Help in your home and community

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After over a year of lockdowns, social distancing, and restrictions, more of us are experiencing loneliness than ever before which can have a great impact on our wellbeing.

Stigma around loneliness can lead to further isolation so the Council is offering residents information on how to recognise loneliness, where to find help; and tips on how to feel more connected during the awareness week and beyond.

Loneliness is not new but we do increasingly recognise it as one of our most pressing public health issues. Feeling lonely often is linked to early deaths – on a par with smoking or obesity. It’s also linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke; depression, cognitive decline and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. It’s estimated that between 5% and 18% of UK adults feel lonely often or always. And when we feel socially rejected, it triggers a response in our brain similar to one from experiencing physical pain.

Are you or a relative lonely or struggling at home? This section includes services that can help. You can also search for groups, activities , befriending schemes and social care support in other areas of the site.

Staying Connected

People of all ages may feel lonely for many reasons – You may have lost a loved one, have a lack of confidence, experience mental health issues, feel isolated in a new environment or struggle to get out and about due to your age or disability.

This section has a range of support and services if you, or someone you know, are struggling.

Day Opportunities are services and community activities that help people to have a fulfilling life, learn new skills, pursue interests, make friends, gain relationships and peer support, and make a positive contribution to the community. This can include attending groups and activities, being involved in education, going to work or volunteering as well as lots of other things. Talk to us about Day Opportunities in Nottinghamshire.

Get involved in developing our day opportunities | Nottinghamshire County Council

Services

Groups
Activities
Connect: The Connect service can help you by finding information about local services, activities and opportunities. If needed, Connect staff can work with you around money issues, housing problems, health management and other things. This short-term support will be tailored to your needs and will focus on achieving what you want in a way that suits you.
British Red Cross Connecting Communities
Befriending
Handy Persons Adaptations Service: This provides the help and support you may need to keep safe and secure in your home with low-cost but high quality essential adaptations and small practical jobs.
Meals at home: County Enterprise Foods is run by Nottinghamshire County Council. Each meal delivery includes a safe and well check by a driver. www.countyenterprisefoods.co.uk
Social care support

Safety

Safety at Home

If someone has had an accident or has come to some harm in their home, they may not be able to attract attention of neighbours, passers-by or people who call at the door.

Be aware of signs that something might be wrong:

newspapers / post stuck in the letterbox for a few days
curtains have been drawn for a few days when they are normally open
lights left on during the day when they are normally off
home in darkness when there should be someone at home
bins have been left out when they are normally put away
dog barking all day or the cat scratching to be let in.

If you are concerned about a neighbour, please knock on their door to see if they are ok. In an emergency phone 999.

Bad weather may mean that some neighbours can’t get out and about. They may need help with shopping, clearing paths in the snow or ice, getting a repeat prescription, putting out bins, walking the dog – or they may just need to see a friendly face.

Phone 0300 500 80 80 if you are concerned about a neighbour being at risk of harm. In an emergency phone 999.

If you are concerned about security, contact Nottinghamshire Police for crime prevention advice: visit www.nottinghamshire.police.uk or phone 101 to find out more.

If you are worried that an elderly or disabled neighbour may not be able to fit their own smoke alarms, visit www.notts-fire.gov.uk/home-safety-check or phone Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 022 3235.

Adult Abuse

Phone 0300 500 80 80 if you are concerned about a neighbour being at risk of harm. In an emergency phone 999.

Find out more about adult abuse: https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/care/safeguarding/mash

Traders

Look out for rogue traders or uninvited doorstep callers in your area. Phone the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 to report any concerns or visit www.adviceguide.org.uk for doorstep crime advice.
Tell your neighbours about the Checkatrade scheme, which is a database of builders, gardeners and other traders who have been approved by the County Council’s trading standards officers. Phone 03454 04 05 06 or visit www.checkatrade.com for details of traders in your area.
If you are concerned that your neighbours could be targeted by financial scams, become a friend against scams with Trading Standards: www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk

Notts Watch

Consider joining or setting up a Neighbourhood Watch or residents’ group in the area you live.

Visit www.nottswatch.co.uk to find out more. Sign up to neighbourhood alerts to find out about criminals or rogue traders operating in your area: www.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk

Doing your bit for others

If you have older or vulnerable neighbours, friends or relatives, there are ways you can support them to stay connected and reduce loneliness:

Speak to people: We all like to be acknowledged and small gestures can mean a lot to someone.
Ask if you can help: Find out if your neighbour or family member would like anything picking up whilst you are at the supermarket or shop.
Offer a lift: Some people have had to give up their transport due to ill-health or old-age and this can leave them feeling stuck at home.
Help people get connected: Your help to explain technology such as phones and the internet can help people to get connected, find out what is going on around them and feel less isolated.
Know how to get help: Make sure people who live on their own have access to all the phone numbers they may need in an emergency or if they require help or support.
Check on them: Some people are at risk from being housebound or isolated in the winter months, either due to the weather or illness, so it’s especially important that we take a moment to check-in on them.
Become a volunteer or befriender: Just one hour per week could make a real difference, you could become a volunteer or befriender.
Organise activities or events: Contact your Nottinghamshire County Council Community Friendly Project