Age UK Hythe, Lyminge and Ashford

I don't think that people really understand the practical support Age UK provides.  My mum used to go to her local Age UK three times a week.  Community transport would pick her up and drop her back and fully understood her mobility needs.  She'd then have a lovely lunch whilst nattering to friends and get involved in social activities.  A few times we had to alert Age UK to concerns we'd had about Mum and asked them to keep an eye on her for us.  It was great knowing that she was surrounded by caring and knowledgeable staff and volunteers.  We knew she was safe there.  She got involved with exercise classes and special occasions which she absolutely loved.  She would get her hair cut at Age UK and we also used their recommendation service to find handymen/women, podiatrists and chiropodists that were trained in dealing with elderly and vulnerable people. It really is a vital service that without Mum wouldn't have been able to live in her own home for so long and I would have had a lot more headaches trying to get 'safe' trades people into her house to fix issues as they arose.  The staff are so understanding, kind and full of helpful advice.  I think it's important that we all support their work in any way we can.  I know so many others who've had similar experiences and without Age UK wouldn't have had anywhere to turn. 

Anna Donor · Mar 26, 2026 Trustpilot

What is the use of age concern charity. They raise money but if you want to use any of their services or activities you have to pay for it. I understand the director gets three thousand pounds a week. They don't help the old but agree to anything the government puts forward. I think they are just a useless con.

Stephen Greenman Donor · Mar 26, 2026 Trustpilot

The “advisors” lack professional training and personal experience required to understand some of the many complex issues and needs that can confront the age group they claim to serve. They all appear to be programmed like robots to respond in a similar stereotypical manner. The”wounded helper syndrome” is not a replacement for professional experience! In many European countries equivalent services, some of which are also run on a voluntary basis, engage caring and empathetic individuals with higher education and professional qualifications in the field in which they are employed to work, or at least a related field, who are adept at working with Senior Citizens and their families when approached for advice and/or support in order to encourage them to seek and find workable solutions. It appears that age.uk workers are at a loss if they are not approached with a specific question or an expected outcome. When dealing with individuals, and not only the elderly, it is well known that they may be seeking support as they have been unable to formulate a question themselves or predetermine what the outcome should be. Life is not always cut and dry and people’s problems cannot simple be shoehorned into a few boxes! Support in this is what should be expected from an organisation claiming to represent and provide services to the elderly in the U.K.! Update Further to your response, I can only raise matters here or on the phone. I have already wasted far too much time talking to your telephone operators and all to no avail. I.need to find a rapid way forward rather than repeatedly going over old ground which has proven to be of absolutely no help. Perhaps you need to reflect on the number of other negative comments here and examine the reasons why and the improvements test are required.

Modern Customer Donor · Mar 26, 2026 Trustpilot

My aunt got bullied into buying a stairlift off Age UK?Handicare. the man was about 6 foot 8 and wouldn't let her say no. she has only just told me about this and I am fuming. please be careful if you buy a stairlift from Age UK/Handicare in the Bournemouth area. She doesn't want me to mention her name.

Anonymous Customer Donor · Mar 26, 2026 Trustpilot

I worked here for slightly under 1 year I loved my role as a volunteer the staff were all a pleasure to work with Recently I was verbally abused by a male paid member of staff on 5 occasions so as a volunteer I left unfortunately .A paid member of staff spoilt it there was no way I was tolerating his verbal abuse many customers complained about his swearing on the shop floor not only to me but another volunteer absolutely disgusting .I filed a complaint to head office regarding .This was in Sunderland store Blandford Strret

Ashleigh Donor · Mar 26, 2026 Trustpilot

Phoned age UK to ask for help, initial call lady was helpful and advised I phoned their specialist area on the subject.I phoned and spoke to a guy called Gareth he was great.He listened to my situation and concerns and broke it down neatly into a number of sections, then going through each explaining in very understandable language how they worked answering any questions I had along the way, also giving very good examples to help explain.He also highlighted areas we should keep a close watch on and where to go if we had concerns.He promised to supply a number of useful documents to read and help during the process, which all arrived within 20mins via email.Overall really nice guy super helpful, with the ability to explain to us complex things in simple terms. He has given us the information and help that makes us feel confident we won't let down our relative in helping move them from hospital to a care home

Nick Donor · Mar 26, 2026 Trustpilot

All I read here is terrible about Age UK. My daughter who suffers with MS was sold a Handicare Stairlift which was too small for her. Absolutely disgusting! I think that Age UK is a subsidiary of Handicare. Disgusting and I will report to my local MP.

Anne C Donor · Mar 26, 2026 Trustpilot

I've done a bit of research because some months ago my granddad had a Handicare stairlift sold to him by Age UK which has broken down but it's impossible to contact them by telephone. I did once but was spoken to like I was not even a fellow human being. I have read a lot of bad reviews on here and have come to the conclusion that money and therefore income for Age CO/UK is more important than the ethics they pretend to have as a charity for the elderly. They are still advertising to sell Handicare's stairlifts despite the fact that most of the reviews on here are one star (RED). I'm seeking legal advice tomorrow, so please don't reply to me with one your sympathetic answers as you have to others on here. Put your charity ethics before the £3m profit you make from Handicare and then I'll talk to you. Stop spending money on Google Ads as I know that costs s lot of money. You have a duty to HMRC to act as a non profit charity to comply with the tax benefits you receive. The two year warranty you advertise is a fake attention getter to get sales off vulnerable and elderly people. 79% 1 star ratings and you can't give zero!EDIT: Looking on how you have dealt with the other 1 star reviews here, I really can't be bothered. You are abusing your charity tax status. Expect an audit from the tax people soon.

Gregory Bowler Donor · Mar 26, 2026 Trustpilot

Terrible, I should have looked at their reviews beforehand and they’re very much deserved. Gateshead area is just as bad, their reputation is in the dumps, steer clear!

Larissa Ortiz Donor · Mar 26, 2026 Trustpilot

Appalling and unreliable cleaning service from Age UK Northamptonshire.My father is terminally ill, immunosuppressed, therefore he is presently extremely vulnerable.To-date, Age UK have sent out 2 different cleaners to his property. Both have proved unreliable and certainly not fit for purpose. This was despite an initial indepth meeting to discuss tasks required, and to risk assess the property. So far, this diabolical service has cost my father £80, he has not received the service that he has paid for, and in the process has been put at risk from having different people through his door.The first cleaner, stated that the majority of her clients didn't actually want her to clean, instead, they just wanted to chat and it was only the families that wanted her to clean. She seemed clueless about basic infection control and used 1 bucket of dirty water to clean 6 rooms at the property. Two of those rooms being the bathroom and kitchen, spreading germs around my immnosuppressed fathers home. The cleaning cloth used didn't such much as make contact with clean water for the duration. She was far more interested in chatting, and moaning that Age Concern had only provided her with 1 pair of gloves when she commenced employment with them 12 months ago. I offered her disposable gloves, but she declined. A few days later I received a call from from the office, stating that the cleaner didn't wish to attend the property again, as she was 'frightened' of my father's dog, which at the time of her visit was secured outside of the property, as agreed, during the initial assessment.A second cleaner was put in place. She attended the property in her NHS cleaning uniform. She asked to change once she arrived at the property. Not only did this 10 minutes eat into the 2 hours that my father pays for, it was also bringing germs into my father's home from the hospital. My father remained outside in the garden and the dog was also outside, and secured out of sight for the duration. The cle

Lou Donor · Mar 26, 2026 Trustpilot