WORCESTERSHIRE County Council is working alongside Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire to ensure support is maintained, following the news of its closure. 

There are still two Age UK independent charities providing support across the whole county; Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest and Age UK Worcester, Malvern Hills and Hereford Localities, who will also now support Wychavon residents following the closure.

Both charities offer a range of free and paid for services that are very similar or the same as Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire, but demand is currently extremely high, so wait time for support may be increased in the short term.

The council are working with a potential provider to take on the delivery of the Home from Hospital service, until the end of the current contract in March 2025, and this will be confirmed in due course.

The Home from Hospital service provides practical support and companionship for people following a stay in hospital. Offering a hand with shopping, running the vacuum round or simply spending time putting the kettle on and lending a listening ear is vital in a person's recovery, as it alleviates some of their worry about getting the practical things done.

Councillor Richard Morris, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Worcestershire County Council said: ”We are saddened to hear of Age UK’s closure and our officers are working closely with Age UK Herefordshire &Worcestershire and other partners to maintain this important council commissioned service. We are continuing to keep abreast of the future arrangements for wider services that Age UK Herefordshire & Worcestershire deliver and are hopeful that solutions will be found to continue the range of services.”

In the short term, those residents needing basic support following a stay in hospital should contact NHS responders or the national Age UK.