Find local support services and trusted sources of advice to help with a range of long term health conditions. Find great tips to stop smoking and keep active. Your local library also has information to help you manage your condition.
Ageing People around 70, and sometimes younger, begin a ‘slowing down’ process related to the effects of ageing on their body. Equipment and care at home – find services and equipment to make life easier. NHS Guide to healthy ageing Asthma Asthma UK – downloadable and free to order resources, plus a patient helpline. Advice on living with asthma (NHS). Info on local services near you, including Breathe Easy groups (British Lung Foundation). Asthma Tracker - there are many asthma tracker apps available on the internet which can be a useful way to record your peak flow readings and track your progress. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Introduction to COPD (NHS) – info on clinical trials, causes and treatments. Also, local services near you, including stop smoking clinics, carers groups and weight loss services. British Lung Foundation (COPD) – great information on causes, diagnosis, treatment and how to manage your COPD. Telephone and email support services are also available. Dementia (memory loss and difficulties with language or problem-solving) Age UK (Hertfordshire) – help with claiming benefits, Lasting Power of Attorney, equipment, local social activities and recommended handyperson and home help services. Alzheimer's Society – info about the types of dementia, their symptoms and how it's diagnosed. Plus a dementia helpline and online community. Advice for carers on how to help someone live well with dementia (NHS). Depression and anxiety Kooth - Online mental health support and counselling for young people Big White Wall - Online community where people can share their problems anonymously and have an online chat with a trained counsellor and have access to other services. There is a limited number of paid for places for Hertfordshire residents. Herts Mind Network - The largest charitable provider of mental health services in Hertfordshire, providing courses in managing depression, anger and anxiety, counselling services, support for carers and much more. Mind in Mid Herts - Wellbeing centres in St Albans, Stevenage, Hertford, Welwyn Garden City offering counselling and a wide range of activities and courses. Cruse Bereavement Support - Cruse provide individualised support to bereaved people of all ages on the telephone, in their own homes or within the local community. Mental Health Complex Needs Service - Support for people recovering from mental health issues and additional complex needs, including substance misuse and learning disabilities. HPFT Wellbeing Service - part of Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Offering free, confidential talking therapy and practical support for people experiencing a wide range of very common emotional difficulties such as, anxiety, worry, low mood, depression and stress. The service can also help those experiencing anxiety or low mood during or after pregnancy. More about depression and anxiety (NHS). Diabetes NHS – info on the latest diabetes apps, a risk checker, plus local services near you. Local support groups and great recipe ideas (Diabetes UK). Heart disease Overview of coronary heart disease, including patient and expert videos (NHS). Find local support groups, plus a regular magazine and information booklets (British Heart Foundation). Stroke Stroke Association – find local support groups, discussion forum, regular magazine and publications library. Find out more about strokes (NHS). Self-management courses New Leaf College (Hertfordshire’s wellbeing college) provides a range of free courses to help you to take better control of your health and happiness. Browse the wellbeing courses