Hearing - Local information
Featured Local Information
Ageing Well Activities
The following PDFs include information on ageing well activities in East Lothian.
Movement to help your muscles and joints
If you have any muscle, or joint issues as an adult you can find exercises to help you on the NHS Inform website here.
If these exercises do not help you please call 01620 642968 to speak to a physio about your muscle or joint issue.
Housing Options
This pdf file includes a guide to housing options for older people in Scotland. The guide includes useful information on buying a home, selling your home, renting a home and much more.
Local Suppliers
View a list of local equipment suppliers. The PDF includes the company name, address, contact details, and website (if available).
Dementia Friendly East Lothian
East Lothian’s Dementia Friendly Communities are wholly community-led and run.
Dementia Friendly East Lothian provides whatever support and encouragement communities need to help them realise their aspirations in whatever way we can.
Please log onto the website for information or to share information on your own dementia friendly events.
Dementia Friendly East Lothian website
Telecare
You can get help from the East Lothian Community Alarm Telecare Service.
Telecare Self-Check Online Tool
Telecare is the use of discreet equipment that can help tell someone if there is an emergency or if you are having difficulties in your home. Try the Telecare Self-Check Online Tool to find advice and guidance related to your needs.
Telecare Self-Check Online Tool
Home-visiting Opticians
The following PDF contains details on home-visiting opticians in East Lothian and the surrounding areas.
Wellbeing when off work
This leaflet is for anyone off work for reasons related to common mental health problems.
Hearing - Local information
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Access to Work
If you are experiencing difficulties at work and you work in a small company (50 people or less), then you can refer yourself to Working Health Services Lothian, which is a vocational rehabilitation service.
The team are based within the occupational therapy department in the Astley Ainslie Hospital in the Grange/Morningside district of Edinburgh. They can also arrange appointments at:
- St Johns Hospital and Strathbrock health centre in West Lothian, Midlothian
- Community Hospital in Midlothian
- Roodlands Hospital in East Lothian
If you would like to get in touch with the Working Health Services Lothian, then please use the details below.
Contact information
Email: voc.rehab@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Phone: 0131 537 9579
If you are not in employment and looking for support back into work with a hearing difficulty then the disability advisor at your local Job centre plus will be able to help you.
The details for Musselburgh Job Centre Plus are below.
Contact information
Phone: 0345 604 3719
Textphone: 345 608 8551
Address: North House, Eskmills Park Station Road, Musselburgh, Midlothian, EH21 7DU
You can use the 0845 code to call these 0345 numbers. Check with your phone company which code is cheaper for you.
Audiology
You should contact your GP to discuss hearing concerns and they can refer you to audiology for further assessment.
Local libraries within east Lothian issue free hearing aid batteries to those with NHS hearing aids, they require you to bring in the yellow audiology record book.
Clubs and associations for deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and deafblind people
Deaf Action provides support and advice for deaf people of all ages, from interpreting services and sign language training to information about hearing aids. They may also be able to advise you on any local clubs or support groups aimed at people who are hard of hearing or deaf.
To find out more, please use the details below.
Contact information
Website: Deaf Action
Phone: 0131 556 3128
Address: Deaf Action, Head Office, 49 Albany Street, Edinburgh EH1 3QY
Help and services around the home
At some point in our lives, many of us due to illness, disability or old age will need some form of help with everyday things like getting washed, dressing or cooking a meal. This support is often called social care.
Asking for help is sometimes the hardest thing to do, but East Lothian Council can offer an assessment of needs and help you to identify suitable services and arrange their provision. Contact them on 01875 824309 to make a referral.
If you need help with domestic chores, there are various local care agencies that you can contact. You will be able to find their details online by searching for home help services in East Lothian. Social work no longer provides a home help service to assist with cleaning.
Care and Repair offer a small repairs service for home owners and private tenants aged 60 years or over, or who are disabled and aged 50 or over. The labour involved is free of charge, so all you have to pay for are the materials used.
If you'd like to get in touch, please use the details below.
Contact information
Website: Care and Repair
Phone: 01620 828445
Help for deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and deafblind people
Deaf Action offers services for deaf people in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s. They provide a range of specialist services, information and support to those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
To find out more, please get in touch by using the information below.
Contact information
Website: Deaf Action
Phone: 0131 556 3128
Address: Deaf Action, Head Office, 49 Albany Street, Edinburgh EH1 3QY
Deaf Action also provide the Lothian Deaf Community Mental Health service, which can be contacted by using the same details as above.
There is also the Interpreting and Translation Service (ITS). To find out more about what they can provide, please use the following details.
Contact information
Email: its@edinburgh.gov.uk
Phone: 0131 242 8181
Fax: 0131 242 8009
Address: Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EG
Deaf Connections is the leading voluntary organisation delivering specialist services to adult deaf people across Scotland. If you'd like to find out more about them, please follow the link here.
Local information - Help for stressful times
You have mentioned that you may be feeling stressed, anxious or low. See some suggestions below.
Your local library may have useful healthy reading material. Healthy reading can be helpful for people to overcome and cope with problems such as: anxiety, depression, stress, dementia, eating disorders, bereavement, panic.
For more information, please visit www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210562/libraries.
The Royal Voluntary Service is a volunteer led organisation that helps older people in the area. We provide individual support and their services include good neighbours and transport, a resource centre in Haddington, as well as befriending and social clubs.
If you'd like to find out more or get in touch, please use the details below.
Contact information
Website: Royal Voluntary Service
Email: edinburghcityhub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Phone: 01875 811 011
The Samaritans offer a free and confidential helpline. You are able to talk to them any time you like, in your own way, and off the record, about whatever’s getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal. Please phone on 08457 90 90 90.
