Advantage
Age Scotland’s quarterly magazine spring 2012 issue 31
Advantage is the Age Scotland magazine that provides information, inspiration and ideas to empower Scotland’s older people, their friends, families and carers.
Contents
Contents
Foreword
News
Calendar
Message in a bottle
Let’s Talk Money
The power of pets
Yet another thing broken!
Putting volunteering at the heart of Age Scotland
Influence the Government with our Local Housing Panels
Have your say on 3rd of May
Fun on prescription
Fundraising
News from the West
News from the north
News from the east
Theatre puts spotlight on older people
Playtime’s not over
Youth Group Soup Group scoop a well deserved award
A window on the world
If you have news, events or issues that you would like Advantage to cover, please get in touch. We would also welcome ideas on how we might improve the magazine.
Email:
Telephone: 0845 833 9313
Write to: Advantage, Age Scotland
Causewayside House
160 Causewayside
Edinburgh EH9 1PR
ISSN 1747-4515
Age Scotland, part of the Age UK family, is an independent charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people in Scotland, within a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland. Reg No: 153343 Charity No: SC010100. Registered Office: Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PR.
Advantage is part funded by a grant from the Scottish Government. Age Scotland aims to ensure information is accurate at time of production and cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions.
Foreword
Policy. It’s is a word that conjours images of academics and civil servants, detached from the real world, obsessing over desert dry reports the size of telephone directories that no one else would want to read.
Yet policy matters to older people. The Scottish and UK Governments, local councils and the NHS develop policies that set out what services they will invest in and how these will be delivered. Understanding policies and proposed policy changes empowers you to challenge them. And while at times policy reports do conform to the dull as dishwater stereotype, this isn’t inevitable and, when presented well, policy can be a lively topic for discussion.
Age Scotland also has policies. These set out the Charity’s view on issues from Free Concessionary Travel to Elder Abuse. We develop them by examining evidence from a range of sources including, crucially, the views of our members, who help us to be clear and consistent in what we are asking for and are a vital tool in influencing decision-makers so that their choices better reflect the views and needs of older people.
Recently, we made a policy submission to the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee about the regulation of Care Homes. The Committee drew on this heavily for its final report and the Scottish Government, in turn, accepted many of its key recommendations. So we now have the partial reverse of cuts to the Care Inspectorate’s budget and the introduction of one unannounced inspection to care homes each year. This is good news for residents and their families and, following a run of bad news stories about care homes, should increase confidence that bad practice will not be tolerated.
With this magazine you will find a summary of our ‘Looking Ahead’ publication, which sets out Age Scotland’s agenda for influencing public policy over the next five years. From the care system to employment, health to housing, we are making a strong case for actions by decision-makers to improve later life in Scotland. So please, don’t put it in the bin, or on a shelf for a later look that never happens.
Read it, think about it and, if you can, discuss it with others. Tell us what you think - our knowledge of older people’s views, aspirations and needs is only as good as our last conversation with you!
Last April we took the plunge and invested in a new look Advantage magazine, with a clearer mission - to inform, inspire and empower older people, their friends, families and carers. One year on, we are keen to find out what you think about it. Please complete and return the enclosed questionnaire so that we can better understand and hopefully continue to meet your preferences.
David Manion, ChiefExecutive
News
Joyce hits the jackpot
Lucky Joyce Beillini of Marykirk, by Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, is celebrating after winning £25,000 in the Age UK lottery’s quarterly superdraw with a ticket bought through Age Scotland Enterprises.
Miss Beillini began playing the lottery in 2006, entering the draw, which guarantees 1,000 winners across the UK each week with prizes of £2,000, £250, £150, £100, £50 and 995 winners of £10.
Each quarter there is a Superdraw Prize fund of £100,000 with a first prize of £25,000 plus prizes of £20,000, £15,000, £10,000, £7,500, £5,000, £2,500, £2,000, £1,500, £1,000, £50 and 995 winners of £10.
Joyce was over the moon when Age Scotland called with news of her win, and was all smiles when the winning cheque was handed over to her in a short presentation at her home in Marykirk by Carole Anderson, Age Scotland Development Officer East.
Carole said: “We are extremely happy for Joyce and genuinely delighted that someone from our local area has won the jackpot. People like Joyce, who register to play the lottery through Age Scotland, directly fund the charitable work that we do.”
Logan Steele, General Manager of Age Scotland Enterprises, who was also at the handover, said: “All profits from the Age UK Weekly Lottery help fund the work of the Age UK family of charities, which includes Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI.
