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Information &
Advice Service - Countywide
The service aims to enable older people to find and make
use of the services or support available to them, to exercise
their rights and entitlements, and in doing so, to maintain
their independence and quality of life for as long as possible.The service offered is free, confidential and impartial,
focusing on income and benefits, housing, community care and
social services, health services, and leisure and social opportunities.
We provide factual information, including factsheets and leaflets,
signposting and referral to local services, help with problem
solving and simple advocacy, help filling in forms and referral
to other advice providers for specialist legal help. The service can be accessed from our County Office in Durham
City, our Locality Offices in each of the districts of the
county, Age Concern Local Groups, outreach sessions and through
home visits. During the period April 1999- December 2000 it
was found that 90% of older people using the service have
requested factual information about their rights and entitlements
and simple advocacy, someone to find information or make a
phone call for them
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