Guidance and help to stay safe

Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS) offers a range of services to help people remain safe in their homes. 

For more information about GMFRS prevention work please take a moment to read their latest publication on 'Preventing Emergencies by Protecting People and Places', it provides an overview of all of GMFRS' prevention offers and details about how the public and partners can access them: Take a look at the new prevention brochure. 

GMFR can also offer support if you or someone you know is living with a hoarding disorder. Hoarding can be a fire hazard, and occupants can be at greater risk of death or serious injury from fires in homes where there is evidence of hoarding. Often, blocked exits prevent escape from the home or access in the event of a fire, making fighting fires and searching for occupants far more difficult and responding firefighters can be put at risk. Also, those living adjoining to, or near to a hoarded property can be quickly affected when a fire occurs. 

Where cluttered properties cause a significant risk to the person, family, or wider community, advice should be sought from GMFRS to consider a home fire safety assessment (HFSA). If consent is unavailable, please seek advice from GMFRS.  More information is available from GM Fire and Rescue.

Scammers often prey on the most vulnerable individual and are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their approach. 

Scams can be committed over the phone, through the post, on the internet or face-to-face, often on the doorstep. Because older people are more likely to live on their own, and may be isolated and lonely, they become targets for fraudsters. 

For some people, their only form of social contact is with commercial organisations, legitimate or fraudulent. They might receive telemarketing calls, emails, letters or open the door to a scammer purporting to be a bona fide salesman or tradesman. Sometimes strong relationships can be forged between scammer and victim. Once someone has been targeted their details can be added to what is known as ‘suckers list’ which is sold on to other criminals so the victim is targeted again and again.

 Being targeted by scams can have devastating effects on victims; loss of confidence, fear of answering the phone or the door, increased social isolation, anger, stress, depression, and fear for the future. In extreme cases victims attempt or even commit suicide. People who have been defrauded in their own homes are two and a half times more likely to die or go into residential care within a year. 

How to spot a scam victim: 

• Unusual amounts of post or letters in their home 
• Boxes of goods such as vitamins/alternative medicines, biscuits, toiletries/cleaning materials 
• Evidence of large cash withdrawals or multiple cheque payments 
• Lack of money to pay for other things such as food and bills 
• Lots of phone calls from strangers or companies 
• Increase in withdrawal or social isolation 

If you think a family member or friend is at risk, please contact Trading Standards at trading.standards@trafford.gov.uk  or 0161 912 1377. Additional advice is also available: 

• An advice sheet regarding scams following bereavement is available here. 
• Age UK have produced a detailed guide to different types of scams and how to avoid them.
• Hourglass is a charity that works to stop Elder Abuse.

As well as the many benefits of the digital world, we also know that for some there are significant risks with issues including stalking, harassment and online bullying. The Alice Ruggles Trust offers a  number of resources to combat to combat online abuse and harassment.

More Information Coming Soon

The Coroners’ Courts Support Service provides information for those attending an Inquest at a Coroner’s Court. 

Please read their CCSS Helpline Leaflet. They also provide support and guidance for families and friends who have suffered a bereavement who will be attending an Inquest: CCSS Bereavement Leaflet

More Information Coming Soon

If you or someone you know needs help with daily living, health, or wellbeing you can contact Trafford Adult Social Care to request a social care assessment.

Adult Social Care supports:

• older people
• people with a disability
• People with mental health issues or those living with a long-term health condition
• people recovering from a stay in hospital

To find out what support is available and to request a social care assessment please follow the link on the Trafford Council’s website.

Alternatively you can request social care support by calling the team on 0151 912 5199 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

What happens next

Once Trafford adult social care have received your request, they will contact you to discuss your needs. If needed, they will arrange an assessment to understand your situation.

The team will then with you to agree on a plan tailored to your needs.

Eligibility for adult social care

To receive social care support, your needs will be assessed against the national eligibility criteria. Find out more about the criteria for social care.

If you don’t meet the criteria, Trafford social care will give you advice and information about other types of support. They can also help you find services in the community, including free support, to help you stay active and independent.

Greater Manchester Bereavement Service can help to find support for anyone in Greater Manchester that has been bereaved or affected by a death, no matter how long ago. 

Greater Manchester Bereavement Service