Summer 2022
D TO BE AGE U F O Age Friendly YORK
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Home Instead York newsletter
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Helping older people enjoy our city more We officially launched our new initiative with City of York Council and Age Friendly York last month called, ‘Take A Seat’. Our Managing Director Luke and Community Engagement Coordinator Steph were joined by Cllr Carol Runciman, executive member for health and adult social care at City of York Council and Store Manager of Jigsaw York, Denise Millington, who kindly let us use their storefront for our launch photos. ‘Take A Seat’ aims to provide ageing adults a clear visual message, that tells them if a local business has a seat or facilities available for them to use. Businesses taking part in the initiative display a sticker to indicate that a seat or facilities are available for use. Owner of Home Instead York, Luke Norbury, said: “Everyday our work keeps older people safe and well in their own homes, as well as providing vital companionship. “We want to extend this caring nature further to our local population, and the ‘Take a Seat’ initiative is a great way for us and the wider community to help older people enjoy
our city more. “Our involvement will help older people to feel more comfortable when out and about in the city.” Through the scheme, we are encouraging businesses to welcome older people into their premises throughout their opening hours. Research conducted by Age Friendly York found that local elderly residents thought they would benefit from having more places where they can rest their legs and they also felt that there weren’t enough toilet facilities available for them to use. This initiative targets those exact needs for the older people of York. Cllr Carol Runciman, said: “I’m delighted that the ‘Take a Seat’ initiative is helping make the city more accessible to older people. “Thank you to everyone who took part in Age Friendly York’s consultation and whose ideas and observations have helped shape this project.
“To deliver the scheme, our partner, Home Instead, has worked to develop a network of participating businesses across the city who display a sticker in their window to show how they are supporting people who need to take a seat.” For more information on the initiative and to view an interactive map of businesses involved, visit www.homeinstead.co.uk/ york/take-a-seat-initiative Any business interested in getting involved should contact Steph Wood on 01904 690884 or email: info@york.homeinstead. co.uk.
STAY SAFE Scam awareness and fraud advice Millions of people are affected by scams, and it is a global problem that is growing. With more efficient communication methods such as telephone, text and email, people are being targeted and victimised more easily. We may use the term ‘scams’, but scams are fraud, and all fraud is a crime. We have rounded up a selection of the most popular scams doing the rounds at the current time to help you, your family and friends from becoming victim to these crimes. FAKE EVRI DELIVERY TEXT SCAM Delivery company Evri, formerly Hermes, is being impersonated by fraudsters asking for bank details to pay a fake delivery fee. It asks the recipient to visit a website to pay a £1.45 shipping fee, and if they don’t pay, the parcel will be returned to the sender. It’s likely that the scammers are mass targeting victims. However, it can be persuasive if you’re waiting for a package to arrive. FAKE ENERGY BILL REBATE SCHEME It’s not taken too long for scammers to jump on the back of soaring energy bills. Emails using the logo of energy regulator Ofgem claim to offer an ‘energy bill rebate scheme’ worth up to £450 per household. The links direct recipients to a fake online portal where victims are urged to share personal and payment details in order to claim their refund. The fake website was registered just days ago but has already prompted urgent warnings from
the genuine Ofgem. SANTANDER IMPERSONATION TEXT SCAM EXPOSED Most of us receive dodgy texts but it’s always worth knowing the latest one doing the rounds. This scam begins with what appears to be a warning text from Santander about so-called suspicious activity on your account. The warning is then meant to lure you into clicking a URL to notify Santander if it wasn’t you. FAKE ADS USING MARTIN LEWIS’S IMAGE Fake emails and adverts using Martin Lewis’s image have been going on for years, but recently Action Fraud received almost 1,200 reports in just three days, about a fake Bitcoin investment scheme email using his image. With the cost of living continuing to soar, Martin’s moneysaving advice has featured heavily across the media, and scammers are trying to take advantage. Martin Lewis has nothing to do with these ads, so if you see them, report them. PHONEY BT DIRECT DEBIT EMAIL BT is being impersonated by scammers in an email that asks you to change your direct debit details. As fraudulent emails go, this is a convincing one. It includes BT’s branding, logo and even BT’s customer service phone number. But the link behind the button directs you to a fake website. If you receive a message out of the blue about payment details, please always check with your provider directly before you click.
How to keep cool during summer It’s fair to say that we all look forward to the summer, especially when we are blessed with particularly warm and sunny weather. The sunshine makes us feel happy and it offers a great source of vitamin D to keep us healthy. However, higher temperatures and humidity can also present risks to our health. Older people’s bodies in particular, are often unable to adjust to sudden changes in temperature, which makes them more susceptible to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. With this in mind, here are a few tips on how to make the most of the summer weather but stay cool in the process: 1 Avoid the hottest times of the day (between 11am – 3pm) – if you do need to venture out make sure you aren’t outside for long periods of time and find shady spots when you can. 2 Keep hydrated – even if you’re not thirsty it’s important to drink plenty of water or fruit juice to replace fluids lost during sweating. Avoid caffeine or alcohol which increase dehydration. 3 Think lightweight – choose clothing which is loose, lightweight, light coloured and breathable such a white linen shirt. 4 Cool down – take cool showers and baths when possible. If you’re out and about, use a cotton hankie soaked in cool water and place it on the back of your neck and on your wrists. 5 Cover up – in addition to wearing cooler clothing it’s also important to remember a hat. No matter whether it’s a cotton baseball cap or a straw boater, headwear will help to keep your face in the shade. 6 Pick the perfect spot – seek out the coolest areas of your home during warmer weather. Keep curtains and blinds closed to prevent sun heating up rooms, especially your bedroom.
