magazine

Issue 02

Pick me up – I’m FREE!

The magazine of Hertfordshire Independent Living Service

www.hertsindependentliving.org • info@hertsindependentliving.org • Tel: 0330 2000 103

Inside: • Puzzles • Recipes • Stories • Advice • Gardening groups ...and much more!

Interview with top chef PHIL THOMPSON

Life in Herts in the 1940s: siblings Marion and Barry tell all

3

4: Dementia Fun Club: Jean shares what it’s like to attend our Kingfisher Club in St Albans

5: Volunteering in Herts

6: Growing up in Hertfordshire: Two siblings catch up on life in Herts in the 1940s

8: Herts residents receive meals from local Lord

9: Maintaining a healthy weight / Enriched milk recipe

10: Puzzle Page

12: Interview with top chef Phil Thompson

14: Gardening groups with SMILE

15: Meet Rhona: HILS Team Leader

17: Poem & puzzle answers

18: More than just a meal: Margaret tells all

19: How we make you feel: HILS impact stats

Independent Living // Issue 2

Send your comments and contributions to Herts Independent Living Service:

By email to: ideas@hertsindependentliving.org

By post to: Hertfordshire Independent Living Service, Unit 16, Green Lane One, Blackhorse Road, Letchworth, Herts, SG6 1HB

To find out more visit: www.hertsindependentliving.org

With thanks to: Editor – Gemma Payne, HILS Designer – Mike Jones Design Printer – CZ Design & Print

Hertfordshire Independent Living Service is the operating name of Hertfordshire Community Meals Limited, a registered society number IP30206R under the co-operatives and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, registered with the Financial Conduct Authority and as a charity with HMRC registration number XT37228.

Thank you to our advertisers who have enabled us to produce this magazine for our readers.

apetito is proud to work in partnership withHertfordshire Independent Living Service.

Delivering more than just a meal

Meals on Wheels - making a real difference

hils ADVERT.indd 1 30/06/2016 08:32:37

Welcome to the second edition of our HILS magazine, ‘Independent Living’. We all know that Hertfordshire is a delightful place to live, but did you know that the motto on Hertfordshire’s historic coat of arms is: ‘Trust and Fear Not’. Isn’t that a really encouraging statement, and a great thing to live by?

There is a lovely combination of tradition and innovation in Hertfordshire, from our wonderful medieval buildings, to science and technology centres, and even a state of the art film studio. We’ve also been recognised for innovation here at HILS after a successful year of awards, creating new services to help keep local people safe and well.

We’ve got lots to look forward to, with exciting new ventures starting such as Hertswise, offering community support and fun activities to help people with dementia live independently, in partnership with AgeUK Hertfordshire, Herts Mind Network, Carers in Herts, and other local partners.

And of course, the continuing provision of all of our services with the ongoing support of Hertfordshire County Council, and our wonderful teams, helping us to keep older and vulnerable people in Hertfordshire healthy, happy, and independent in their own homes.

We hope you enjoy reading the second issue of Independent Living, and we look forward to hearing your stories and ideas; do get in touch!

Sarah Wren MBE Chief Executive

Hertfordshire Independent Living Service

In this issue:

4

dementia fun club

Independent Living // Issue 2

Our dementia fun club clients share what it’s like to attend the Kingfisher Club in St Albans at our Jubilee Centre.

Meet Jean – a natural in the limelight, who has starred in various movies and musicals after attending the prestigious Italia Conti Stage School, the world’s oldest theatre arts training school.

“That was when I was much younger you see!” quips Jean.

Now in her eighties, Jean has been coming to our Kingfisher Club for around 18 months, and attends three times a week.

“I love coming to the club, I’m enjoying it very much; I really look forward to coming and wouldn’t want to miss it!

“We do lots of colouring and artwork here. I love doing the

painting, and I’ve got a house full of drawings now – I think I’m going to sell them!

“My favourite thing about the club is the people: being able to chat and make friends. It’s much better than being indoors on

your own – I love it, it’s great fun. It’s wonderful having the company.

