50+ Directory - PDF version 631Kb - Wrexham County Borough ...

Health & WellbeingHealth & WellbeingHealth is worse in Wales than in many other parts of Britain. Someof the main causes of ill-health can be prevented. Cancers, heartdisease, and diabetes, for example, are all influenced by the waywe live.Doctors want to give the best care possible, but to do this theyneed your help. Take advantage of a number of health checks which may beavailable through your GP. They may include checks for high blood pressure,diabetes or blood cholesterol. Check your GP practice leaflet or discuss thiswith the practice nurse.If you are over 65 you can receive an annual free flu jab and an occasionalfree jab against pneumonia. Ask your health practice for information or callNHS Direct.If you are over 75 and have not needed to see a member of the practice teamfor a year or more, you can ask for an appointment to discuss your generalhealth or any health concerns you have. If for medical reasons you would findit difficult to visit the practice, you should be offered a home visit.Breast Test Wales provides screening every three years for women betweenthe ages of 50 and 70. Between these ages you will be invited to attend.However, over the age of 70 you have to request to be screened every threeyears.Women between the ages of 50 – 64 are invited every five years for cervicalcancer screening and from 2006 men and women between the ages 60 – 69will be invited to bowel screening every two years.The Council Health Promotion team promotes initiatives and information toencourage safe and healthy living amongst older people. This includesaccident prevention advice. Contact them for information on local projects.Alternatively, the council’s web site has a section dedicated to healthinformation at http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/health.RNID’s Breaking the Sound Barrier scheme offers a five minute hearing testover the telephone. The facility is free and call costs are charged at localrates.Vision Support’s team of community-based support workers and volunteerbefrienders visit people with vision problems in their own homes on a regularhttp://www.wrexham.gov.uk/50+30