Wellbeing

Village Agent - Vision and hearing impairment

Sensory impairment is a very common issue for people as they grow older. Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do to help you cope with the issues arising from declining sight and hearing.

Visual impairment

• Sight tests – You can arrange for an optician to visit you at home, by calling the Outside Clinic on 0800 640 9513 or booking online https://www. outsideclinic.co.uk/eye-test-athome/request-an-eye-test/ Specsavers also offer a home visit service, which you

can book by calling your local home visit team on: 07796 705239. Both organisations offer free NHS sight tests and help towards the costs of glasses, if you are eligible. • Sight aids – Magnifiers, large button telephones, talking clocks and text-speak devices are available to help with everyday tasks. The NHS website provides more information https://www. nhs.uk/conditions/vision-loss/ • Support organisations: • The Macular Society 0300 3030111 https://www.macularsociety.org/ • Seeability 01372 755000 https://www. seeability.org/ • RNIB 0303 1239999 https://www.rnib. org.uk/ • Open Sight Hampshire 02380 641244 https://www.opensight.org.uk/ • The Partially Sighted Society 01302 965195 https://www.partsight.org.uk/

Winchester District Citizens Advice

Lesley Rose, Advice Services Manager for Citizens Advice Winchester District, shares her advice on how to manage debt. I’ve fallen behind on my bills and the debts are building up, especially after Christmas. I don’t know where to start?

You’ve already taken a great first step by asking for help, and it’s important to know you don’t need to face this alone. Your local Hearing impairment

• Hearing tests - You can also arrange for a free hearing test at home, with the

Outside Clinic, by calling 0333 255 4749 or booking online https://www. outsideclinic.co.uk/hearing-test-athome/request-a-hearing-test/

Citizens Advice can help you make a plan to manage your debt but in the meantime here are four steps you can take to get started: 1. Work out how much you owe - Make a list of whom you owe money to and add up how much you need to pay each month. If you don’t have your most recent statements, contact your creditor to find out what you owe. Some creditors will have special arrangements for people with Covid-related arrears.

2. Prioritise your debts - Your rent or mortgage, energy and council tax are called priority debts as there can be serious consequences if you don’t pay them. Separate these and work out how much you owe. Again, you can ask the companies or council what support might be available during the pandemic.

3. Work out how much you can pay - Create a budget by adding up your essential living costs, such as food and housing, and taking these away from your income.

Citizens Advice has a budgeting tool that can help (www.citizensadvice.org.uk). Depending on where you live, you may be able to have an NHS-funded test and also free NHS hearing aids, should you need them. Specsavers also offer hearing tests at home, at a cost, by calling 0800 023 2949 or online https://www.specsavers.co.uk/ hearing/hearing-tests-at-home • Hearing aids – Audio amplifiers, text phones, specialist smoke detectors, vibrating clocks and watches, and flashing or vibrating doorbells, are available to help. The NHS website provides more information https://www.nhs.uk/livewell/healthy-body/hearing-aids/ • Support organisations: • RNID 0808 8080123 www.rnid.org.uk/ • Sonus 02380 220225 http://www.sonus. org.uk/index.html

Alternatively, contact your local Village Agent, Denise on: 07969 376023. Village Agents are volunteers who can help you find information and local services that will enable you to stay living safely and independently.

Any money you have spare can be put towards your debts, starting with the priority debts first. If you have any money left after paying priority debts, but not enough to make your usual payments on other debts, consider getting advice on the best way for you to start getting on top of them.

4. If you can’t pay your debts - If you’ve got little or no money spare to pay your priority debts or if you’re struggling to pay for basics like food, seek advice from

Citizens Advice straight away.

We know it can feel very daunting to deal with debt, but having a plan really helps and our team will be here to help you each step of the way.

Contact Citizens Advice Winchester District on 0808 278 7861 or email them at advice@cawinchesterdistrict.org.uk

Felling more isolated and anxious during lockdown? are you having trouble hearing TV or talking on the telephone? WE ARE STILL OPEN