Around the Home - Local information
Featured Local Information
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.
Around the Home - Local information
East Lothian Community Alarm 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
Local information - Reporting a bogus caller to Trading Standards
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
Benefits for the visually impaired
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
Equipment for those with low vision or visual impairment
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.
Information on eye conditions
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.
List of local optometrists
Associated materials
Local Information - List of home visiting opticians
Associated materials
Local information - Services or organisations that provide special magnifiers
Associated materials
Local information - Independent sources for help and advice
The Disabled Living Centre offers free, impartial advice about a wide range of assistive equipment. The service also has an extensive range of catalogues and leaflets relating to daily living activities and equipment, as well as a list of local suppliers.
The OT there can also advise on and demonstrate specific equipment and there may be the opportunity for you to trial equipment.
You don’t need to be referred, you can just contact them directly.
For advice or to arrange an appointment, please use the details below.
Contact information
Phone: 0131 537 9190
Address: SMART Centre, Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh
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