The event aims to recognise how older people contribute to their community

People around the world are celebrating today as part of the UN’s International Day of Older Persons.

The event aims to recognise the achievements and contributions that older people make to our society and to the economy, whist tackling negative attitudes and outdated stereotypes.

The UK will be celebrating with its sixth UK Older People’s Day and Kent County Council (KCC) has given its full support to the cause.

KCC has several ways of supporting older people in the community and to mark Older Persons Day council chiefs have released information on how to get help for the elderly.

As older people can be targeted by rogue traders, specialist help is available from Trading Standards officers. Visit www.kent.gov.uk/tradingstandards for more information.

When older people have been unwell or had a stay in hospital, they sometimes need support as they return home, helping them to regain their independence. Visit www.kent.gov.uk/adultsocialservices and click on your social services for more information.

There is a wide range of courses on offer for older people in locations right around the county. Visit www.kent.gov.uk/education and click on Adult Education for more information.

KCC and its district council partners have created a series of extra care schemes across the county. These offer a place where older people can live in their own homes while also having the care they need on hand 24 hours a day. More schemes are on their way to help meet increasing demand for this kind of support. Visit www.kent.gov.uk/betterhomesactivelives for more information.

Across Kent, there are nine Gateway locations, all offering easy access to a range of services. In some towns, the Gateway includes a library. Every Gateway can be helpful for older people who need access to the internet but do not have a computer at home, as it offers free web access. Advice on benefits and welfare is available, along with links to voluntary organisations for older people and Citizens Advice Bureaux. Visit www.kent.gov.uk/gateway for more information.

Many services can also be reached through the 11 mobile libraries visiting hundreds of communities as well as a free home delivery service to those who are home bound. Visit www.kent.gov.uk/libraries for more information.

With temperatures dropping into autumn KCC is encouraging people to keep an eye on their neighbours during the winter, and provide information about keeping warm. Advice is available on the KCC website on how to access Winter Fuel and Cold Weather payments. Visit www.kent.gov.uk/keepingwarm for more information.

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/