Independent living advice and support at Ardrossan event

Ayrshire Independent Living Network, which provides people with free information and advice about Self-directed Support, (SDS), will be hosting an event aimed at older people at the end of the month offering free advice and information on SDS.

If you qualify for SDS, after contacting Health and Social Care, the Scottish Government, which has different ways that you can receive support, will provide you with organisations that can advise you to tailor the support to your needs.

Ayrshire Independent Living Network provides this service across the three Ayrshire authorities, including Arran.

People use SDS in many different ways: some opt to employ personal assistants, some hire care companies, some do a mix of both and others just prefer the local authority to decide everything for them.

SDS means that you can now choose to receive any care needed in a way that suits you and lets you get on with the more important things in life. It is not a welfare benefit and so does not affect any you currently have.

The event for older people will take place at Ardrossan Indoor Bowling Club on Wednesday May 31. It will allow people to learn more about SDS from advisers, talk to people who already have SDS and there will be other organisations there with services and groups relevant to the over 65s, including Age Scotland, Carer’s Centre North Ayrshire, Dementia Technology, Telecare, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Alzheimer’s Scotland among others.

It will be held from 10.30am to 1.30pm and there will be tea, coffee and cakes. For any inquiries about SDS, call an adviser on 01294 475685 or visit the Ayrshire Independent Living Network’s website at www.ailn.org.