What help is available to me as a disabled adult?

Links and information for finding the essential services and support in Guernsey that you may need

  • Health and Social Care Services

    • Adult Learning Disability Team
      • This team support adults with a learning disability from the age of 18 years.
      • For information on the full range of services please call (01481) 222000 or follow the link for more information to the adult learning disability team
    • Older Adult Community Mental Health Services
      • This team is a community based multi-disciplinary team that offers mental health assessment and support to islanders who are generally aged over 65. The team also provides support to people under the age of 65 where dementia is the primary diagnosis.
      • Call the Princess Elizabeth Hospital  (01481) 220000 ext 3595 or follow the link for more information to the Older adult community mental health team
    • Adult Community Services
      • This team is made up of a team of professionals who provide nursing and social support in the homes of adults in Guernsey and Alderney. Their aim is to help people maintain the best possible quality of life and independence in their own home.
    • The Admiral Nurses service for families who care for persons living with dementia
      • Admiral Nurses work with people with dementia, carers and relatives across Guernsey,
      • they provide one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions to help you and your loved one. This can be done via telephone, face to face visits and Admiral Nurse Clinics.
      • Referrals can come from GPs, other health professionals or from the carer / relative themselves.
      • Contact the Admiral Nurse Service at the Oberlands Centre on 01481 2242
    • The Community Nursing Team
      • This team is made up of Community Specialist Nurses, Staff Nurses and Nursing Assistants/Support Workers.
      • They operate 7 day a week, 24 hours a day.
      • Telephone contact can be made with a community nurse via the hospital switchboard 01481 220000 ext. 3313.  For more information follow the link Community Nursing team
    • Community Disability Team
      • The team supports adults with physical or sensory impairments, including people with Parkinson's or Multiple Sclerosis, in the community.
      • For more information Contact (01481) 230000 or follow the link to the Community Disability Team
    • Hospital Services
    • Off island treatment
      • It is not always possible for you to receive treatment on Guernsey, so it may be necessary for you and your carer, if you need support to travel to the UK or Jersey for treatment. The following information should guide you through off-island treatment and care.
      • If you require treatment off-island you will be referred by your Medical Specialist Group (MSG) Consultant and a referral letter is sent to the Off-Island Team at Health and Social Care (HSC).
      • When the referral has been authorised it is sent to the relevant UK hospital, which will then make an appointment for you.
      • The hospital will send you an appointment letter. Please be aware that this may take several weeks.
      • When you receive your appointment letter, you must phone the MSG Consultant's secretary to tell them the details of your appointment.
      • They will then create a request for the Travel Allowance Grant and send this to the Off-Island Services team and the Health Benefit team at Social Security. The Health Benefit team will make contact with you.  This will be by phone, letter or email.
      • For patients under 18, Social Security can pay for 1 adult to accompany a child to a medical appointment, 2 escorts can be funded for patients under the age of 6.
      • For more information call the Off Island Medical team on on Tel (01481) 220000 or follow the link to off island treatment.
      • The Health Travel Information Service is provided by Health Connections. Their website should contain information and contact details that you will need if you are referred off-island for care or treatment
    • The Admiral Nurses Service
      • Admiral Nurses work with people with dementia, carers and relatives across Guernsey,
      • they provide one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions to help you and your loved one. This can be done via telephone, face to face visits and Admiral Nurse Clinics.
      • Referrals can come from GPs, other health professionals or from the carer / relative themselves.
      • Contactthe Admiral Nurse Service at the Oberlands Centre on 01481 224272.

  • Support services

    • Home help assists with basic domestic and household tasks. Contact the  Adult Community Service on 01481 220000 ext. 3313.
    • Lifeline telephone system enables help to be summoned in an emergency 24 hours a day by simply pressing a button on a telephone or on a pendant which is worn by the user. The application for the service can be made via your health or social care professional. There are no age restrictions and the system is available to residents of Guernsey, Alderney and Sark.
    • Voluntary car service provides transport to hospital or necessary health related appointments. This service caters for service users who have no available relatives or for other reasons are unable to use public transport or provide other means of transport. Call 01481 707470. For more information Voluntary car service
    • Community services support team assists people to live in their own homes by providing short term loan of medical equipment (upon clinician referral) .The service also takes on the fitting of key safes and handrails. Contact the  Adult Community Service on 01481 220000 ext. 3313.
    • Shopping service provides assistance to service users who are, for reasons of ill health or frailty, unable to perform this task themselves. Contact the  Adult Community Service on 01481 220000 ext. 3313.
    • Meals on wheels service provides cooked meals are provided by the Guernsey Voluntary Services (GVS) for a nominal charge. The service is available 6 days a week -Monday to Saturday.You must be referred by your doctor or another health professional. For more information about the services follow the link to meals on wheels or call 01481 247518.