“Everyone who works here is very nice, and I always have a chat and we have lots of laughter.The volunteers who work here are excellent, and very

helpful, they really encourage us here.

“It’s very friendly and my son is so pleased that I’m going to this very lovely place. We always have a lunch at the club – they’re all very nice. Today I’m having the meatballs. It’s nice to have a fresh hot meal rather than sandwiches. I’ve done an awful lot of entertaining over the years, and now it’s my turn to be entertained!”

Jean’s son Richard adds: “When you’re older, the friends you had might not still be

around, and some friends keep their distance once they hear about a diagnosis of dementia.

“My mum really comes out of her shell when she’s at the club. It’s a great, fun place to go. She’s there with great staff and volunteers, who make it a great day out for her.

“It really helps to know she’s having a day out of the house and is in good hands – it takes the pressure off me too.

“I visited the club once and I thought it was fantastic. There’s no pressure to do anything – they have activities going on, but also a quiet area with armchairs where people can go and read if they don’t want to join in. It all seems to work really well here – long may it continue!”

Would you or a loved one like to join our dementia fun clubs?

Our dementia fun clubs are welcoming and engaging, with every session offering an exciting mix of activities. Our clubs are run by highly-trained staff supported by a team of caring volunteers.

Location & days: Weekdays St. Albans Jubilee Centre

I’ve done an awful lot of entertaining over the years – now it’s my turn to be entertained!

“I enjoy helping people, that’s been my life really. I just do some good deeds, and belong to little clubs to help people.”

Maureen has been a volunteer for almost two years at our St Albans site, helping out in our dementia fun club twice a week.

“I love coming here, and it teaches me a few bits too! I’m not working, so it gives me something to do. I’ve always enjoyed helping people – and I’ve made friends too as I’ve gone along.

“People should consider taking up volunteering: it’s always nice to help people: that’s what this world needs, community spirit.”

How can I volunteer in Herts? There are lots of ways you can get involved in volunteering in Hertfordshire. Hertfordshire County Council has been celebrating the ‘Year of Volunteering’, a year-long campaign to promote the benefits of volunteering and celebrating the contribution of volunteers. Find out more at: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/volunteer

We are always looking for volunteers in our dementia clubs to help with general volunteering and specific activities, for example, singing and crafts. Visit: www.hertsindependentliving.org/volunteering for more information or email: volunteers@hertsindependentliving.org

Volunteering in Herts

Maureen with Kingfisher Club Client Marie

Jean with friends Jean and Alf

Jean enjoying the arts & crafts at our Kingfisher Club

Jean with her son Richard

www.hertsindependentliving.org/dementia-fun-clubs/ or call 01727 847264 for more information.

6 7

life in Herts

Marion, 84, and Barry, 82, grew up in St Albans, Hertfordshire. For the past four years, they’ve been getting together at our St Albans Jubilee Centre Restaurant.

M: “We crack jokes, play a little game of cards, have our lunch, and then we go our own separate ways. We were all born in St Albans, that’s why we like meeting up here.”

Growing up in Hertfordshire: M: “There were six children you see, all born in St Albans: Raymond, Kenneth, Marion, Barry, Patsy, and Coral, and we all lived here with our mum and dad.”

M: “St Albans has changed quite a lot since growing up here.

There weren’t as many people or cars back then, and everyone on our street had kids a similar age – it’s not like that now. It was all adventures when we were growing up, there was hopscotch in the road – the things we used to get up to!”

B: “We used to go out to the forest to get a fir tree for our Christmas tree when we couldn’t afford one, and we used to put half pennies on the train track to make pennies. Lucky they found me under a gooseberry bush. That’s what they used to say when you asked where you came from – and I believed it, because I was prickly!”

M: “He’s always full of nonsense! He was a little devil when he was young – they were choir boys but they were naughty boys.”

B: “I just found that life was fun, it’s always been fun for me. Even when I was in the army, and I didn’t like it one little bit, but I made the most of it and I still had fun. I wasn’t in the army when there was

a war on, but all the boys had to do the national service.”

