Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council – After your stay in hospital

Community Advice Hub

After your stay in hospital we want to help you regain your independence, manage your own care as much as possible and help you to find appropriate support if you need it. We are also here to help if you’ve become a carer for the first time for a family member and want to know about the support available to you.

In this article you’ll find information about a range of support available in Solihull. A great place to start is the Adult Care and Support section of Solihull Council’s website. It offers advice and information about services which could benefit you or the person you care for. solihull.gov.uk/adultsocialcare If you don’t have access to a computer at home, you can visit your local library to use one. Library staff can also offer support in using the internet and advising where to search. If you would prefer to speak to someone over the phone or face to face then contact one of our Community Advice Hubs. Community Advice Hubs

There are two Community Advice Hubs in Solihull, based at The Core and Chelmsley Wood Library. The Hubs are run by Age UK Solihull, on behalf of Solihull Council, and are a partnership of local voluntary organisations. They provide high quality information, advice and support for you or the person you care for. Two of the organisations: Carers Trust Solihull and Alzheimer’s Society, are also listed separately below. Solihull Community Advice Hubs are open Monday to Friday for drop-in enquiries and appointments. Please check the Community Advice Hub website www.solihullcommunityhub.org.uk or telephone 0121 709 7590 for latest information on opening times in both north and south Solihull. North Solihull Hub is at Chelmsley Wood Library, 10 West Mall, Chelmsley Wood, B37 5TN South Solihull Hub is on the first floor of The Core, Solihull B91 3RG Carers Trust Solihull

Carers Trust Solihull is the borough’s lead organisation for carers. It provides an extensive range of services to help support carers of all ages and backgrounds, through expert information and advice. solihullcarers.org Email: centre@solihullcarers.org Phone: 0121 788 1143 Carers Trust Solihull is based at: Solihull Fire Station Annexe, 620 Streetsbrook Road, Solihull B91 1QY Dementia support

Alzheimer’s Society in Solihull provides help, advice and guidance. The Society support groups operate across the borough, with dementia cafes and other events regularly taking place. Email: birminghamandsolihull@alzheimers.org.uk Phone: 0121 706 4052 Alzheimer’s Society Birmingham & Solihull Local Office, Unit 7-9 Olton Wharf Richmond Road, Solihull B92 7RN You can contact the Alzheimer’s Society via the Community Advice Hubs (see above). Solihull Council’s website provides online advice and information to help you reduce your dementia risk; learn about different types of dementia and the care and support you need to live with dementia and care

At the time of printing some organisations are offering phone-based rather than face to face support so please check with the individual organisation to find out the latest situation.

for someone with the condition. You will also find links to the Dementia Information Pack which supports people with Dementia, and their families, after diagnosis. solihull.gov.uk/dementia Solihull Connect

Solihull Connect is the Council’s customer contact service. There is a dedicated number and email address for Adult Social Care enquiries so you can contact our customer service advisors directly and explain your situation. The advisors can help if you want to request a needs assessment or discuss other topics including living in your own home, getting out and about, housing options and carer support. If you need help to understand the assessment or to put your views across, and don’t have family or friends to support you, ask about having an advocate. Email: ccadults@solihull.gov.uk Phone: 0121 704 8007 Opening hours: 9.00am - 5.00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 10.00am - 5.00pm Wednesday Better Living Centre

The Better Living Centre provides free and impartial advice from trained staff and demonstrations of useful gadgets, adaptations and equipment. Visit the ‘demonstration house’ to try before you buy. You can contact the Better Living Centre by: Phone: 0121 329 0909 Email: blc@solihull.gov.uk Or visit the Better Living Centre from Monday to Friday (9am to 4pm) at Unit 4, Elmdon Trading Estate, Bickenhill Lane Solihull B37 7HE

Better Living Centre

Solihull Community Housing (SCH)

Working in partnership with Solihull Council, the SCH Wellbeing Team deliver a range of services (listed below) designed to help residents of Solihull lead happy independent lives in their own home. The services are provided to all Solihull residents over the age of 18. • Safe & Sound (pendant & alarm system) • low level adaptations • assisted technology • handyperson service to help with odd jobs around the home. To find out which service could be suitable for you please email wellbeing@solihullcommunityhousing.org.uk or phone: 0121 717 1515. You can also visit the Adult Social Care section of Solihull Council’s website. Home Hazard Assessments

Solihull Community Housing offer a free home visit to check for potential hazards that could cause you to slip, trip or fall in your own home. Falls are often due to hazards that are not easy to see such as loose wires, loose carpets, or poor lighting. Following a free assessment you will receive recommendations on how to improve safety in your own home which could include us fitting grab rails, easing and adjusting doors or fitting a stair rail. We may also recommend fitting a personal alarm system so that you can press a pendant for help in the event of a fall, or Assistive Technology such as a dementia clock, pills dispenser or smoke detector. SCH also works in partnership with West Midlands Fire Service and Solihull Falls Clinic who we may refer to for further intervention. For more information call SCH on 0121 717 1515. Healthy living at your local library

Solihull has 13 libraries, which are located throughout the borough, each offering a range of services, advice, help and information to support you. These include Reading Well and Dementia books on prescription. The Home Library Service supports people who can’t get to their local library, by choosing and delivering books once a month.