Noble open day helps care in the community

Monday, 16 July 2012

A Long Eaton business has responded to the government’s care in the community reforms by opening its doors to local members in the Erewash community.

Noble Independent Living, which offers assistance for the elderly and disabled regarding health, finance and accessibility, played host to 23 organisations at its brand new Independent Living Centre on Leopold Street, at an event aimed at encouraging social responsibility and general awareness for care in the community.

Visitors to the open day were privileged to receive advice and information from a huge range of support workers from groups such as the Alzheimer’s Society, Mencap, Parkinson’s Society,  Derbyshire Carers, 50 Plus Forum, Crossroads, Saffa, Help at Home, Home Instead, Making Space, CAB, Mental Health Forum, Stroke Co-ordinator, Falls Prevention, Polka Care, Wiltshire Farm Foods and the Motor Neurone Association.

The event came about after Noble Independent Living was inundated with enquiries about Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s changes to social care.

Under the current proposals, people will be eligible to borrow money from their council, with the sum, plus interest, being paid back after their death to finance home care for the elderly.

The loans, set to be introduced across England in April 2015, are intended to help around 40,000 people each year who are forced to sell their homes to cover care costs, says the government.

Oliver Scott, director at Noble Independent Living, said the response to the open say took him and his team by surprise:

“We were overwhelmed with the response from visitors, and we’re keen to increase our support for domestic patients and members in the Erewash communities. The support organisations that attended told us that our Independent Living Centre made the perfect platform for this type of awareness day, and we encourage groups to continue to use the free facilities available. We can even arrange public transport links to and from the Centre.”

The event was also supported by the likes of Derbyshire Fire Service, Derbyshire Police, Neighbourhood Watch , Citizens Advice and Trading Standards.

Oliver added: “Our managers at the Noble Resource Centre have now installed advice stands from these public services to relay further support and information to centre visitors.”