M: “Near where we lived growing up, there was an area where they built these huts for the prisoners of war. They used to walk up and down our road, and they used to talk to us children. Our dad was a gardener after he left the navy, and my mum used to grow rhubarb, and veggies – we had the best garden on our road. So we used to give these men sticks of rhubarb, and then they would carve little clogs or something for us.”

M: “A lot of these men, they’ve all got mums, or wives, families back home, they must have felt really sad mustn’t they?”

B: “We used to have the odd children now and again, the evacuees, from London!”

M: “Yes, we did.”

B: “In our house, when we were growing up. My mum, she had six children but she still managed to look after a few evacuees

– although not all at the same time!”

M: “There were two, there was…”

B: “John, and …”

M: “Edgar! They all came from London, and they would all walk along the road with their little boxes, and the people in the streets went out and picked one and took one home! And my mum came home with John.”

B: “The nearest bomb we had land was in Harpenden – that was just about four miles away. And when it landed, it knocked some of the white wash off the ceiling! Doodlebug it was called.”

M: “I remember bits about the war, but not a great lot. I remember the wardens calling out, ‘put that light out!’.”

Lunchtime at HILS M: “Oh the lunches here are very good. My favourite would be lamb steaks; sometimes it’s Moroccan lamb, that’s nice and flavoursome.”

B: “I like the chicken curry! And the sausages.”

M: “Over the years they’ve changed the menu to keep it interesting. The shepherd’s pie here is great and the puddings here are really nice.”

B: “Yes it’s all well worth coming up here.”

M: “It gives me a break! The price is very good for a dinner and a pudding, and it’s red hot meals! How can you complain at £4.55?”

M: “None of us get the meals delivered yet – not to say that in a few years’ time we won’t! But at least we know it’s there, and

that the meals are nice, so that’s good.”

B: “It’s tough when you’re getting older, so don’t get older – I refuse to! Poor old Marion, I feel sorry for her really.”

M: “In all honesty, it really is nice here. We’re quite happy, aren’t we boy?”

B: “Sometimes!”

M: “Yes he is!”

Growing up in HertfordshireTwo siblings catch up on life in Herts in the 1940s

Marion and Barry with sister Patsy enjoying a game of cards at our Jubilee Centre

Independent Living // Issue 2 Independent Living // Issue 2

The Jubilee Centre is a community centre in St Albans with a weekday drop in restaurant.• £4.55 hot meal and dessert• Food available between 12.30 and 1.30pm• No need to book in advance

Rooms for hire Our Jubilee Centre also has a number of rooms to hire for community groups, private events or meetings.

Website: www.hertsindependentliving.org /jubilee-centre/

Email: jubilee.centre@hertsindependentliving.org

Phone: 01727 847264

Or pop in for a cup of tea or coffee!

Jubilee Centre

out on a round

Delivering to 22 people in Stevenage, Walkern, and Weston, Lord Cecil said:

“Some people wanted their meals dished up, others take it at the door, and some wanted you to come in for a chat.

“I met some great people; there was one client who started having the service when they broke their leg, but enjoyed it so much they continued having it ever since.

“There was another lady with mild dementia who had a nice terrier, and luckily I had some dog biscuits in my pocket!

“The continuity aspect which HILS provide with timing and staff is clearly invaluable and provides consistency for the client. Ray’s a really nice guy and knew all of the clients really well.

“I was impressed by the heat test halfway round, and learnt about the sequencing and routes. It’s great that you have these tracking systems, so that if you do have a problem, then you

know exactly where it was, and where the drivers are at all times.”

Lord Cecil got chatting to our team member Ray, saying: “It was very nice to hear Ray say ‘I’m much happier now than when I was working in insurance’ which is a good thing to hear!”

Following the delivery round, Lord Cecil joined us for a food tasting to try our meals out for himself.

