Age Well East

Whatever is preventing people from ageing well, Age Well East are here to help them solve it.

Inbound Support - the free to access and confidential enquiry service is run by a team of dedicated Inbound Support Coordinators who answer daily enquiries over the phone, email and online chat. The team are the first point of contact for people with everyday enquiries, such as where to find a reliable tradesperson, to enquiries about local community groups and befrienders. They have developed a directory of DBS checked and approved services and can direct people to local and trusted suppliers and businesses as well as guide them to the best community service to meet their need.

Welfare and Advice – this service empowers people to maintain their independence and provides crucial support before a situation reaches crisis point. With empathy and understanding, they help people to articulate their individual needs and provide validation and acknowledgement of their circumstances. They break down the barriers caused by shame and stigma and identify the needs associated with health, finance, and social isolation.

Bereavement - They provide crucial wellness support for people living with loss, bereavement and those requiring end of life befriending, which reduces pressure on acute services through concentrated and tailored support. No one deserves to be alone at the end of life and should have the opportunity to be supported by someone in the absence of family or friends. For people who are facing dying alone, the Compassionate Companions provide specialised befriending to those who have chosen to spend their last weeks at home.

Dementia - Dementia currently affects over 20,000 people across Essex with 1 in 14 people over 65 living with the disease. Their Specialist Dementia Team offers support, information, and guidance to people and their families throughout a dementia diagnosis and directly helped over 400 people last year. Their dementia friendly groups enable people the opportunity to meet others in similar situations and is a lifeline for both those living with the disease as well as their family and carers. They offer dementia awareness training to both individuals and companies to equip people to better understand the disease and to raise awareness throughout the community.

Community and Friendship - With the help of over 270 fully trained volunteers, they offer a variety of community friendship services which range from befriending visits in the home, telephone befriending, peer to peer connection, groups and activities. While some people can go days without a single interaction with another human being, we offer friendship to help build confidence and provide the opportunity for vital social connection.

The Age Well East Veranda in central Colchester provides a welcoming space for the local community to come together to share conversation and company, hot drinks and various weekly groups and activities.