A Warm Welcome! Warm Welcomes to Laura Holmes & Molly Valentine who have recently joined our team! They’ve started with us as our new Training & HR Coordinator and Recruitment Coordinator.
Welcome to you both!
Jubilee Companionship Café You may have seen in our spring edition of The Elder, how delighted we were to be restarting our Companionship Cafés once again at Deans Garden Centre. We’ve held three café’s so far and it’s been absolutely wonderful having likeminded friendly people come along for a coffee and a chat, we even managed to do a Jubilee special on Monday 13th, for which, Deans kindly made us two fabulous cakes for those in attendance. If you think a loved one, elderly friend or neighbour would benefit
from some time socialising, doing fun activities and making new friends then please, let them know about our monthly event. The next one is on Monday 11th July from 10am – 11.30am and every second Monday of the month afterwards. Everyone who attends is made to feel welcome, so come on your own or feel free to bring a Care Professional or family member along! If you have any questions, please call Steph on; 01904 690884 or email: info@york.homeinstead.co.uk
Barclays Digital Eagles
helping people get online We had a lovely afternoon at Haxby & Wigginton Methodist Church earlier in the month, helping the good local folk get online. They enjoyed it so much in fact that they have asked us back! This is part of our ‘Barclays Digital Eagles’ initiative where we use our teams expertise to share their knowledge and help people in the community get online and using technology. Interested in having one of our team come along to a group or event you attend? Get in touch with Steph at stephanie.wood@york.homeinstead.co.uk.
What’s On: MONDAY Sing for All. Easingwold Methodist Church. Monday 11am. Cost £4 – Carers go free Chatty Mondays. York Theatre Royal – Upper Foyer. First Monday of the Month 10am – 12 noon Companionship Café. Deans Garden Centre. Second Monday of each Month 10am – 11.30am Dementia Friendly screenings. City Screen. Monday 25 July 2022 Sunset Boulevard. 12.45pm for Refreshments. Film starts 1.15pm. Cost £4 – Carers go free. Book tickets at the Box Office, online at picturehouses. com or by telephone on 020 7294 7908. Singing for the Brain. St James the Deacon Church, Woodthorpe, York. For details Phone: 01904 929444 Email: york2@alzheimers.org.uk
TUESDAY Morrisons Chat Café. Foss Island’s Road. Second Tuesday of each month 10.30am -12 noon Sing for All. St Clements Hall. Tuesday 11am Cost £4 – Carers go free Dance Café. Clements Hall, Nunthorpe Rd. York YO23 1BW. For details Phone: 01904 929444. Email: york2@alzheimers.org.uk
WEDNESDAY Café Nelli. New Earswick Folk Hall Wednesday 10am – 12 noon Tower Court Singers. St Joseph’s Church Hall Wednesday 1pm – 2.30pm Cost £4 Voluntary Donation The Monkgate Wellness Choir Theatre @41 Monkgate Wednesday 3.15pm – 4.30pm Cost £4 Voluntary donation Moving Minds York St John University. 1.30pm – 2.30pm. If you or someone you know would like to try out a session you can book a place via email at movingminds@yorksj. ac.uk or call/text 07881 922343.
THURSDAY Singing for the Brain. (Once a month) St Wulstan’s Church, Fossway. For details Phone: 01904 929444. Email: york2@alzheimers.org.uk Zoom Café. (on your computer - once a month): Join us on Zoom to chat, sometimes try out a quiz or other activity suggested by people in the group. For details Phone: 01904 929444. Email: york2@alzheimers.org.uk)
FRIDAY Sharing Life Coffee Morning. Wenlock Arms, Weldrake. Every other Tuesday. 10am – 12 noon Dementia Forward Wellbeing Café. Every Friday 1.30pm – 3pm. Clements Hall, Nunthorpe Rd. York YO23 1BW. Dementia Forward run various Hub Clubs around the region. Please phone 03300 578592 for details.
Home Instead 10 Clifton Moor Business Village James Nicolson Link, Clifton Moor York YO30 4XG Telephone: 01904 690884 Email: info@hiscyork.co.uk Web: www.homeinstead.co.uk/york
Sharon Richardson of Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors, offers some important information on Inheritance Tax, in our latest snippet with her.
What is Inheritance Tax? When someone dies, their estate may be subject to Inheritance Tax and the rate at which it is levied is 40%, one of the highest rates of taxes around. What is the Inheritance Tax threshold? The first £325,000 of somebody’s estate is not taxed at all and, also, generally speaking, all gifts by way of Will or Intestacy to a spouse or civil partner are exempt. Additionally, where there is a couple and the second to die dies after September 2007, the second to die can take the benefit of the unused portion of the nil rate band of the first. Crombie Wilkinson’s inheritance tax planning solicitors can help you with legal advice on, inheritance tax planning, estate planning, filing inheritance tax returns, transferring tax-free allowances to partners, lifetime gifts planning and Charity gift planning. Do not hesitate to contact a member of the Private Client team at Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors for help and advice. Sharon Richardson is a Director and Head of the Private Client team of solicitors at Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors. She is a Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) accredited member. Her membership of SFE shows she has a wealth of experience within this key legal area as members are required to have spent a substantial amount of time working for elderly clients as well as support for the family and carers. You can contact Sharon at the York office on Clifford Street on 01904 624185.
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