to support you in your home and information on finding care whether you are paying privately or eligible for council funded support. Find out more at www.suffolk.gov.uk/livingwell

If you are paying privately for care you can find information on home care providers by visiting the Care Choices website. You can view the Suffolk care directory online or order a copy to be sent to you.

A list of all Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered care providers can be found on their website at www.cqc.org.uk

Living with or caring for someone with Dementia

If you are living with or caring for someone with dementia then Dementia Together provides specialist support and advice via a telephone helpline which is open 7 days a week in response to Covid-19.

You can also find support dementia support services listed on our Suffolk InfoLink website. 

If you are a carer or your carer needs support

Older woman and her carer embracing

There is support available for unpaid carers to help them continue to provide care whilst looking after their own wellbeing.

Suffolk Family Carers provides advice, guidance and support and where required can support a carers assessment. The telephone helpline is available weekdays and online webchat support is available 7 days a week.

Help from Citizens Advice

You can contact Citizens Advice for concerns around money, benefits, housing, employment, legal, debt, family and consumer problems.

Offices are not currently offering face-to-face appointments. You can find support over the phone and online (hours may vary) on the Suffolk Adviceline: 0300 330 1151.

Ipswich

Mid Suffolk

Felixstowe and District

North East Suffolk

Includes: Lowestoft, Beccles, Halesworth, Bungay, Kessingland

Sudbury and District

West Suffolk

Includes: Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Mildenhall, Newmarket, Brandon

Leiston

Includes: Saxmundham, Woodbridge, Framlingham, Aldebrough, Rendlesham, Wickham Market

Diss, Thetford and District

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