Age UK formerly Age Concern

Services Provided

Our two Day Centres in Faversham and Teynham are open to older people for a wide range of activities and support including:

Transport is provided door-to-door in our minibuses which have tail-lifts, making them wheelchair accessible.

Lunch: A freshly cooked, two course lunch is included in the charge for Day Care. The meals are of a very high standard, using local produce. Lunch is also available to those who prefer to walk in and do not require transport to the Centre.

Bathing Service: This is available to those who need assistance to have a bath, or feel safer with someone in attendance.The Centres have especially adapted Parker Baths and trained assistants.

Laundry: This service is available to Day Centre clients and housebound people who have difficulty managing their washing. Availability is limited.

Hairdressing and Chiropody are available at subsidised prices at both Centres. Home visits can sometimes be arranged.

Hearing Aids: Replacement batteries are provided and available at the Centre. Appointments can be made with a Hi-Kent volunteer for minor repairs and cleaning. The volunteer holds a clinic every 3 months at the day centre.

Community Bathing Service: This is available for those who need assistance to bath at home. Attendants have bath seats which lower client into their bath at home.  There is a charge for the service.

Footcare Service: Simple toenail cutting service by trained attendant at Day Centre or at home if necessary, for people who need only nailcutting and have no other foot problems. There is a charge for the service.

Carer Support: One to one dementia outreach service. Provides ongoing support, advice and information for those who care for older people suffering from dementia or mental illness.

Pop-In:

At Faversham: We are conveniently situated in Middle Row, just off the Market Square and therefore ideally placed for a 'shopping break'.

Anyone wishing to enjoy a drink or snack or join in any social activities will be made welcome. Home made cakes are often available.

At Teynham: The Belle Friday Centre in London Road is pleased to welcome anyone as above.

Social Activities: We aim to provide a relaxing but stimulating environment in the Day Centres. Afternoon activities include bingo, whist drives, reminiscence sessions and quizzes. Books, records, cassettes and board games are also available. Outings are sometimes arranged, usually during the summer months, and there are talks and other entertainments from time to time.

Shop: We have a charity shop at the rear of the Faversham Centre, where wool, eggs, bric-a-brac and good quality second hand clothes can be purchased at reasonable prices.

Care Navigator: A free impartial and confidential service that gives people the tools to self manage their own lives.  The Navigator will meet you in your own home to discuss your need or problem, then investigate potential options to resolve your situation.

Friendship Club:
Many older people live alone and have little or no social contact with family or close friends.  We aim to reduce isolation and loneliness by offering regular visits by volunteers.Often this contact develops into lasting friendship.

Advice and Information Services

This is available at the Faversham Day Centre, Monday to Friday, 9 am - 4 pm. An appointment for a home visit can be arranged for those unable to get to the office.

A wide range of information is updated regularly and advice is available on entitlement to welfare benefits, equipment for dis-ability and accessing public services. We can also help with form-filling, making appointments and arranging transport.

Community Services

(Covering Faversham, Teynham and surrounding villages)

Domestic Help: We provide domestic assistance to people over 60. This includes help with housework, shopping, laundry, etc.
Contact the Co-ordinator  01795 533397

Personal Care: We have a contract with Kent County Council to provide personal care at home for people over 60.
In addition arrangements can be made for a weekly bath at home. Apply to Teynham Day Centre 01795 521052

Community Meals Service: Age Concern Faversham provides a hot meal service to elderly housebound and infirm people on a private basis. Enquiries to the general office   01795 532766

All other referrals for personal care and community meals should be made through the Social Services Duty Officer at Sittingbourne 
 01622 696717.

Charges:  Please contact us for our current charges

There is a charge for all services except Information & Advice, Care Navigator, Carer Support and Friendship Club.  For further details of any service, charges and/or to arrange a home visit, contact the Chief Officer, Mrs. Paula Owen  01795 532766.

Service Principles

Age Concern Faversham recognises that:

Each older person has a right to a life which maintains personal independence, safeguards privacy, offers genuine and informed choices, provides opportunities to enjoy and contribute to society as fully as possible and meets his/her cultural and individual needs.

If such an independent life involves a degree of risk which the older person accepts, the organisation will respect such a wish and endeavour to support the individual wherever possible.

We also recognise that individuals have:

• The right to receive a list of services the organisation provides
• The right to easily understood information about the services
• The right for older people and their carers to receive an assessment of their needs and how to obtain this
• The right to know how services will be provided, who will provide them and how services can be re-arranged if required
• The right to be asked about the quality of the services provided
• The right of access to a complaints procedure and how to find out about it
• The right to confidentiality, access to any information held on file and to know on what basis it might be shared with others
• The right where necessary to an advocate

What You Can Expect From Age Concern

Age Concern aims to provide support and practical assistance to older people and their carers in maintaining an independent lifestyle. Individual needs are catered for as far as practicable.

Our staff are trained in a range of skills backed up by a willing group of volunteers.

Initial contact can be made through a GP, District Nurse, Social Services, a voluntary organisation, family, or by contacting us yourself either by telephone or by calling in at the Centre.

A representative will either visit you at home by appointment, or will discuss your needs with you when you call in.

You will receive a courteous and friendly welcome and can be confident that we will assist you in any way we can.

We endeavour to provide a good quality service to older people but are mindful that occasionally we could do better.

We welcome comments on our services that you have found to be particularly helpful but, if you are unhappy at any time about the service you receive from Age Concern, we would like to know about it.

Please contact the Chief Officer, either verbally or in writing, who will listen to your concerns and use your experience to improve the quality of the service. A response will be given as soon as possible but certainly within 14 days.

If you are not satisfied with the explanation or outcome, you should write to the Chairman of the Executive Committee, who will ensure your complaint is dealt with at the next Committee meeting, which are usually held every four weeks.

History

The Forget-Me-Not Centre in Middle Row is the headquarters for the activities of Age Concern in the Faversham area.

The Organisation was formed in 1963 as the Faversham Old People's Welfare Committee, and used the front two rooms of the building as a pop-in social centre.

The freehold of the centre was presented to Age Concern in 1974 as a gift from the townspeople, encouraged by the Round Table. A Grade II listed building, it served as the old town 'lock-up' many years ago.

In 1994 the old fire station at the rear of the Centre was purchased, and the first stage of our extension was completed by the end of that year. A grant from the National Lottery in 1996 meant that the final stage of the works could be completed, and the extension was opened in January 1997.

We are now able to provide up to 70 day care places.

The Belle Friday Centre in Teynham was purchased in 1988, and this has been running very successfully since March 1990.

It was possible only because the freehold was offered by the Independent Order of Foresters at a much reduced price and as a result of the support and financial assistance of the Kent County Council Social Services with the necessary repairs and adaptations.

Funding

Age Concern Faversham is supported by a grant from Kent County Council which enables the Committee to employ well trained staff to deliver a professional service to older people.

However, many activities of the organisation would not be possible without the tremendous support of the volunteers who work for the Organisation or the funds that are raised within the Organisation.

Are you interested in voluntary work?
Volunteer activities include:

• Membership of the Management Committee
• Helping in the Day Centre
• Helping in the fund raising shop
• Fund Raising
• Escort duties on minibus
• Running social activities

Volunteering is: Hard Work, Interesting, Fun and Rewarding.

If you are interested in the work of Age Concern and would like to know more about becoming a volunteer, please contact the Chief Officer.

Contact Information