Helpful Links & Information
Perhaps you know someone or have a neighbour who lives alone here in Crete? They may have come here with their spouse who has since passed away, or simply chosen to move here alone.
Perhaps you yourself live alone here in Crete?
We know that the last thing you want to think about is being ill or incapacitated but whether you are living alone or with a partner in Crete, it is better to have made some “just in case” arrangements and be well prepared.
We have put together some advice for you on how to do this:
Small Adaptations, Big Improvements
Did you know you can make your life easier just by making some simple alterations to your home? Adapting your house to suit your needs can make your life and that of your partner much easier – here is a guide based on advice issued by the NHS UK.
Bathroom Aids
✓ Slip mat for shower or bath
✓ Handrail to help getting into or out of the shower
✓ Easy to turn tap handles
✓ Raised toilet seat
✓ Handrail for support
Kitchen Aids
There are many kitchen gadgets now available for those who have difficulties holding and using everyday cooking equipment because of conditions like arthritis – ranging from openers, peelers, and easy-to-grip graters.
Bedroom Aids
✓ Grab rail to help getting out of bed
✓ Leg lifters – to help lifting your legs
✓ Hooks to help pull zips, undo buttons and pull jackets on
✓ Gadgets to help put on socks, tights, pants and so on
** In Crete there are several specialist shops offering medical aids such as those mentioned above, as well as more advanced aid. If you would like contact details just email us. We can also make the purchases for you and arrange delivery, as well as arranging installation should you need it.
Larger medical aids such as wheelchairs and oxygen machines can also be hired if you prefer not to buy.
Getting to Hospital in an Emergency
Ambulance Number: 166 or 112 (European-wide General emergency number)
During the Call
You will be talking to the Heraklion centre when you call 166 so tell them in the following order:
Your name
Where you are located – remember: they don’t necessarily know the area as they are in Heraklion. You must explain the area and the village.
Details of the patient – what is wrong, and why you need an ambulance.
A local Doctor may call you back before the ambulance is called. This is to check whether a doctor is needed in the ambulance or if the patient can wait until arrival at the hospital.
Hang up after the operator has.
A local Doctor may call you back before the ambulance is called. This is to check whether a doctor is needed in the ambulance or if the patient can wait until arrival at the hospital.
No ambulance available?
It may very well be that you know from past experiences that the arrival of the ambulance is going to take at least 30 minutes – but the emergency requires the person to be seen by medics as soon as possible. If the person can travel, and you can get them into your car, it may be better to just drive them straight to the A&E department – speed may be of the essence. If you don’t have a car and you judge waiting for an ambulance will be detrimental to the health of the patient, call a taxi and get to the hospital via taxi.
Being Admitted into Hospital
Paperwork
You will need to provide your:
✓ IKA health book
✓ Slip mat for shower or bath
So, make sure that these are all easily found should someone else need to get them for you. If you have private health insurance, put these details in the same place.
Doctor
Put the name and contact details of your local doctor.
Key
If possible, give a friend living close by or a neighbour a spare key to your house. If you are admitted to hospital urgently, someone needs to be able to go in and collect your essentials.
Emergency Contacts
Make a list of who should be contacted should you fall ill, with their full details and relationship to you.
Cashflow
It is possible that your care will involve payments even in the hospital (e.g. for night nurse) so make sure that you have nominated someone to take care of the financial side should you be unable to (e.g. friend, neighbour). Make sure that this person’s details are kept with your health book.
Medication
If you take medication try to have an up-to-date list of what you take and when. Try to keep your medication in one place where it can be easily found.
These are some basic steps and information you can easily take to feel more secure in your home.
For even more security, we recommend you consider subscribing to our services. This way we will have all of your information already on file, making your admission to hospital a lot easier.
Local Medical Services – Kalyves Apokoronou
Unless specified otherwise, these services are private but you may be entitled to reductions using your AMKA number.
General Practitioners
Kalyves Medical Care
https://www.kalyvesmedicalcare.gr/
Dr. Ioannis Lampousakis & Dr. Manolis Spetsotakis
Telephone: 28250 33000
Mobile: 6975519599
Public Hospitals and Health Centers
“Βοήθεια στο Σπίτι” – Help at Home
What is Help at Home? This is a Greek social services program which operates under every local council. The service offers home visits to those who are really in need of help, for example, an elderly people on very low income, living alone with illness and/or disability.
The program offers visits by a team of three:
1) The Social Worker
Who looks after insurance related needs (IKA and other benefits) and makes hospital appointments.
2) The Nurse
Who administers prescribed medication and injections, gives dietary advice and works in collaboration with the patient’s doctor.
3) The Family Care Assistant
Who is responsible for taking care of the personal hygiene and cleanliness of the person concerned and meeting practical living needs such as ensuring there is a supply of medicines, food and other basic necessities. They can alsohelp with house cleaning, bill payments and food preparation.
All of these sound wonderful – so what is the problem?
Unfortunately, the problem is that there are so many people using this service that a fortnightly visit very often becomes a monthly visit, making the visits helpful but not life-changing.
However, if you think you are entitled to this help, you can contact and speak to the organizers (English speakers not guaranteed).
Here are the contact numbers for Chania area – contact numbers in other area in Crete available in request, please email us info@careincrete.com.
Contact Numbers
Here are the contact numbers for the Chania area:
VRYSSES APOKORONAS: 28253 40314
KALIVES / ARMENI / NEO HORIO: 28250 41041
SOUDA: 28213 41225
KERAMIA: 28213 41613
PLATANIAS: 28213 40035
AKROTIRI: 28213 43729