Lord Cecil tasted our chicken fricassée meal, finished off

by a dessert of summer fruit crumble and custard, adding: “Well that was excellent, I must say, and just as delicious as a home cooked meal! I certainly wouldn’t complain if this came to my door.

“It’s not only healthy, but also a pleasure to eat, and what’s good about your service, is that you can be flexible.”

Thank you Lord Cecil, you’re welcome to come back and help us out again any time!

Herts residents receive meals from local Lord The former High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Lord Charles Cecil, helped deliver our meals on wheels during a visit to the HILS Letchworth site, joining driver Ray out on a round.

Maintaining a healthy weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is important for good health. A lot of attention is paid to problems associated with being overweight, but being underweight or suffering from unintentional weight loss can lead to health problems too.

recipe

8 9

Have you experienced any of the following?

• A long-term loss of appetite or feeling more tired than usual

• Finding clothes, jewellery, or dentures have become loose

• Losing weight without any intention to

• Eating or drinking less than you used to

If you have answered YES to any of the above, you may be at risk of being malnourished.

By eating plenty of foods rich in nutrients, further weight loss can be prevented, and weight can be gained if you need to. Nourishing drinks are packed with important nutrients, so why not try our recipe for enriched milk!

Independent Living // Issue 2 Independent Living // Issue 2

Recipe: Enriched Milk Enriched milk helps maintain weight, promote weight gain, and prevent unintentional weight loss. Each pint of enriched milk provides 580 calories, 38g protein, and 52g carbohydrate. The nutrients in enriched milk also help promote repair and recovery from illness.

Ingredients:• 4 tablespoons of skimmed milk powder• 1 pint (568ml) of whole milk (blue top)

Method:1. Whisk the milk powder into enough milk to make a paste 2. Add the rest of the milk and mix well3. You can now enjoy your enriched milk!

Top Tips: • You can make up enriched milk in a water jug and keep it in your fridge to use throughout the day• Milk powder is readily available in supermarkets at a very low price. It is usually located near the UHT milk or baking section

Five ways to use your enriched milk:1. Use in your hot drinks, like milky coffee or hot chocolate, throughout the day2. Pour on your cereal or use to make porridge3. Use to make a nourishing cold drink such as milkshakes4. Drink a glass of enriched milk with a snack5. Use it to make custard or sauces, and add it to soups

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Hertfordshire Independent Living ServiceSupporting your independence

10 11

HILS Puzzle Page

HILS Logic – Three Little PigsThe three little pigs, as you know, built houses,

one of straw, one of sticks, and one of bricks. By

reading the six clues, figure out which pig built

each type of house, the size of each house, and

the town in which each was located. Use a chart to

keep track of your information and your logic.

1. Penny Pig did not build a brick house.

2. The straw house was not medium sized.

3. Peter’s house was made of sticks, and it was neither medium nor small.

4. Patricia Pig built her house in Ware.

5. The house in Hemel Hempstead was large.

6. One house was in a town called Letchworth.

Patricia Pig

Penny Pig

Peter Pig

TOWN SIZE MATERIAL

HILS Number Square PuzzleTry to fill in the missing numbers! Use numbers 1 to 9 to complete the equations. Each number is only used once. Each row is a maths equation. Each column is a maths equation. Remember that multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

HILS Crossword Across

1. Wishing to do one’s work well and thoroughly

2. Free from outside control; not subject to another’s authority

3. Provide (something promised or expected)

Down

1. The county we deliver meals in

2. A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common

3. Food or nourishment

4. Displaying kindness and concern for others

5. Relating to the assistance of those in need

6. Our site which has a drop in restaurant

7. Our food supplier

8. We install community alarms for this Herts based service

8

7

1

2 3 6

4

5

1

3

2

x +

x +

- /

x + +

---

64

37

0

-2-5 7

Independent Living // Issue 2

puzzles

In CommonWhat is the one thing shared by all three items in the same group?