You may also be able to speak to someone face to face. If this is something you'd be interested in, please contact your local branch for further information. To find out more information and where your closest branch is, please visit www.samaritans.org/branches/.
Local information - Mental health and well-being service
CHANGES Community Health Project promotes the positive well-being of people living in East Lothian. If you feel you're not coping as well as you'd like and are looking for ways of moving forward, then CHANGES can help.
You can contact CHANGES Community Health Project by using the information below.
Contact information
Website: CHANGES
Email: info@changeschp.org.uk
Phone: 0131 653 3977
You can also contact your GP to discuss any feelings of stress, anxiety or low mood, and discuss a range of treatment options including referral to specialist services.
Associated materials
Local Information - Organisations to talk to when feeling stressed, anxious or low due to a recent life event
You have mentioned that you may be feeling stressed or anxious due to a recent life event or you are starting to lose interest in the things you once enjoyed.
Don’t keep this to yourself, try talking to your family or friends about this concern. You may find talking to someone would help.
CHANGES Community Health Project promotes the positive well-being of people living in East Lothian. If you feel you're not coping as well as you'd like and are looking for ways of moving forward, then CHANGES can help.
You can contact CHANGES Community Health Project by using the information below.
Contact information
Website: CHANGES
Email: info@changeschp.org.uk
Phone: 0131 653 3977
You can also contact your GP to discuss any feelings of stress, anxiety or low mood, as well as discuss a range of treatment options including referral to specialist services.
Associated materials
Local information - Support to help with low mood or loss of interest
You have mentioned that you may be feeling low. Please don’t keep this to yourself, try talking to your family or friends about this concern.
CHANGES is a local community project that promotes well-being by providing one to one and group support and guidance. To get in contact with them, please use the information below.
Contact information
Website: CHANGES
Email: info@changeschp.org.uk
Phone: 0131 653 3977
Address: 108 Market Street, Musselburgh, East Lothian EH21 6QA
You can also find support from local social groups, such as ‘Men in Sheds’ and ‘She Sheds’. For more information about these groups, please contact Alistair Sim using the following details.
Contact information
Email: Alistair@strive.me.uk
Phone: 01875 615423
Other examples of local supports include walking and gentle exercise groups, organised through Ageing Well, East Lothian Council. Avril Mackenzie is the coordinator for Aging Well and can be contacted using the details below.
Contact information
Email: amckenzie@eastlothian.gov.uk
Phone: 01620 827240
Further information about supports, services and mental health information in East Lothian is available at Eastspace. To find out more, please follow the link here.
You can also contact your GP to discuss your low mood and treatment options available to you, including referral to specialist services.
Associated materials
Local Information- Help for those with financial strain or worries
If you have been
feeling stressed or anxious as a result of your finances then there are local
services which can help you.
The Welfare Benefits
Team offers free, confidential information and advice on welfare rights and
benefits. The service is available to anyone in East Lothian and can:
- help you to claim all of the
benefits you are entitled to
- explain official welfare
rights letters
- help you complete claim
forms
- advise you on reviews and
appeals
- represent you at social
security appeals tribunals
There are also free
drop-in surgeries, details of which can be found below.
- Dunbar: The Bleachingfield
Centre, Countess Crescent, Dunbar, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month,
2.00pm to 4.00pm
- Haddington: Court Street
Entrance to John Muir House, Thursday, 2.00pm to 4.00pm
- Musselburgh: Brunton Hall,
Wednesdays, 10.00am to 12.00pm
- North Berwick: North Berwick
Library, School Road, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays each month, 2.00pm to 4.00pm
- Prestonpans: Aldhammer
House, 1st and 3rd Thursday each month, 10.00am to 12.00pm
- Tranent: George
Johnstone Centre, Tranent, 2nd and 4th Thursday each month, 10.00am to
12.00pm
To find out more
about the Welfare Rights Team or to get in touch, please use the details
below.
Contact information
Website: Welfare Rights Service
Phone: 0131 653 5230
The Citizens Advice
Bureaus in Musselburgh and Haddington provide information and advice including:
- welfare benefits entitlement
- debt problems
- how to manage your money and
maximise your income
- consumer rights and how to get
the service you’re entitled to
- employment problems
including redundancy
- dismissal
- retirement
- parental entitlement rights
- contractual changes
- housing issues
(homelessness, neighbour problems)
- legal and relationship
issues
- tax problems (including
council tax)
- utility problems
- immigration and nationality
problems
To find out more,
please get in touch with the Citizens Advice bureau nearest to you, details of
which can be found below.
Contact information
Website: Musselburgh Citizens Advice Bureau
Email: info@musselburghcab.casonline.org.uk
Phone: 0131 653 2748
Address: 141 High Street, Musselburgh EH21 7DD
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10.00am to 12.30pm (drop in),
Monday to Wednesday 1.30pm to 4.00pm (drop in), Thursday and Friday pm
(Specialist Appointments)
Website: Haddington Citizens Advice Bureau
Email: cab@haddingtoncab.casonline.org.uk
Phone: 01620 824471
Address: 44a-46 Court Street, Haddington EH41 3NP
Opening hours: mornings Monday to Friday 10.00am to 12.30pm (drop in
and appointments), afternoons Monday to Friday 1.30pm to 4pm (appointments
only)
Legal Clinic
(LawWorks Scotland): Every second Tuesday 5.30pm - 7.30pm - Appointment only
after referral from CAB Adviser.
There is also the
Carers of East Lothian, which is a financial inclusion project that
supports carers and the people they care for to understand their financial
options and to claim the benefits they are entitled to.
If you'd like to get
in touch, then please use the details below.
Contact information
Website: Carers of East Lothian
Email: centre@coel.org.uk
Phone: 0131 665 0135
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