The Independent Older people’s Commissioner for Wales.
The Commissioner’s role is to protect the rights and interests of people aged 60 or older in Wales. the four main functions of the Commissioner are to:
* Promote awareness of the interests of older people
* Promote the elimination of discrimination against older people
* Encorauge best practice in the treatment of older peopl
* Review the law as it affects the interests of older poeple
Tel. No. 08442 640670. www.olderpeoplewales.com
Healthy Living
Stop Smoking – Useful Links
SmokeFree
NHS Free Smoking Helpline 0800 022 4 332
7 days a week, 7am to 11pm. Here to help you!
The NHS have produced “Smokefree”, a dedicated service to inform everyone of the dangers of smoking, the benefits to giving up and how they can help you kick the habit.
QUIT
QUIT is the independent charity whose aim is to save lives by helping smokers to stop. Smokers wanting to QUIT should call 0800 00 22 00 or email stopsmoking@quit.org.uk for free, individual, same-day advice from our trained counsellors.
NHS – Stop Smoking
Eating Well & Exercise – Useful Links
NHS – Live Well
Information on a healthy diet and ways to make it work for you.
Change for life
These days, ‘modern life’ can mean that we’re a lot less active. With so many opportunities to watch TV or play computer games, and with so much convenience and fast food available, we don’t move about as much, or eat as well as we used to. Which means that 9 out of 10 kids today could grow up with dangerous amounts of fat in their bodies. This can cause life-threatening diseases like cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease – so it’s really important that we do something about it.
Visit their website
If you are deaf or hard of hearing:
* Have you thought about learning to lipread? Everyone lipreads to some extent, especially in noisy places.
* Be open, tell the person you’re speaking to that you lipread before you start a conversation.
* Ask poeple to get your attention before they start talking to you.
* Stand a reasonable distance from the person who’s speaking to you.
* Try to keep calm and don’t panic. If you become anxious or flustered, you might find it harder to follow what’s being said.
* If your hearing isn’t the same in both ears, try turning your better side towards the person speaking to you.
* If you don’t catch what someone says at first, just ask them to repeat it or say it in a different way.
* If necessary ask people to slow down and speak more clearly.
* Be kind to yourself, no one hears correctly all the time.
* Make sure you can see the speakers face and lips. Their gestures and facial expressions will help you understand what they are saying.
If you are speaking to someone who’s deaf:
* Even if someone is wearing a hearing aid, always ask if they need to lipread.
* Make sure you have the persons attention before you start speaking.
* Speak clearly, not too slowly, and use normal lip movements. use natural facial expressions and gestures.
* If you’re talking to a deaf person and a hearing person, focus on both of them.
* Keep your voice at a normal level. It’s uncomfortable for a hearing aid user if you shout and it looks aggressive.
* Find a suitable place to talk, with good lighting, away from noise and distractions.
* Remember to turn your face towards a deaf person. Always turn back to them so they can see your face.
* Check that the person you are talking to can follow you.
* Use plain language and don’t waffle.
Tel. No. 0808 808 0123. Text phone. 0808 808 9000.
People with sight problems.
Sight loss commonly affects older people. 90% of people with a serious sight problem are over the age of 60. Sight loss is often gradual for older people and they may not realise how bad their sight has become and try to cope regardless. In Wales our ageing population means that the number of people with sight loss is increasing.
How can you tell if someone has sight loss?
* In many cases it is obvious that someone has a sight problem. If you think someone may have poor sight you may notice that the person:
* Touches their eyes a lot or move their head frequently in order to focus.
* Avoids bright lights or only seem to see well in bright light.
* Needs help with reading or signing documents and filling in forms.
* Tends to walk slowly with less confidence, especially in badly lit places.
* Finds it difficult to recognise people.
* Feels for things rather than looks for them.
Meeting someone with a sight problem. In conversation:
* Do talk naturally and address the person by name
* Do use ordinary phrases such as ‘nice to see you’
* Do say when you are leaving
* Don’t talk down or address remarks to a companion rather than the person
* Don’t use condescending or pitying terms
* Don’t start talking without introducing yourself
* Don’t raise your voice unless you know the person is hard of hearing
RNID Cymru
Tel. No. 02920 2033 3034.
Wales Council for the blind.
Tel. No. 0292047 3954.
Sense cymru
Tel. no. 0292045 7641
Text phone: 0292046 4125
Talking newspapers – 01435 86 61 02