Aa cowa shoea baby

Ca potatoa hurricanea target

Ba zipa sharka comb

Da rivera persona cave

Answer:

Answer:

Answer:

Answer:

our new patron

Phil was “impressed and amazed” when he ate at the HILS Jubilee Centre in St Albans and surprised how tasty the food was. “The chicken and mushroom dish is lovely. The meat pie is great. The puddings are real comfort food – favourites like sticky toffee pudding, lemon sponge and fruit crumble which go down very well with my staff for their lunches.”

Phil told Sarah Wren MBE, Chief Executive of HILS, “I am truly amazed by what you do. There is so much involved. I have known restaurants working with far bigger budgets who

can’t consistently deliver food as good as this. It is warm, tasty comfort food, the sort my Mum used to cook. You are doing an amazing job and deserve the full support of the community.”

Phil, now 38, is an Essex boy from Dagenham and cooking is in his DNA - his Nan, mother and sister were cooks in the Ford Dagenham staff canteen. Schoolboy Phil learned the basics from his Mum,

starting with stews and apple pies. His uncle and mentor, Michael Vango, had a contract catering business with Phil washing up at weekends and learning food preparation. How many 14 year old boys

Our new Patron says the food we serve you is just like his Mum used to make. Praise indeed!

What’s on your menu today? At HILS we are passionate about the quality of the half a million hot meals we deliver every year, and so it is brilliant that our first Patron shares our passion and values. He is award-winning Hertfordshire chef Phil Thompson, whose fine-dining restaurant Thompson St Albans, established three years ago, is one of the finest in the county.

12 13

can blanch a tomato? Phil was hooked, and after catering college worked as commis chef at The Lanesborough in Hyde Park.

Phil was Executive Chef of Brocket Hall when its restaurant, the Auberge du Lac, was awarded a Michelin Star in 2009. When he left to open his own restaurant, many of his staff moved with him, and he really values his close knit team. Phil is also keen to acknowledge the essential role of his fiancée and business partner Marianne in the smooth-running of the business. “We moved into our house in Codicote a week before we moved into the restaurant. Marianne runs the business and our home, she is up before me and works more hours than me!” he says.

Despite numerous TV appearances Phil bears little resemblance to the larger-than-life celebrity chefs. He confesses, “I am quite a shy person and find it intimidating to walk round a restaurant full of people even if the restaurant is my own! If we do 100 covers on a Saturday night and one person complains, it ruins my evening.”

HILS cater for a wide range of nutritional and religious requirements from gluten-free to Halal and Kosher, producing more than 100 variations of the menu, shaped around clients’ needs and preferences. Phil also takes pride in accommodating his customer’s particular eating requirements. He explains, “We do a special menu if we know a vegan is coming, with a choice of starter, main course and dessert. They are delighted as restaurants rarely offer them any kind of choice.”

Phil’s customers are generally aged 40 and over, but he has many older clients. “There are three gentlemen who come here by themselves once a week for lunch. They get quite a welcome and clearly feel very much at home. I still love cooking, and am very hands-on. I wake up every morning happy and looking forward to coming to

work. The trouble with being a chef is that no one else ever wants to cook for me. I would be happy with beans on toast if someone else cooked it, but friends don’t invite us round for a meal.” We are delighted to welcome Phil Thompson as our ambassador, to help spread the word about how good our food is. We will even cook for him!

Interview by Phillippa Le Marquand

Independent Living // Issue 2 Independent Living // Issue 2

story

Meet Rhona:Rhona first joined HILS in 2006 as a community team member, delivering our meals on wheels. Now a weekday Team Leader at our Ware site, Rhona is a highly valued member of our team.

Rhona shares her story…“Before I worked at HILS I was a mobile school cook all around Ware, covering chefs when they weren’t there. Now I’m at HILS where we deliver over 1,400 meals each day – I’m obviously one of these people who likes a challenge!

“Doing this has come naturally to me, and I just took a shine to it. I really enjoy just making a difference to the older people’s lives, letting them know there are services out there for them that they may not know about, and giving peace of mind to the relatives.”

Rhona’s role at HILS involves the general day to day running of our Ware site - “Making sure it all runs smoothly really.

