Providing services for older people

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Providing services for older people

• Improving services to you

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Action from Benefits workshop in 2005

• Feature on services for older people in the
  Exeter citizen including benefits
• Large print and tape versions of citizen provided
  to a number of attendees
• Benefits advertising in retirement magazine
• Benefits take-up campaigns
• Benefits surgery at the Beacon project on Fridays

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Keeping you informed

• Exeter Citizen free Council newspaper delivered
  to every house, available on tape, large print
  and audio online (includes A-Z of services each
  spring)
• Local media Express Echo, Radio Devon and
  Gemini Radio, BBC TV and Westcountry
• Community forums five meetings a year, at
  Guildhall all agencies attend

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Improving customer service

• June 2005 new customer centre opened giving a one
  stop shop for all services except benefits
• Specially designed to be suitable for older
  people and those with disabilities
• Trained staff who can answer most questions there
  and then
• Surveys show high levels of customer satisfaction

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New customer centre outside
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New customer centre inside
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Using technology

• Working with Age Concern and Exeter College we
  provide computers and training for those who want
  to use the internet at Cowick Street
• Making our website meet all access standards
• Putting all our services we can online so people
  can access them from home including paying bills
• Improving telephone services and giving fax
  numbers
• Adapting our buildings with inductions loops and
  lifts

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New raised beds at Marypole allotments
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Improving access at the museum
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Using computers at Age Concern
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Asking your views

• Wavelength, citizens panel of 1000 people 15
  are 65-74 and 7 are over 75
• Community Forums afternoon meetings as well as
  evening where people can give views
• Focus groups making sure older people are
  invited
• Sheltered housing forum giving people in
  sheltered housing a say in how it is run
• Events coming to events like this to hear your
  views

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Sheltered housing forum
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Services for older people

• One of the lowest district council tax in the
  country
• Free bus travel for anyone over 60 in Exeter and
  across Devon from April 2006
• Sheltered accommodation with warden support
• Home call 24 hour pendant alarm service
• Advocacy support in expressing an interest in
  council house properties

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Services for older people (cont)

• Home Aid helping people remain in their homes
  with repairs, renovations and adaptations
• Energy efficiency grants insulation and heating
  upgrades for over 60s on low incomes
• Adaptation grants help to adapt homes to help
  people with disabilities
• Help with putting bins out for collection

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Age Concern and Animated Exeter
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Services for older people (cont)

• Council tax benefits for people on low incomes
  and single person discounts
• Housing benefits for people in rented
  accommodation on low incomes
• Visiting service by benefits officers who will
  come to your home to help you make a claim
• Leisure and arts activities for older people such
  as Animation classes

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Support for facilities/organisations

• Built and own the Isca Centre
• Work in partnership with social services and
  Exeter primary care trust in the Social, Health
  and Inclusion Partnership
• Provide grant support to key organisations in the
  city such as Age Concern, Living Options, Exeter
  Council for Voluntary Services and the Citizens'
  Advice Bureau
• Support for Community transport and Shopmobility

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Ring and ride
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Contacts

• Communications Manager Mandy Pearse 01392
  265319
• Head of Housing Services Steve Warran 01392
  265880
• Community Consultation Officer Anne
  Harrison-Bailey 01392 265891
• Exeter City Council main switchboard - 01392
  277888