Moving house, retiring, a change in health… things like this happen in later life all the time. No big deal, right? However, when a big change takes place in our own lives, it can often feel daunting and difficult to manage. While change can also bring feelings of excitement, there are often a lot of different factors to consider and plan for. That can lead to many people feeling overwhelmed.

Don’t face change alone

This is where East Sussex County Council’s Life Transitions service can help. Trained volunteers help people prioritise what is important to them so they can work out where to start. Regular sessions mean they can give you the precious time and space you need to focus on your future and set achievable goals. And the best part? It’s free of charge and totally confidential.

“The Life Transitions sessions are an informal way of approaching any obstacles, issues or worries you may be experiencing. I would encourage anyone to consider taking part. My sessions were very constructive and I was able to speak openly with the volunteer. They gently guided me to recognise goals I wanted to achieve and identify how I was going to meet them. I found my sessions a safe, non-judgemental place to speak to someone. I would like to thank my volunteer for their time and patience during our sessions. I have enjoyed and benefited from them.”

This is just one example of a resident who has benefited from the service. So, how could Life Transitions help you? We’ve taken two of the most common life changes and looked at what you can expect if you contact the team.

A woman and a man packing brown boxes

How can Life Transitions help you if you’re thinking about moving home:

  • Your volunteer will help you think about the realistic end goal you want to achieve with your move, and what steps you need to get there.
  • You’ll be encouraged to think about all aspects of moving. For example, a timetable for when the move might happen, and other considerations such as location, finances, social life, community services and transport.
  • Your volunteer will help you highlight what the most important things are in your life to consider when planning a move. You’ll think about how you can prepare to ensure these things will be available.
  • You’ll think about who you might be able to call on for support with different aspects of your move.
  • If you need help with any aspect of the move (e.g. understanding financial implications or knowing more about a new location), your volunteer can help you think about who or where you might get this support from.
  • You’ll be encouraged to set a few goals along the way – completing some before your next session.
  • You’ll build on your action plan by setting new goals each time. This will help you feel  more confident and in control with every achievement.

An older man, holding a cup of tea, talks to a younger man in a sitting room setting

How can Life Transitions help you plan for changes in health:

  • Your volunteer will encourage you to think about what is important to you in your life and how you might be able to still get this if your health changes. For example, what are your main hobbies and interests? How can you make a plan so you can still do these things if your health changes?
  • Your volunteer will help you think about whether you have enough support for your changing health needs and where you can find any other information you need.
  • You’ll be asked to consider the challenges that lie ahead and think about what support you might need to overcome them. If your mobility is changing, you may want to consider what home adaptations you might need in the future to enable you to remain independent.
  • Your volunteer will support you with setting achievable goals. These could be based on increasing your knowledge in certain areas, researching what services or organisations may be helpful, or making some changes now so that foreseeable problems don’t arise.

Help is at hand

We know that change can feel scary. But the Life Transitions team are on hand to guide you through the process. Sessions offer the time, space and support to feel more in control. It’s important to note, however, that volunteers do not offer a counselling service. The nature of having one-to-one conversations will inevitably provide some level of emotional support, but this is not the sole aim of the service. The volunteers are not trained counsellors.

Life Transitions is aimed at people aged over 40. It is available to residents of East Sussex, dependent on volunteer capacity (excluding Brighton and Hove). Sessions are available in-person and online, dependent on availability and location.

So what are you waiting for? Take the first step in taking control of your future. Visit the Life Transitions webpage or email LifeTransitions@eastsussex.gov.uk for more information.