Keep safe and well in winter

In winter it is vital that older or vulnerable people take steps to keep safe, warm, healthy and well at home. This isn’t always easy in cold, snowy or icy weather but lots of help is available from a range of schemes and services, all part of the council's Winter Wellbeing initiative.

Our Winter Wellness booklet is full of information and lists of helpful services from Dudley Council and other organisations.

Lots of people across the UK are worrying about the rising cost of living. If you are on a low or modest income and are struggling to pay bills, the council’s Welfare rights team can help with a benefits check, to make sure you are not missing out on any additional income.

You might get extra help if you’re a carer, have disabilities, or are responsible for a child or young person.

• Call the Welfare rights team on 01384 815002 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm

If you’re over the state pension age (66) and on a low income, you could be entitled to Pension Credit which gives you extra money to help with living costs.

• Call the Pension Credit claims line on 0800 991 234 or textphone on 0800 169 0133 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

There is lots of helpful information on our cost of living pages.

Our severe weather pages have information about keeping safe in a cold snap.

As fuel bills continue to rise, we all need to focus on keeping warm at home, while making sure we are keeping costs down and not wasting energy. If you are worried about the cost of heating your home this winter, there is lots of advice and support on offer.

There is government support available to help towards household energy costs for all homes this winter. There is also local help from the council’s Dudley Energy Advice Line (DEAL) which offers information, advice and support.

Help in a crisis may include:

• temporary heating
• fuel vouchers
• supermarket vouchers
• heated blankets

DEAL gives help with understanding bills and with fuel debt, help with energy efficiency and can support you to apply for grants and access funding for insulation measures and replacement heating systems.

Telephone 01384 817086 to speak to an advisor.

It is important that carers look after themselves during the winter months, as well as the person they care for. Dudley Carers Hub offers practical help, advice and information to carers. Telephone on 01384 818 723.

The winter months can be long and lonely for many people. This is especially true for older people or those with a disability or long-term health condition.

Our Pleased to Meet You scheme offers support to people feeling lonely. Our helpline offers a friendly chat, or the chance to find out about help in the local area, including assistance arranging for grocery or medicine supplies to be dropped off to you. Telephone 01384 812 761 Monday to Friday, 9am - 4pm, or email communitysupportserv@dudley.gov.uk

There is also the Beacon Centre Befriending Project. This is a befriending service for lonely or isolated older people who live in Dudley borough. A range of befriending support is on offer - telephone chats, email support, or, if appropriate, visits. Telephone 01902 880111 or email: referrals@beaconvision.org

Changes to our lives, such as loneliness and worries about health and finances, can have a big impact on our mental wellbeing.

Let's Get, Dudley Public Health's website, has information on how to improve your mental wellbeing, mood and confidence. It has details on a range of support organisations.

If you are registered with a Dudley borough GP and are suffering from anxiety or depression, you can get help from Dudley Talking Therapy Service (IAPT).

There is also a 24/7 mental health support line for Black Country residents, provided by Black Country Healthcare Foundation Trust - telephone: 0800 008 6516.

Dudley Telecare Service offers support to people, of all ages. It helps people to stay living safely and independently in their own homes.

A range of telecare assistive technology can be installed in the home. This can be linked to a loved one, a carer, or directly to the telecare monitoring centre. Call handlers are available 24 hours a day to take calls from people, or to respond to an alarm being triggered in the property.

Telephone 0300 555 2040 (open 24 hours a day)

The dark winter nights can encourage bogus callers to target older and vulnerable people. Distraction burglaries often increase during winter, particularly around Christmas.

The Living Well Feeling Safe service offers free home safety and security advice and equipment, such as door chains and window locks.

Fire risks also increase during winter. The Living Well Feeling Safe assessment offers free fire risk checks, smoke alarms and fire safety advice.

Telephone: 01384 817 743.

Older people in particular are often targeted by scammers, in their homes. Recent local scams have included property maintenance cold callers, bogus mobility equipment and bogus home security alarm sales, along with fake lotteries and prize draws. Always be wary of people selling things at the door. If you are concerned seek advice from Dudley Trading Standards who are always happy to help.

It’s easy to slip and fall during the cold, icy and snowy winter months. A fall can often lead to a hospital visit. Dudley Falls Prevention encourages you to take care in the winter months, particularly if you are older, as you may struggle to recover from a fall. If you do fall or are worried about your balance and mobility we offer lots of advice and support.

Telephone 0300 555 0055 and select option 2, or email fallsspa@dudley.gov.uk

Everyone should make sure they get their Covid booster as soon as they are eligible. The autumn booster programme began in September 2022.

The flu vaccine free of charge to many groups, including people who are 50 and over, those who have certain health conditions and people who live with someone who's at high risk from coronavirus. You can get your free flu jab from your GP or pharmacy.

Self management programmes can help you live with the symptoms caused by a long-term health condition. This can help improve your overall wellbeing and quality of life. The programmes provide easy tools and techniques to problem solve and set yourself goals.

Courses are free and run for two and a half hours each session. They last for six consecutive weeks and with trained tutors, who also have long-term health conditions. Courses are face-to-face group sessions in community venues across Dudley borough, as well as online courses.

To find out more, telephone 07976 637404 and leave a message with your name and number, or email smp@dudleycabx.org 

• Think twice before going out in snow and ice
• Ask someone to pick up food or medication for you if the weather is bad
• Let someone know before you go out in bad weather, or take someone with you
• Keep a stock of long-life, tinned and frozen food in preparation for bad weather
• If you do need to go out to an appointment, try not to venture out alone, take someone with you - even if they are not allowed in with you
• Wear sensible shoes in icy or snowy weather with a good, deep grip
• Be careful when going out in thawing snow or ice, it can hide icy surfaces
• Stay safe and secure - keep doors locked even when you are at home and use a door chain. Make sure you ask callers for ID
• Close your curtains after dark
• Get your heating system and other gas appliances checked by a professional
• Keep a useful list of contacts handy

For real time information on services affected by adverse weather as well as further advice please visit our Weather Watch pages.

• There's lots of advice on staying well over the winter on the NHS Stay Well website
• Get both of your Covid jabs and booster dose when eligible
• Be sure to have your flu jab too
• Eat a balanced diet and take a vitamin D supplement
• Keep a stock of your medication and make sure you order any repeat prescriptions well before you run out
• Keep warm at home - keep heating on and dress warmly in several layers
• Keep moving around, even when stuck indoors. Move every hour to keep joints and muscles working and to boost your circulation
• Eat well and regularly. Have at least one hot meal a day and hot drinks through the day
• Get healthcare advice promptly from your local pharmacy, your GP, or by calling 111. Don't wait until you feel very unwell
• Keep in touch with family and friends with a daily chat, or check out the Dudley Community Information Directory to find out what's going on in your local area

Warm spaces are opening across the country. These provide communities somewhere to get a free hot drink and stay warm as energy bills rise.

Dudley Council for Voluntary Service (DCVS) is working in partnership with venues across the borough. With support from the council, they have launched Warm Welcomes. This brings together a network of 50 warm spaces where you can come this winter to keep down energy costs at home.

Find your nearest Warm Welcomes hub or telephone DCVS on  01384 573381 or email info@dudleycvs.org.uk

You can also find Winter Wellbeing information flyers in several languages