House, garden and pet care

Meal delivery services

Good food is essential for good health, whatever age you are. Eating a balanced diet will not only keep you healthy but also reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers. See ‘Think about what you eat and drink’ on page 12 for more information and useful contacts.

Meals on wheels services are offered by your local authority.

Hampshire County Council

Service run by apetito. Tel: 01962 779338 • Web: www.hants.gov.uk (search ‘meals on wheels’).

Portsmouth City Council

Service run by apetito. Tel: 023 9268 8390 Web: www.portsmouth.gov.uk (search ‘independence and wellbeing’).

Southampton City Council

Service run by City Catering Southampton. Tel: 023 8083 3866 Web: www.southampton.gov.uk (search ‘meals on wheels’).

Repairs

You need to make sure that your home is maintained properly so that it is safe for you to live there. If it needs repairs, you can get advice and help.

If you are elderly and/or disabled and have a low income, you can get advice and help from the housing department of your borough or district council. Whether you are a council tenant or own your own home, you will be advised whether you qualify for a grant to help pay for the work and if so, how to apply for one.

Your council can recommend a reliable building contractor and check that work has been done to a good standard. Your council will also be able to tell you whether there is a Home Improvement Agency or Handyperson/Handyman Scheme operating in your area.

If you are a private tenant, you should contact your landlord. If they are unwilling to carry out the work needed, you should contact your local council housing department which may help your landlord carry out essential work. If you are a council or housing association tenant, you should contact your landlord.

If you are paying for repairs yourself, you can still get advice and information from your local council. Staff may also be able to suggest local builders who are expert in the kind of repair work that you need.

Never agree to repairs to roofing or driveways offered at the door. Always go to a reputable trader.

For small repairs, find a reliable local trader through Hampshire Trading Standards Buy with Confidence scheme. All the businesses in this scheme have been vetted and approved by Trading Standards to ensure that they operate in a legal, honest and fair way. Search for a trader or business online at www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or call 01392 383430 (10.00am-3.30pm, Monday to Friday) for a free directory.

Some smaller local providers may not be registered with Buy with Confidence. If you cannot find anyone to help, you can also search the Marketplace directory on Connect to Support Hampshire and look under the Home Support section.

Please note, you will have to pay for any trades people you find through the above directories.

Help around the house

For paid help with housework, you can:

• Find reliable cleaning, ironing and laundry services, which have been checked and vetted

by Hampshire Trading Standards, in the Buy with Confidence directory. Call 01392 383430 (10.00am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday) for a free directory.

• Some smaller local providers may not be registered with Buy with Confidence. If you cannot find anyone on the above directory, you can also search Connect to Support

Hampshire’s Marketplace Directory. Visit

www.connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk/

marketplace (select ‘Choose your category’ then

‘Home support’).

If you are going to employ your own cleaner, rather than use an agency, always ask for and check references.

You can also search Connect to Support Hampshire’s Community Directory for community groups or organisations that may be able to offer you help with housework, pet care or minor repairs. Visit www.

connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk/directories

(select ‘Choose your category’ then ‘Community support/activities’ and ‘House or garden help’).

You may find that there is equipment you can buy that will help you with domestic tasks such as cleaning, cooking and laundry. For more information, see ‘Equipment and adaptations’ beginning on page 30.

Some of the home care agencies beginning on page 51 can provide domestic help amongst their services. However, if you only need domestic help, you may find it cheaper to use a domestic agency. You can employ these services to come in on a regular or one-off basis.

If you are unable to put your refuse/recycling containers out for collection because of your age or disability, contact your local district or borough council and ask about Assisted Waste Collection. This is where the crew will come to your house to collect the bin and then bring the bin back to you. This service is usually only available if you can provide proof of disability and there is nobody else to help you.

Good Neighbours groups are independent voluntary groups which offer neighbourly help to people in their local communities. See page 70 for contact details.

Gardening

If you are finding it difficult to maintain your garden because of your age or disability, there are community organisations that may be able to help.

Useful contacts

Basingstoke Voluntary Action

Tel: 01256 423816 • Web: www.bvaction.org.uk

Community First

Tel: 0300 500 8085 • Web: www.cfirst.org.uk

Fareham

163 West Street PO16 0EF

Havant

Leigh Park Community Centre, Dunsbury Way, Leigh Park PO9 5BG

New Forest

71 Christchurch Road, Ringwood BH24 1DH

Gosport Voluntary Action

Tel: 023 9258 3836

Hampshire Council for Voluntary Services (CVS)

Web: www.hampshirecvs.org.uk

Hart Voluntary Action

Tel: 01252 815652

One Community (Eastleigh and Fareham)

Tel: 023 8090 2400

Rushmoor Voluntary Services

Tel: 01252 398450

Thrive

A national charity offering information and tips on making your garden easier to manage as well as details of the equipment and tools which will be particularly helpful. Tel: 0118 988 5688 Web: www.carryongardening.org.uk

Unity (Test Valley Community Services)

Tel: 0330 400 4116 Web: www.unityonline.org.uk

Andover

Bus Station, West Street SP10 1QP

Romsey

Former Magistrates Court, Church Street SO51 8AQ