“The area that our Ware site covers is quite rural, and the clients are all very grateful for the service – you’ve definitely got some characters! We’ve got thank you cards from clients all around the office.

“It’s such a good service and everybody works really hard to make it all come together and make the service what it is. We all work as a team, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t ask them to do that I wouldn’t do myself, we all just muck in.”

“It’s an 11am start and 2pm finish, so it’s ideal for mums, they haven’t got to worry about childminders and are there for drop off and pick up.

“Everybody pulls together; the community team are all very good, and a lot of them ring round to ask if people need help if they finish early.

“We’ve had lots of fun here – if everyone’s got their meals and everyone’s happy, mission accomplished! I just come in every day and do the best I can. It’s all we can do really.”

Rhona’s favourite HILS meal? “The Vienna steak.”

garden

14 15

Are you interested in joining our kind, caring team? Visit: www.hertsindependentliving.org/vacancies to view current job roles.

Get Gardening with SMILEA new gardening project has been bringing people together across North and East Herts. Caring Gardens is a new initiative funded by Tesco Bags of Help, and delivered by the SMILE team at Hertfordshire Care Providers Association, to bring community groups and volunteers together in weekly gardening clubs based in care homes around the county.

The benefits of gardening and spending time in the fresh air are well known – and these clubs are a great way to meet new people and socialise, while getting some gentle exercise.

Even if hands-on gardening isn’t your cup of tea, the projects are designed and led by the group, so there is a chance to learn and practice all kinds of skills and pastimes.

No two days are the same at a Caring Gardens hub. Some of the clubs have seen woodwork sessions to build homes for wildlife, making seasonal flower arrangements, creating mosaics and murals, and even a fruit smoothie making session.

And the fun doesn’t stop on rainy days or if the weather gets chilly! The gardening activities themselves can continue indoors, too – people attending the sessions can take part in ‘table top gardening’, using large tidy trays to hold compost and pot up plants with a minimum of mess. These have proved popular with keen gardeners of all abilities - if you use a wheelchair, or find bending difficult, table top

gardening and SMILE’s range of specialist adapted gardening tools make it possible to take part in comfort.

SMILE also operates in the south of the county. In Shenley, Potters Bar and Borehamwood, folks have been attending SMILE’s Happy Days sessions, to try their hand at ceramic painting, chair based exercise, cake decorating and discovering other cultures – as well as the ever popular gardening sessions.

If you would like to attend any of these FREE sessions, or for more info, please contact the SMILE team at HCPA, on 01707 536020.

Independent Living // Issue 2 Independent Living // Issue 2

16 17Independent Living // Spring 2017

In Common answers:A. a tongue

B. teeth

C. an eye

D. a mouth

Crossword answers:Across1. Conscientious2. Independent3. Deliver

Down1. Hertfordshire2. Community3. Nutrition4. Caring5. Charitable6. Stalbans7. Apetito8. Careline

Patricia Pig

Penny Pig

Peter Pig

TOWN SIZE MATERIAL

HILS Logic answers:

Ware

Letchworth

Hemel Hempstead

Medium

Small

Large

Brick

Straw

Sticks

Number Square solution:x +

x +

- /

x + +

---

64

37

0

-2-5 7

197

584

263

Independent Living // Issue 2

poem

Ode to a HILS Delivery DriverWritten by George Hucklesby

HILS Puzzle Page answers:

Another day, working for HILSDelivering good food with extra frillsSign in at the depot, check which roundChecklist the car to be safe and sound

Now to the round sheet, new each dayListing clients and their meals per seHot meals, cold meals and tea packs for someCollect the food bags and we’re nearly done

Load the car and off we goThankfully today, good traffic flowCareful driving is ever the aimA good safety score again and again

The first delivery bang on timeExchange pleasantries and all is fineEach drop is made with the same good wishThat all is well as we serve the dish

Soon it’s time for a routine checkEnsuring meal temperatures are up to specAll is fine and so we move onAlmost finished, where’s the time gone?

