Clackmannanshire View - Winter 2016
New Advice Line
for Older People
A new health and social care advice
line has been launched to help older
people remain well at home.
The service, which can be accessed
by calling 01324 567247, is aimed at
people aged 65 and over.
This new service has been developed
by NHS Forth Valley and its
three council partners including
Clackmannanshire Council. It follows
feedback which highlighted that
wherever possible, older people prefer
to stay in their own homes.
One woman contacted the service
when her husband became unwell
and she injured herself trying
to help him. She explained that
they were both exhausted and
did not know what to do. The
ALFY team arranged for a GP to
visit the couple at home who
diagnosed a chest infection and
provided antibiotics. The night
nursing team also visited the couple at
home, carried out an assessment and
arranged for a zimmer frame and other
equipment to be delivered to the house
within an hour. Emergency respite care
was arranged and social work staff put
in place a daily package of care to assist
with washing and dressing. The couple
were also put in touch with a local
voluntary organisation who provided
assistance with shopping and other
errands.
The dedicated 24/7 phone line, which
is known as ALFY (Advice Line For You),
is operated by experienced nurses who
are able to listen to callers’ concerns,
and make sure they receive the right
help and support. This could range
from offering general reassurance
and advice on a wide range of
health issues, to signposting callers
to relevant emergency social work,
voluntary or local services.
Staff are also able to book
appointments to attend a rapid access
frailty clinic at Forth Valley Royal
Hospital where a number of tests or
assessments can be carried out or
arrange for a community nurse to visit
an older person at home, day or night,
if required.
The new ALFY service does not replace
existing services. Local people should
still contact 999 in an emergency or
NHS24 on 111 if they think they need to
see a GP when their GP surgery is closed
and cannot wait until it re-opens.
As part of the new service, older people
are also being encouraged to develop
a personal care plan known as Your
Plan and share this with their family
and those people closest to them as
well as health and care professionals.
Your Plan allows people to document
all the important things that matter
to them in relation to their health and
care needs in the one place. By sharing
this information everyone will know
what to do if a problem arises and what
support could be given to help people
remain as independent as possible in
their own home.
Play Mentors Pass with Flying Colours
Nine S3 and S4 pupils from Clackmannanshire Academies celebrated
their successful completion of the Play Mentor programme. The
young women studied child development and play one day a week
at Forth Valley College as well as completing work placements in
local nurseries and primary schools.
The 10 week programme, which is run by NHS Forth Valley’s Health
Promotion Department, culminated in the Play Mentors running
games sessions for adults who use play in their work. The participants
then attended a ceremony at Forth Valley College’s Alloa Campus
to celebrate their achievement with proud family members and
teachers looking on.
Mary Scott Watson, INTER-ACT Education Worker with NHS Forth
Valley’s Health Promotion Department, said: “The Play Mentors have
done a fantastic job and are now looking for opportunities to put
their new found skills into practice by volunteering for play and
childcare organisations.”
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