The Beehive Centre in Stretford Road, Whitehall – run by Bristol Charities - currently provides a range of day services for up to 120 older people four days a week. An advisor from Bristol City Council’s Care Direct team is now visiting the Beehive regularly to provide information and help to the centre’s clients.

The advice covers which benefits older people are entitled to, assistance with claiming them and filling out necessary forms, as well as how to access social care and other services including support from Care and Repair and Age Concern.

David Jones, chief executive of Bristol Charities, which took over the management of the Beehive in September 2001, said: “Having Care Direct advisors visit the Beehive in person is just one example of our joined-up approach to day care services for older people – providing a pleasant venue for social interaction linked to practical support and advice.”

“For many older people, seeking advice from someone face-to-face in an environment where they feel comfortable can be less intimidating than talking to a stranger on the phone.”

Jenny Sandoe, a Care Direct senior advisor, said: “Since it was launched in November 2001, Care Direct has received over 16,000 calls on the freephone number (0800 444 000) from older people, their carers and relatives across Bristol covering everything from seeking advice about pension entitlement to who to contact to fix a broken window. However, we have also set up outreach surgeries such as the one at the Beehive to allow older people to meet us in person.”

“In addition to offering the service to people attending the Beehive, we are looking to use the centre as a base to allow other older people living in the vicinity to come to us.”

One of the issues that prompted Bristol Charities to look at offering advice in person at the Beehive was a National Audit Office report late last year that showed that the Treasury still has up to £2 billion unclaimed by pensioners nationally – equivalent to an extra £22 a week for the country’s 750,000 poorest older people.

David Jones said: “The report highlighted that one of the obstacles in ensuring older people receive their full entitlement to benefits is the stigma of being seen to be poor. However, far from being about receiving charity, many of today’s older people have contributed to the welfare state from the outset and now deserve to reap the benefits of it. The Care Direct advisors work with our clients at the Beehive Centre to encourage them to claim what they are entitled to.”