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

If you are finding it difficult to cook for yourself, you may be eligible for our meals at home service. The meals are provided to the Council by Apetito, a company who supply frozen meals locally in East Lothian. For more information on what is available, please follow the link here. If you are interested in using the meals at home service, please contact your local council on 01875 824309 to request an assessment by one of our social work staff. The service is available to vulnerable people of all age groups in the county, such as elderly people or those with physical or learning disabilities. For further information, please click here. Unfortunately there is no longer a hot meal delivery service available. It is also worth checking if your local shops, cafes or restaurants are able to provide a delivery service.

East Lothian Community Alarm Telecare Service (ELCATS) is a landline, telephone-based system which you can use to summon help, call assistance, or give you reassurance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The main role of the Community Alarm Telecare Service is to obtain help for an older or disabled person when an emergency arises.

The user has a pendant button that is worn around the neck or on the wrist, which is connected to an alarm receiving centre, where there is always a call operator on duty to respond immediately. The service relies on a network of local contacts and, where possible, they require you to provide them with the names of at least two local key-holders, who can be called upon if required to check on you.

To help you and your key-holder further, the service is supported 24/7 by response staff from East Lothian Emergency Care Service (ECS). The call operator can call them out to assist you and/or your key-holder if required.

The pendant has a range of about 50 meters and will cover the area of the average house and garden.

There is a small charge for this service.

For more information please contact the Community Access Team using the following information.

Contact information:
Organisation: East Lothian Community Alarm Telecare Service
Phone: 01875 824 309
Email: communityaccess@eastlothian.gov.uk
Address: Adult Wellbeing, East Lothian Council, Randall House, Macmerry Business Park, Macmerry, East Lothian EH33 1RW

Associated materials

• East Lothian Community Alarm Telecare Service

East Lothian Community Alarm Telecare Service (ELCATS) is a landline, telephone-based system which you can use to summon help, call assistance, or give you reassurance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The main role of the Community Alarm Telecare Service is to obtain help for an older or disabled person when an emergency arises.

The user has a pendant button that is worn around the neck or on the wrist, which is connected to an alarm receiving centre, where there is always a call operator on duty to respond immediately. The service relies on a network of local contacts and, where possible, they require you to provide them with the names of at least two local key-holders, who can be called upon if required to check on you.

To help you and your key-holder further, the service is supported 24/7 by response staff from East Lothian Emergency Care Service (ECS). The call operator can call them out to assist you and/or your key-holder if required.

The pendant has a range of about 50 meters and will cover the area of the average house and garden.

There is a small charge for this service.

For more information please contact the Community Access Team using the following information.

Contact information
Phone: 01875 824 309
Email: communityaccess@eastlothian.gov.uk
Address: Adult Wellbeing, East Lothian Council, Randall House, Macmerry Business Park, Macmerry, East Lothian EH33 1RW

You have answered that you have let someone into your home and then regretted letting them in, but have not told anyone about this.

Individuals can be at risk from both strangers and from people they know. These may be relatives, friends, neighbours and paid carers. Please do not ignore your concerns. If you think you or someone else may be at risk of harm, you must report it.

You should make a referral to the East Lothian Council Community Access Team, who can be contacted by using the details below.

Contact information
Email: communityaccess@eastlothian.gov.uk
Phone: 01875 824309

You can also write to the local Social Work Service at the following address: Adult Well-being, East Lothian Council, Randall House, Macmerry Business Park, Macmerry, East Lothian EH33 1RW. 

You can also contact the local police service by dialing 101 for non-emergency calls and general enquiries.

Your answers have indicated that you have regretted letting someone into your home, e.g. someone claiming to be from a utility company or a pushy sales person.

East Lothian Council Trading Standards would like to hear from you if you have a complaint or evidence of:

• counterfeit goods (clothing, DVD’s, alcohol etc) being sold in East Lothian
• shops selling age restricted products to young people, i.e. cigarettes being sold to young people under 18
• bogus workmen or cowboy builders
• someone who has been a victim of a scam

You can contact East Lothian Trading Standards by using the details below.

Contact information
Website: East Lothian Trading Standards
Email: ehts@eastlothian.gov.uk
Phone: 01620 827365

The RNIB offer advice and support on a range of issues on visual impairment. They have an office with a resource centre where you can look at special equipment and aids for daily living in Edinburgh.

For more information and up to date opening times, please contact them using the following details.

Contact information
Email: rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 652 3140
Address: 12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 5EA

For RNIB Edinburgh and Lothians, please email: rniblothian@rnib.org.uk

You can also refer yourself for an occupational therapy assessment by contacting the East Lothian Central Access Team on 01875 824309 for a full assessment within your home environment.

If you would like further information about eye and sight conditions, please contact RNIB Scotland using the details 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

The East Lothian branch have a team of rehabilitation and mobility officers who deal with people with a sensory impairment. They can provide information and practical advice, including mobility training and independent living skills training.

Please contact them on the above numbers to discuss and gain advice on how to access the service.

Associated materials

• List of Local Optometrists

RNIB Edinburgh and Lothians is the part of RNIB Scotland, which provides specific local services to people with sight loss who live in Edinburgh, West Lothian, Midlothian and East Lothian. 

Our welfare rights service provides expert advice on welfare benefits, assistance with claiming benefits and representation at appeals and tribunals. If you'd like to find out more or get in touch, please use the following information.

Contact information
Email: lothian.benefits@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 557 1004

Alternatively, for information about the benefits available to those with a registered visual impairment, you can contact the Welfare Rights Team for East Lothian on 0131 653 5230.

You can also contact the Local Citizens Advice Bureau in either Musselburgh or Haddington using the details below.

Contact information

Organisation: Musselburgh Citizens Advice Bureau
Phone: 0131 653 2748 or 0131 653 2544
Fax: 0131 665 1141
Address: 41 High Street, Musselburgh, EH21 7DD

Organisation: Haddington Citizens Advice Bureau
Phone: 01620 824471
Address: 46 Court St, Haddington, EH41 3NP