“In Scotland the lottery raises funds that enable development officers such as Carole to identify groups and projects working for and with older people and in need of assistance and aid them with a financial grant where appropriate.”
Players choose one or more entries per week at £1 each and are then allocated a unique player number. A random number generator selects the winners. To join the Age UK Lottery, contact Age Scotland Enterprises offices in either Edinburgh or Glasgow.
World Congress Senior Pass
Details of the Age Scotland sponsored Senior Pass for the World Congress on Active Ageing, 13-17th August in Glasgow, have been confirmed. Available to people age 50 and over at the heavily discounted price of £15, the pass allows one day’s admission to the World Congress.
Included in the price are lunch, the services of a ‘buddy’ to guide you around (should that be required), a small goodie bag, access to two of the day’s keynote addresses, an opportunity to meet the experts, and access to the Exhibition Space, the Information Village and the Experience Zone (with the opportunity to participate in activities and try out active ageing products.)
To buy a Seniors’ Pass call 0141 331 0123 or email: .
Enterprises boldly go west
In January Age Scotland Enterprises acquired Glasgow Old People’s Welfare Insurance Services from the Glasgow Old People’s Welfare Association. Logan Steele, Age Scotland Enterprises’ General Manager said: “This acquisition is a huge step forward for Enterprises in Scotland. In time it will take the business to a new level, enabling us to market across Scotland and achieve the scale and reach the business has desired for some time.”
Insurance Manager Colin Darcy and Insurance Arranger Liam McFadden became the newest members of the Age Scotland Enterprises team. Colin said: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to manage the Glasgow office and joining an already successful team allows us to access a wealth of experience. We are always available to attend any events and visit local groups to talk about what we can offer.”
Heal the break
On 22nd March Age Scotland gave over 1100 postcards calling for better, more joined-up, health and social care services for older people to Public Health Minister Michael Matheson MSP at the Scottish Parliament.
Campaigners had travelled from across Scotland to meet the Minister. Dennis Moore from the Sign Poster Project in Aberdeen said: “We are making the journey because we want to make sure our deep rooted concerns are heard.”
Charity Chief Executive David Manion said: “NHS Health services and Council Social Care services don’t always fit together well, so too often older people find themselves in limbo in hospital when a social care package tailored to their needs could have allowed them to stay at home.
“Late last year the Scottish Government responded to these concerns and set a course to new legislation to join up health and social care services. While this commitment is welcome, it’s vital that we keep up the pressure to make sure that the reforms are not diluted or derailed, and that older people are fully consulted.”
Michael Matheson said: “The Scottish Government is committed to progressing the integration of adult health and social care. We are determined to ensure that older people are at the centre of delivery the length and breadth of Scotland.”
An Age Scotland commissioned poll in February found that social care is a high priority issue for 60 percent of older people locally, 15 percent more than for any other issue. Meanwhile public spending watchdog Audit Scotland has warned that Councils and the NHS are failing to ensure vital care services can be delivered in the future and that Local Authorities and the Health Boards have been “slow” to develop strategic commissioning of health and social care services.
Human rights programme a success
Care about Rights, a project to ensure human rights are understood and applied in the care of older people, has passed an independent evaluation with flying colours. The project was developed by the Scottish Human Rights Commission in partnership with organisations including Age Scotland. A programme of training reached around 1,000 care staff and managers across Scotland, with 80 older people and older people’s representatives included through direct outreach work.
The evaluation found that 99 percent of participants understood human rights issues and how they applied to their work after training, compared to just over half beforehand. Three quarters said it was helping them to implement human rights in their daily work.
Age Scotland Communication and Campaigns Manager Lindsay Scott said: “The Charity was instrumental in human rights in care settings being identified by the SHRC as its first priority area of work, so we are glad that a programme that we helped roll out has been so highly lauded.”
Calendar
May 2012
9 May Age Scotland Volunteering Open Day. Pop in to find out about volunteering opportunities in our shops and with the Age Scotland Helpline. Call Heather Smith on 0845 833 9322 or email .
16 May Ending Isolation through Design conference. Architecture & Design Scotland, Bakehouse Close, Edinburgh (near the Parliament). Focus on ending isolation through older people’s active participation in planning & design of neighbourhoods. Jointly hosted by Age Scotland, I’DGO and Planning Aid. Free. Register by email: .
26-27 May Edinburgh Marathon and Festival of Running With 10k, 5k, team relay and junior races in addition to the full and half marathons, this fun event is not just for the hard core runner. To find out about running to raise funds for Age Scotland call Gizem Fowler on 08458 339 334 or email .