Back to the depot well on trackA successful round, tomorrow we’re back!

Community Team Member at Letchworth

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18 19

Margaret, 83, has been having our meals every day for around 15 months, and with the help from our nutritionist Annabelle, our team has been able to help Margaret with her health condition.

Margaret says: “I’ve got a bowel problem which means I have to be very careful with what I eat. Luckily there’s enough variety that I am able to have quite a lot of what’s on the menu – and I never get bored of my meals!”

Our registered nutritionist Annabelle says: “We have comprehensive nutrition

information on our meals, so I was able offer Margaret a list of our meals and their fibre content. We also identified the meals that do not contain specific ingredients that might aggravate her health condition, to help her make informed choices when completing our menu.

“Our service not only provides hot meals in the comfort of your own home – our visits also provide a welfare check, and the peace of mind that someone caring will be visiting you.“

Margaret adds: “Not only do I enjoy the food, but I’ve got someone to chat to. It can get quite lonely here, and because

I live on my own, I don’t see many people. I’ve got no family or anything, so it’s nice that someone comes in each day”.

Following her nutrition and wellbeing check, Annabelle recommended Margaret to Herts Help for some information on events in her area for older people.

“You’re a good crew, aren’t you?” adds Margaret, “The food is good, the service is reliable, and the drivers are very, very kind. I have another friend here that might go on meals on wheels now, because I’ve told her how good they are!”

Our nutrition and wellbeing service is available to all HILS meals clients.

HILS needs you!We would like to hear from you! Please get in touch with us and send us your letters, poems, memories, favourite food or recipes, or anything you would like featured in our magazine. Or perhaps you would like to be interviewed for the magazine yourself? Please get in touch by emailing: ideas@hertsindependentliving.org

HILS impact stats

Our 2016/17 client survey revealed how we help people across

Hertfordshire stay healthy, happy, and independent.

As a result of receiving our services, HILS

clients said…

I visit my GP less:

74%I feel happier:

94%

My family has greater peace

of mind:

97%I feel more

independent:

92%

It has helped me stay living

at home:

94%My life is easier:

98%

I feel less lonely:

90%

I am better nourished:

93%

We delivered 2,440 dementia fun club

sessions

Find out more about our nutrition and wellbeing team on our website: www.hertsindependentliving.org/nutrition-and-wellbeing/

More than

just a Meal:

Margaret tells all

Independent Living // Issue 2 Independent Living // Issue 2

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Serving residents throughoutthe whole of Hertfordshire www.care-line.co.uk

0300 999 2 999

If you live in Stevenage, please call Stevenage Borough Council in the first instance on 01438 242666.

No upfront costs, equipment charges, or long term contracts

Free Medical Alert Card and

Keyfinder Key Fob with every community

alarm.

NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE

DISTRICT COUNCIL

Careline is a not-for-profit service of

Provided in association with Hertfordshire County Council and

RX-8467 Careline HILS HLFPG advert Jan 17_Layout 1 17/01/2017 15:23 Page 1

We know that living independently is very important to our customers. There’s no place like home. Award-winning Herts Careline offers a discreet and low cost way to do this via its community alarm and telecare service. A simple pendant worn as a necklace or on a wrist band can be of great reassurance that help is on hand 24/7 if needed.

Over 61,000 people over the age of 65 live alone in Hertfordshire, and Herts Careline offers much needed 24/7 reassurance and peace of mind for the user, their families and carers who might live further afield. If you feel unwell, have a fall or need reassurance, you can press your pendant and speak to a locally based, highly trained operator who will arrange the appropriate assistance. Some sensors and monitors will automatically activate when they detect a risk - if you have a fall or if there is a fire.

There are no upfront costs or long term contracts, and when compared to other types of care the monthly cost of the service is very modest - only £3.25 per week (+VAT if applicable). Call 0300 999 2 999 or visit www.care-line.co.uk for more information.

Stay independent at home with a pendant alarm from Herts Careline