Swap skills with other generations at Devizes Corn Exchange

People can swap skills at an event to celebrate Older People’s Day at Devizes Corn Exchange on Wednesday, October 2.

The day will feature a cooking demonstration by Devizes chef Peter Vaughan and a chance to have a go at zumba, bagatelle, new age kurling, tai chi and various craft activities.

Full Article on Gazette & Herald

Vulnerable older people's plan: 1 week left to comment on proposals

Over the summer, the department has been testing and seeking comments on a set of proposals that will be used to form a vulnerable older people’s plan.

The proposals set out improvements in primary care and urgent and emergency care to make sure vulnerable and elderly people have the support they need to keep them in better health and out of hospital. They also seek to establish ways for NHS and social care services to work together more effectively for the benefit of patients – in and out of hospital.

Full Article on Gov.uk

EVENT: Swap cooking, craft and zumba skills in Devizes

Come along and celebrate Older People’s Day at a skills swap event on Wednesday 2^nd October at the Devizes Corn Exchange.

The day will feature a cooking demonstration by Peter Vaughan and a chance to have a go at zumba, bagatelle, new age kurling, tai chi and various craft activities.

There will also be an opportunity for some IT taster sessions for those wanting to learn how to use the internet.

Debbie Martindale, Events Coordinator at Carer Support Wiltshire, said: “Everyone has a parent, grandparent, colleague or friend who they can learn from so we want to celebrate later life through this event.

“This year’s Older People’s Day is all about bringing older and young people together to learn from one another and mark the huge contribution that older people make to our communities.”

The event, organised by Carer Support Wiltshire and funded by The People’s Health Lottery, will also seek to try and find hidden carers in the community who might be giving support to a family member or friend.

Members of Devizes Sixth Form will be there representing the younger generations and it is hoped that older people will come along to join in on the day.

The event will run from 12noon – 3pm and is free to attend with refreshments available.

To find out more, contact Carer Support Wiltshire on 0800 181 4118 or email info@carersinwiltshire.co.uk

ENDS

Notes for editors

For more information about the skills swap, please contact Debbie Martindale (Events Coordinator) at Carer Support Wiltshire on 0800 181 4118 or email Debbie@carersinwiltshire.co.uk

This event is being funded by The People’s Health Lottery for the specific purpose of reaching and supporting older carers.

Carer Support Wiltshire is a registered charity that offers support, information, advice and break opportunities to people looking after family members and friends across Wiltshire. Find out more at www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk

 

A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse issues.

In the 2011 census it showed that there were 47,608 carers who provide unpaid care in Wiltshire.

Older People’s Day celebrates the achievements and contributions that older people make to our society and tackles negative attitudes and outdated stereotypes.

 

Elderly care needs 'set to treble' by 2050

The number of older people needing care is set to nearly treble globally by 2050, campaigners say.

Currently 101 million people require care, but a report from Alzheimer's Disease International warns the figure will rise to to 277 million.

Many needing care have dementia, and the report warns there will be a "global Alzheimer's epidemic".

Full Article on BBC News

Million more elderly outside care system than before financial crash

At a time when the number of people past retirement age has been growing faster than at any point in history, the numbers receiving any help from the state for their everyday care needs has dropped sharply.

According to figures collated by the charity Age UK, the proportion of the retired population of England receiving care has fallen by a third in the last five years.

It provides a stark illustration of how, despite efforts by councils to shield care for the elderly and disabled from the full impact of austerity cuts, existing services are being rationed to all but those with the most severe needs.

Full Article on Telegraph

Elderly care crisis claims a million family homes

The estimate, based on polling measuring families’ individual experiences, is far higher than Government projections have previously suggested.

But charities and pensions experts said it represented one of the first realistic attempts to quantify the scale of the hidden care funding crisis in the UK.

And they claimed that it showed that the Government’s long-awaited overhaul of the social care system in England – including the introduction of a cap on bills – does not go far or fast enough to address the crisis thousands of families are facing.

Full Article on Telegraph

Loneliness of dementia revealed

Communities need to look after people with dementia because too often they feel trapped and cut off from everyday local life, a charity says. 

One in three people over the age of 65 develop the disease, but the Alzheimer's Society says this large group is neglected by society.

It sought the views of 510 dementia patients and their carers.

Full Article on BBC News

EVENT: Activity Swap for Older People's Day - Wed 2nd October 2013

To celebrate Older People's Day on Wednesday 2nd October we are hosting an Activity Swap day at Devizes Corn Exchange!

The main focus of the event is to swap skills between older and younger people to help bridge the gap between the generations.

Fun activities for the day will include:

• Playing on the Nintendo Wii (w/ Salisbury City Council)
• Zumba
• Cookery (w /Peter Vaughan) 
• New Age Kurling (w/ Age UK Wiltshire)
• Bagatelle (w/ Alzheimer's Support)
• Tai Chi
• Mixed crafts: Needlework Embroidery, Cross-stitch, Crochet etc.

