Connecting Care

The Connecting Care service manager have worked within the organisation across different services for more than nine years and feel it is the ideal place to work, to provide the best support for clients in all areas of their lives. 

Our team of Community Caseworkers work across the district in both Connecting Care Hubs, which are based at Waterton Hub in Wakefield and Bullenshaw Hub in Hemsworth.

Within these hubs, Age UK Wakefield District work alongside NHS and local authority services, together with other voluntary sector organisations such as the Alzheimer’s Society and Carers Wakefield.

The service responds to practical, emotional, social and financial issues and works with other integrated care services to ensure our clients receive a holistic assessment and person centred package of support. Our main aim is to help people remain independent for longer, whilst receiving health and social care in their own home and to always make life for the over 50s in the Wakefield District, a positive and, wherever possible, an enjoyable experience.

We help anyone aged over 50, living in the Wakefield District and/or who is registered with a Wakefield GP. Below are some of the types of support we provide:

• Help with benefit forms and appeals
• Blue badge applications
• Falls assessments
• Support with housing issues
• Aids and Adaptations
• Help arranging domestic and personal care

We also respond to urgent cases, providing visits within 24 hours for people without access to heating or food.

Falls Assessments

A fall can be a marker for various conditions (onset of frailty, new or worsening health condition) triggering a possible downward decline in independence and affect quality of life. Approximately 200 to 300 falls attend the emergency department currently per week. Falls can be prevented and managed by organisations working in partnership.

Our Community Case workers are able to carry out Falls Assessments to identify falls prevention strategies and to create the most appropriate action plan. Such actions from these assessments would be:

• Providing a walking stick and demonstrating how to use it safely without causing further injury
• A referral to the My Therapy service within the Connecting Care hub to assist with a in depth Physiotherapist falls assessment
• A referral to the GP to carry out further health investigations

Our role is very rewarding as we see how the support we offer can improve client’s circumstances and help them have a more positive outlook on life. This may be our teams helping to maximise their income, referring them for aids around the home to increase their independence and sometimes just having a chat with people, to let them know how we can help if they need us in future.