Are you over 65 or care for someone in that age range? If so, Healthwatch Norfolk is keen to hear from you if you have had recent experience of getting help from adult social services.
Around a quarter of the county’s population are now over the age of 65 and the Healthwatch Norfolk team is working with social services to find out
- if they are getting the help they need
- where things are working well
- and what could be improved
The team are keen to hear from people who have used any type of social service from the Council. This might include, for example, support to live in a residential or nursing home, having carers visiting you at home, or receiving help to resume independent living at home after a stay in hospital.
It could also mean using Day Centres, having changes made to your home or being given technology to help you stay independent or receiving welfare and money advice from the county council.
People can leave their views in a number of ways. They can:
Leave feedback online via a digital survey on a computer, phone or tablet by clicking here
Call Healthwatch Norfolk on 0808 168 9669 (lines are open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday)
Or you can email [email protected] and one of the team can arrange to chat to you on a time/date convenient to you.
As well as talking to over-65s, the views of carers are also important to this study as the county council wants to make sure they are getting the help and support they need too.
Alex Stewart, chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk, said: “All too often, we speak to people who do not necessarily see themselves as a carer. If you are looking after someone who cannot cope without your support, that means you are classed as a carer.
“It is really important the huge number of unpaid carers around Norfolk are not forgotten. Their views are crucial to this work, and we would be keen to hear their views. We know their time is precious and so we can be flexible about when we talk to them, or we are happy to hear their views digitally.”
When the survey closes on May 15, the results will then be analysed, and a report compiled with some recommendations which will be reported back to senior staff at Norfolk County Council Adult Social Services.
The report will also be formally published and Healthwatch Norfolk will then follow up the recommendations to see what progress has been made