  • Respite care and sitting service

    • Respite care
      • This service that offers carers a break from the ongoing responsibility of caring for an ill, frail or disabled adult who is being looked after at home.  This can be a planned break for a carer or can be arranged as a result of an emergency situation. Requests for respite care can be accepted from yourself, a relative, GP Community Nurse or adult Community Services. For more information follow the link to Respite care
    • Respite at home- sitting service
      • If you need a break from caring and you are unable at any time to leave the person you care for, the sitting services can give you the opportunity to do some of the things you cannot do whilst you are caring. It provides breaks for informal carers but does not provide cover for 24 hour private care. For more information contact the Respite Co-ordinator on 223900 or Respite at home- sitting service
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    • Guernsey Alzheimers Association also offer a sitting service. For more information follow the link to Carers respite service

  • Financial support

  • Accommodation

    • Extra care housing
      • Extra Care Housing is designed to help people live as independently as possible, with the confidence of being in a safe environment with a flexible, tailored package of care and support offered by trained staff.
      • There are three Extra Care Housing schemes:
        • La Nouvelle Maraitaine, Vale,
        • Le Grand Courtil, St Martin,
        • Rosaire Court, St Peter Port
      • Find information about the accommodation and support available for you follow the link to Extra care housing.
    • Residential and Nursing Homes
    • Housing adaptations
      • For any adaptation you will probably need a professional assessment before any request for help can be considered. Staff at Social Security will be able to guide you.Tel (01481) 222508.
      • You will need to provide three quotes including accurate plans and costs. All housing adaptation applications need to be seen and approved by an Occupational Therapist.
      • You do not need to be on Income support to qualify for help to have your house adapted but you will need to be means-tested. In some cases Social Security will provide you with an interest-free loan and work out a repayments plan with you.
      • If you live in a States of Guernsey property then you will need to provide supporting medical information from either your GP or an Occupational Therapist. Once we understand your needs then we can look at the various properties we have to see if they are appropriate.If suitable accommodation is not available then we may need to look at adapting the property you live in.

  • Equipment

    • Hearing aids-
      • You will need to provide supporting evidence from an approved hearing aid provider before a grant can be considered. You will also need to be means-tested.
    • Wheelchairs-
      • The Occupational Therapy Service will give you advice to make sure that you are given a wheelchair that is suitable for your needs. There is no charge for the assessment, but the cost of the wheelchair is not included. You may be able to get financial assistance from the Social Security Department if you receive Income support. Follow the link to Wheelchair services
    • Support from Social Security-
      • You do not necessarily need to be on benefits for the Social Security Department to be able to help if you need special equipment. Assistance with the payment of medical expenses or purchase of equipment can be provided. The Department can also, in exceptional circumstances, award grants or loans towards the alteration of property in relation to medical need. For more information you can contact the Social Security Department by phone, tel. (01481) 222500.
    • Assessment
      • The Social Security Department (tel. 01481 222508) can do a quick 2-page assessment over the phone to see if you are entitled to support. If you are, then the advisor will arrange an appointment for a full assessment.
    • Guardian Medical Guernsey
      • can provide equipment to help with your care. This includes Stairlists and homelift, wheelchairs and mobility sacooters, first aid, hygiene and medical supplies and hire of equipment. See the website here Guardian medical or phone 01481 729 268.
    • Mercury distibution
      • Supply leading brands including daily living aids, stairlifts, beds, hoists and chairs. See the website here Mercury distribution, or phone 01481 72112.
    • Guernsey Mobility
      • Guernsey Mobility are stockists of a wide range of mobility scooters, wheelchairs, rollator walkers, riser recliner armchairs, cabin cars and so much more.They have a showroom at Landes du Marche to see the range they currently have in stock or browse the websites of their suppliers. See the website Home | guernsey-mobility (guernseymobility.gg) or phone 07911 765917 or email ian@guernseymobility.gg
    • Charity support.
      • Some charities are able to provide support to purhcase equipment. Please talk to the charity that is relevant to your situation. Information about local Charities can be found by here Guernsey charities

  • Support into work

    • There are a number of agencies that help you get into work. For more details follow the link support into work 

  • Day care and community support

  • Activities in Guernsey

    • Follow the link to find out more about social activities activities

  • Hidden disabilities and the sunflower lanyard

    • The lanyard can be worn by someone who has a hidden disability. It indicates that they might require additional assistance or require more time to perform a task.
    • The lanyards are available at the Guernsey Airport Information desk, the Guernsey Information Centre in St Peter Port and from Health connections.
    • More information about the hidden disabilities lanyards can be found here. Hidden disabilities

  • Accessible health information

    • Easy Health provide health information, using easy words with pictures. The are over 400 leaflets and video on lots of differet suvbject, you can find them here at EasyHealth

  • Support available from local charities

    • There are many charities in Guernsey. Follow the link to find out more about support they can give you Charity support

  • What help is available in Alderney