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.
Information and services
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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.
Help with instructions
East Lothian Council libraries have magnifying sheets that you can try out. For more information, please visit www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210562/libraries/12318/special_community_services.
The Edinburgh branch of RNIB have a variety of resources that you can view and try out. For more information and opening times, please get in touch using the information below.
Contact information:
Email: rniblothian@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 652 3140
Address: 12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 5EA
For general enquiries, please email: rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk.
Help with loneliness
If you are feeling lonely and it is affecting your life, there are different things you can try that may help.
Visit the following NHS websites for numerous suggestions on how you can try to overcome loneliness: www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/feeling-lonely/ or www.nhsinform.scot/self-help-guides
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