June 2012
3 Jun The Big Lunch. The Eden Project is calling on people across the whole of the UK to have lunch with their neighbours in a simple act of community, friendship and fun. To order a free pack visit or call 0845 850 8181.
18-24 Jun Carers Week - Carers UK are inviting carers to take part in their survey to launch the week with hard hitting statistics about life for carers. to take part.
July 2012
3 Jul Go for Gold Challenge. Residential and care sector organisations across the UK are invited to participate in a one day event involving games, walking and dance challenges in the lead up to the World Congress on Active Ageing in August. Tel: 0141 331 0123. Email: .
August 2012
13 Aug Walk with Me Challenge. A Scotland-wide walking challenge to mark the start of the World Congress on Active Ageing.
13-17 Aug World Congress on Active Ageing. SECC, Glasgow. Cutting edge active ageing science & practice and a taste of fun fitness activities designed with older people in mind. Senior Passes £15: 0141 331 0123 or by email: . Visit our World Congress pages at
September 2012
11th: South, Scottish Borders (venue tbc)
13th: South, Dumfries and Galloway (venue tbc)
19th: South, Ayrshire, The Park Hotel, Kilmarnock
20th: West, Glasgow, Premier Inn, Ballater Street
Message in a bottle
You suddenly take ill. Someone comes to your aid, but you are so unwell that you are unable to tell them something crucial that they must know before they give you treatment. Luckily, they look in your fridge door, where they find a small plastic bottle containing this vital information. It’s your Message in a Bottle.
The Message in a Bottle was developed by The Lions Club and has now been in use across the UK for a number of years. The idea is very simple – you place a form containing personal information such as medication, illnesses and next of kin contact details in a small plastic bottle that you keep in the door of your fridge, so that if you take ill at home anyone attending to you will have access to important information that could make a big difference. If you care for someone else at home, their details can be included so that you know that their needs will be taken care of if you are temporarily incapacitated.
If you have a pet you can also include information about their needs and how these can be met. You need to indicate to people that you use the scheme and so you should tell visitors to your home about it including social workers, carers and, community nurses.
To assist with this two small stickers are provided with the bottle. One should be placed on the inside of your front door, near the lock, the other on the outside of your fridge door. These stickers will help guide people to the bottle. Although there are various local suppliers of bottles, the Age Scotland Helpline provides national coverage across the whole of Scotland and is well placed to help distribute these bottles to any individual who wishes one. To obtain your free bottle simply call the Age Scotland Helpline on 0845 125 9732, provide your name and address and state
that you would like a Message in a Bottle. We will post one out to you free of charge.
Please note that the Age Scotland Helpline does not provide any emergency services and if you have an emergency then you should call the appropriate services as necessary.
Let’s Talk Money
‘Can you afford not to talk to us?’ asks Age Scotland Information Development Manager Heather Smith.
Many people aren’t comfortable talking about money, there are so many taboos around money, and so much to get right (or wrong) that people can be reluctant to ask questions about their rights and options as they think they might be judged about their savings, debts, bills or budgeting.
There are a lot of people you can talk to about money who may be able to help you to increase your income or to get a better deal.
More Money in your Pocket
If you have a low income, there are benefits available which could help you to have more money to live on. There are different types of benefit:
- National Insurance benefits such as State Retirement Pension
- means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
- benefits you are entitled to because of your situation, including Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance.
Call 0845 125 9732 and talk to our Helpline. They can send you our benefits guide ‘More Money in your pocket’ (for people over pension age), information about the different benefits and, if you agree, they can refer you to the Pension Service for a benefit check.
Spring clean your finances
If you have retired, or want to get your finances tidy as you approach retirement, it is a good idea to check your budgeting so you know what you spend your money on and make sure you have a good grip on your finances. If you have a partner, it is best to look at this together.
You need to look at:
- all your income (including pensions, annuities and benefits)
- your spending (list everything you spend money on, check your bank statement to make sure you know what all the payments are for)
- your debts (overdrafts, credit cards, loans).
You can ask our Helpline for a copy of our information guide ‘Managing Your Money’ which includes budgeting sheets you can complete. If you have access to the internet, you could use an online budget planner on the websites of the Money Advice Service or the Consumer Credit Counselling Service. There’s also a helpful budgeting sheet available to download from the Citizens Advice Bureau information website. Rather than printing the very long internet addresses for these, we’ve put handy links to them on our website