Services to older people

EAC provides a well-respected, comprehensive and free advice and information service to older people, their families and advisors. The service is underpinned by detailed information which EAC has compiled over many years, and is delivered by a small team of Advisors with long experience in our field. It is completely impartial and independent of any commercial influence.

The service is delivered in two main ways:

• By telephone and mail
  Our national Advice Line (020 7820 1343) handles enquiries from around 9,000 clients a year, and offers expertise, information and discussion.
• Through the website www.HousingCare.org
  This is a partnership initiative, led by EAC, and is used by around 200,000 people a year.

Both Advice Line and website services aim to help older people make decisions about their housing, care or support in the full knowledge of what options are open to them, what they cost and how to get access to them. They offer guidance and information on a wide range of subjects, including:

• care and support to help you live independently at home
• emergency response services to provide reassurance that help is at hand if needed
• improving, adapting or repairing your home to make more convenient, comfortable or safe
• all forms of housing specially designed for older people, including sheltered housing, retirement housing, extra care housing, assisted living, retirement villages, Abbeyfields & almshouses
• moving to a care home to receive personal care or nursing care
• respite care to give you or your carers a break
• hospice care for people who are terminally ill
• how to pay for any of the services above