WINTER Friends 2019

1. WINTER Friends 2019 Help Us Help You - Stay Well This Winter

2. Thank You for Becoming a Winter Friend • Winter Friends are able to support their colleagues, service users, friends and families with evidence based, high impact interventions this Winter. • After working through this presentation, you can collect your free resources from the Public Health Resource Centre and support the most vulnerable by having positive conversations, signposting and referring to services

3. Winter weather has a direct effect on the incidence of: heart attack, stroke, respiratory disease, flu, falls and injuries and hypothermia. Winter weather also has indirect effects on our wellbeing – these include mental health problems such as depression and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if boilers, cooking and heating appliances are poorly maintained or poorly ventilated.

4. Excess Winter Deaths • On average, there are around 25,000 excess winter deaths each year in England. • Excess winter deaths are the observed total number of deaths in winter (December to March) compared to the average of the number of deaths over the rest of the year. • Excess deaths are not just deaths of those who would have died anyway in the next few weeks or months due to illness or old age. • There is strong evidence that some of these winter deaths are indeed ‘extra’ and are related to cold temperatures and living in cold homes as well as infectious diseases such as influenza. • In the recent past, the rate of winter deaths in England was twice the rate observed in some northern European countries, such as Finland. • Even with climate change, cold related deaths will continue to represent the biggest weather-related cause of mortality

5. Certain groups of people are more at risk of poor health during winter weather and may need more support; • Over 75 year olds • People who have problems with their heart or breathing • People with a serious mental health problem • People with learning difficulties • People who find it difficult to walk • Yong children and their families • People living in cold or damp houses • People who spend a lot of their money on keeping warm • Older people who live on their own • Homeless people or those sleeping on the streets • Other groups who may not access services or support

6. Most excess winter deaths and illnesses are not caused by hypothermia or extremes of cold They are caused or made worse during normal winter temperatures Normal winter temperatures occur when the average outdoor temperature drops below 5-8°C

7. Public Health England recommends our indoor temperatures should be between 18 and 21 degrees When the indoor temperature drops to 16 degrees or lower, our resistance to lung disease declines. When temps drop to 12 degrees or lower, our blood thickens and this increases our risk of heart attack and stroke.

8. Nine things that matter…. 1 Get a Free Flu Jab • Flu vaccination is available every year on the NHS to help protect adults and children at risk of flu and its complications. • Flu can be unpleasant, but if you're otherwise healthy, it'll usually clear up on its own within a week. • But flu can be more severe in certain groups of people. Anyone in these risk groups is more likely to develop potentially serious complications of flu, such as pneumonia (a lung infection), so it's recommended that they have a flu vaccine every year to help protect them. • The flu vaccine is routinely given on the NHS to: • Adults 65 and over • People with certain medical conditions (including children in at-risk groups from 6 months of age) • Pregnant women • Children aged 2 and 3 on 31 August 2019 • Children in primary school • Frontline health or social care workers

9. Flu continued…. Flu vaccine is the best protection we have against an unpredictable virus that can cause unpleasant illness Studies have shown that the flu vaccine will help prevent you getting the flu. Flu vaccine side effects Serious side effects of the injected flu vaccine are very rare.  You may have a mild fever and aching muscles for a couple of days after having the vaccine, and your arm may be a bit sore where you were injected. How safe is the flu vaccine? The flu vaccines used in the national programme have a good safety record. Flu vaccines that have been licensed recently in England have been thoroughly tested before they're made available, and have been used in other countries with a good safety record. When to have a flu vaccine The best time to have a flu vaccine is in the autumn, from the beginning of October to the end of November. But do not worry if you have missed it, as you can have the vaccine later in winter. Ask a GP or pharmacist.

10. To reduce the risk of spreading flu, there are some simple things we can all do ourselves; • Wash your hands often with warm water and soap • Use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze. • Bin used tissues as quickly as possible.

11. 2. Check Medicines • If someone is on regular medication, they should be contacted by their GP practice for an annual medication review. • If they haven’t been contacted, they can call the practice and make arrangements. • This is to ensure they are taking the right medication and are taking it properly. • Remember to account for and prepare for closures during holidays over Winter. • 3 Keep the inside of the house warm • Remember we should heat our homes to between 18 and 21 degrees – other ways of staying warm include wearing layers and keeping active.

