Information and Advice

We know our clients and the environment they live in.  When we see clients in need, we are there to support them.  If we can’t help with our services, we provide information and advice about where to go to get help. If required, we refer our clients to local organisations who are better able to meet their needs.

Why clients need our support and how we help

As the digital revolution progresses and digital inclusion becomes a vital tool in everyday living, many older people find it difficult to access the most basic services, such as getting a GP appointment, withdrawing money or talking to someone from their bank.  

With increasing instances of poverty and loneliness, our clients may have several needs to address and they don’t know where else to turn to get help. They may be anxious because they can’t cope, they feel lonely or isolated and lack confidence.  They may be housebound, stuck at home or digitally excluded.  They need our support more than ever.

With our unique home visit service for help with benefits claims and befriending services, and when we talk to clients at our social events, we can identify unmet needs.  We give our clients practical help and information about community facilities (for example:  meals on wheels, care alarms), wellbeing services, social care and keeping fit and healthy.

In 2024 the ONS (Office for National Statistics) released data on the number of Excess Deaths in the winter period in England. These figures showed that 8,647 people over the aged of 75 died unnecessarily from flu and pneumonia.  

In the winter period, CHEER reminds our clients that they should receive an invitation to have their flu and covid vaccination (and if they are aged 65, their pneumococcal vaccine). We follow this up each time we have contact with them to make sure they have received their invitation.  Although this sounds like a simple task, to many older people, it is a challenge when they do not always receive the emails or text messages sent out as reminders. Some people cannot get to their GP surgery and are unaware that vaccines can be done in their local pharmacy or at their home. That is why CHEER supports and encourages our clients to access this preventative treatment.