Along with lots of discussions and a chance to find out a bit more about Carer Support Wiltshire and the work we do supporting older carers in the County.

Refreshments available. No need to book, just turn up on the day!

For more details, get in touch with our Events Coordinator Debbie on 0800 181 4118 or email info@carersinwiltshire.co.uk

New proposals to improve care for vulnerable older people

The health secretary has announced he is seeking views on a set of proposals to radically improve care for vulnerable older people.

The proposals set out improvements in primary care and urgent and emergency care. They look at establishing ways for NHS and social care services to work together more effectively for the benefit of patients, both in and out of hospital.

Comments are being sought from NHS, social care and public health staff, carers and patients. People can discuss and comment on the proposals through the better health and care site.

Full Article on Gov.uk

Protecting older people with a disability from living in poverty

Attendance allowance (AA) is a weekly cash payment to older people with disabilities by the Department for Work and Pensions, worth between £59 and £73. It is a contribution to the extra costs of living with a disability and rarely, if ever, receives any discussion in policy debate. This is odd given the scale of the AA – it is paid to around 1.5 million older people in the UK at a cost of around £5bn each year.

To bolster the evidence base on AA and explore how we can make better use of it, the Strategic Society Centre and Independent Age recently published some new research and policy analysis.

Full Article on Guardian Social Care Network

Census: 35% surge in the number of older carers

Almost 1.3 million (1,277,693)[1] older people are devoting their retirement to caring for ill partners or their own ageing parents. Census figures show that this is a staggering increase of 35% in the last ten years.

According to figures published today (16^th May 2013) by the Office for National Statistics, this army of ageing carers has rocketed by over a third in the last ten years. The number of older carers has risen more rapidly than the total number of carers – which has increased by 11 % to 6.5. million in the UK.

Read More on CarersUK

EVENT: Mind, Age, Memories

Wednesday 27th February 2013

10am-2pm

Lecture Theatre, North Level 5, Salisbury District Hospital SP2 8BJ

A cross sector day for discussion and sharing ideas for those working in elderly and dementia care or for those caring for a family member.


Do you?
• Work with elderly patients
• Train staff for dementia care
• Deal with families of elderly patients
• Work in arts in health
• Act as a carer for family member
• Want to share and discuss ideas
• Need to design environments for elderly care
• Work as an activities coordinator
• Represent a community group or charity

Outline programme
10.00 Tea and welcome
10.15 Presentations
11.15 Discussion groups
12.15 Break (with lunch)
12.45 Presentation with hands on activity
1.30 Discussion/questions, what next...
2.00 Close

The day has been inspired by an exhibition of images from Burgate photography students entitled ‘Mind my Memories’ displayed at Salisbury Hospital during February and March. ArtCare have also been delivering activity and reminiscence workshops with elderly patients at Shaftesbury Hospital for 10 years.

To book a free place call 01722 336262 ext 4884 or email lesley.meaker@salisbury.nhs.uk

British Red Cross offers healthy homes checks to older and vulnerable people in Wiltshire

Older and vulnerable people in the Wiltshire area are being encouraged to get in touch with the British Red Cross for practical help and information on staying warm and healthy this winter.

The Red Cross has set up a dedicated telephone hotline so people can arrange a free Healthy Homes Assessment as part of a project funded by the Health Protection Agency’s Warm Homes Healthy People Fund taking place from now until the end of March. The friendly one-hour visit by a trained staff member or volunteer is aimed at improving the safety and well-being of people this winter by giving information on staying warm, falls and fire prevention and tackling social isolation.

Each person visited will also receive a free Healthy Homes pack containing essentials for coping with the winter weather, power cuts and other home issues and an information pack with details of other agencies, advice services and grants people may be eligible for.

Anyone living in Wiltshire who thinks they might benefit can get in touch, regardless of age. People can contact the Red Cross directly but relatives, friends or neighbours can also get in touch on someone’s behalf.

Heather Lowe, Red Cross development manager for health and social care in Avon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, says: “Winter is a tough time for many older and vulnerable people, particularly those living alone or struggling to get by on a pension or low income.

“The Healthy Homes project aims to address some of the common issues people face, such as how to stay warm during the winter months, avoiding accidents such as falls and fires and reducing social isolation.

“If you think we could help you, please get in touch. We’d also encourage people to think about relatives, friends and neighbours who might benefit and ask them if it’s ok to call on their behalf. Our staff and volunteers will deal sensitively with everyone who makes contact.”

For more information or to arrange a visit call 0117 3012611 or email H&SCWAG@redcross.org.uk, putting ‘Healthy Homes’ in the subject line.

For more information about the Red Cross please visit redcross.org.uk