12. 4.Seek Help if Struggling with Fuel Bills or Energy Efficiency Home Plus (Leeds) is a service aimed at enabling and maintaining independent living through improving health at home, helping to prevent falls and cold related health conditions. Home Plus (Leeds) can provide (there are eligibility criteria); • Comprehensive home assessment to identify needs • Servicing and repairs to heating and water systems • Help changing to the cheapest energy deal • Free energy saving equipment and advice • Draught proofing and insulation measures Call 0113 240 6009 or visit www.care-repair-leeds.org.uk For a review of benefits entitlement and uptake Welfare Rights Advice Line: Tel: 0113 376 0452 or email: welfare.rights@leeds.gov.uk

13. 5 Keep Active and Seek Support if Worried about a Fall • Regular physical activity strengthens muscles and improves balance, whatever your age, from walking to cycling or chair-based exercises. Any activity that challenges your balance like gardening or housework all counts. • Active Leeds Health Programmes supports individuals and groups with health problems and long term health conditions to lead an active, healthy life. Active Leeds Health Programmes deliver a range of activities to support people to self-manage their health conditions through physical activity and support those at risk of falling to improve their strength, balance and coordination. https://active.leeds.gov.uk/health-programmes • Home Plus (Leeds) can provide rails and other support to prevent the risk of falls. 0113 240 6009 www.care-repair-leeds.org.uk

14. Watch the following video to learn more about falls prevention in Leeds…

15. 6. Have Hot Food, Drinks and Snacks Supporting people to have regular hot food and drinks helps people keep hydrated, healthy and warm. Food can also provide a great opportunity for socialising and sharing or learning new skills. Anyone working with older people in Leeds can access free Improving Nutritional Care Training (older people) through PALs (LCC staff) and through the PHRC. You may wish to find out more about what support is available for vulnerable people around food and drink during Winter by visiting www.leeds.gov.uk/nexthotmeal If you are worried about someone and would like advice, guidance or dietetic support over the phone, you can call the malnutrition helpline

16. 7. Ask for Help • Some people may need additional support or resources in their home to keep safe – this could include a personal alarm to call for help, sensors in a chair or bed, a falls alarmor additional rails to help getting up and down the stairs, or on and off the toilet. • For an assessment call the Leeds City Council Contact Centre on 0113 222 4401 or visit the local Community One Stop Shop or Hub. One Stop Centres or Community Hub Information will be passed on to Adult Social Care.

17. 8. Connect to the Local Community • Social isolation can have a negative impact on our health and wellbeing. • It is estimated that in Leeds, there are around 37,000 older people who are socially isolated. • Joining or attending local groups, trying new activities, seeing friends or family, volunteering or taking up a new hobby can all help keep us engaged and connected. • Leeds Directory lists local events and activities in your area – visit www.leedsdirectory.org/ or call 0113 378 4610 • Neighbourhood Network Schemes are community based, locally led organisations that enable older people to live independently and pro-actively participate within their own communities by providing services that reduce social isolation, provide opportunities for volunteering, act as a “gateway” to advice/information/services promote health and wellbeing

18. Mental Health Support • Mindwell is the single point of access for anyone working or living in Leeds. It provides; • Clear, accurate information about support and services available in Leeds. • Information about a range of common mental health problems such as anxiety and stress. • Self-help information including downloadable resources and videos which can help you to look after your mental health and help yourself to feel better. • Help for what to do in a “crisis” or mental emergency Go online to MindWellwww.mindwell-leeds.org.uk

19. 9. Be Prepared! By knowing there is a cold snap on the way, we can all support each other in getting the essentials ready The MET office can keep us up to date on the TV, radio and internet. You can also register to receive email alerts from the MET office by visiting https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKMETOFFICE/subscriber/new

20. Campaigns and Resources • Help Us Help You is Public Health England’s campaign to support people to Keep Well this Winter. Resources and marketing materials will be available from https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/81-help-us-help-you/Stay%20Well%20this%20Winter • The Cold Weather Plan for England is complemented by NICE Guidance on Excess winter deaths and morbidity and the health risks associated with cold homes. Both documents offer strategic and practical recommendations for the NHS, public health, social care and other community organisations, to support vulnerable people who have health, housing or economic circumstances that increase their risk of harm. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cold-weather-plan-cwp-for-england

21. Thank you for becoming a Winter Friend You are now welcome to collect your free Winter Friends bag from the PHRC which includes a pin badge and many resources to help signposting, referrals and support materials to help Leeds Stay Well this Winter Technorth,9 Harrogate Road,Chapel Allerton, Leeds,LS7 3NB phrc@leeds.gov.uk www.leeds.gov.uk/phrc