Welfare Checks help self-isolating Ted feel safe in his home

  • Date: 13/01/2021

Our Welfare Checks Service has helped Ted* feel safer in his own home during the pandemic.

The team visit vulnerable adults who are unable or reluctant to leave their homes because of COVID, to carry out assessments and help signpost them to local support. They visited the elderly gentleman, who was self-isolating during lockdown and struggling in several ways.

Firstly, Ted had mobility issues and had fallen a couple of times. One night, he’d fallen out of bed and stayed trapped on the floor until the early hours when he managed to get up again. Our team suggested getting a lifeline fitted meaning, if he were to fall again, he could press the button on his pendant and would be connected to help immediately.

If your health changes, it’s important that your home keeps up with your needs too. That’s why our Community Wellbeing Worker also made a referral for Ted to get mobility aids and grab rails fitted in his bedroom and bathroom. Plus, they spoke to Revival’s repair team to fix a couple of issues around the home to make it safer and more comfortable.

Secondly, we also noticed that Ted was struggling to keep his house clean. We made a referral to another organisation who could do a deep clean, with a view to then having a regular cleaner to help make his home the place he feels best.

The lifeline, cleaners and carers all come at a cost, so we checked his benefit entitlement and found he may be eligible to claim Attendance Allowance. Our team then helped him make a claim with the Department for Work and Pensions.

The pandemic and restrictions have left a lot of people feeling isolated and Ted told our team he sometimes struggles to sleep and feels lonely during these times. We referred him to a 24-hour befriending service so he can speak to them in the night to help him feel less home alone. He also agreed to have regular phone calls with Revival for emotional support.

The Welfare Checks are available to those over 18 who live in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands and Stafford. To find out more about the service and how you could refer yourself or someone you know, click here.