What the papers have been saying in the week ending March 28th 2020 We remain engulfed by reports of the spread and impact of Covid-19 across the countries of the world. Sam Jones and Angela Gluffrida reported on old people being found dead and abandoned in care homes in Spain. They provide similarly chilling references to situations in India, South Africa Italy, France, China and SouthKorea … [Read more...]
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of Christians on Ageing will not take place on 29 April 2020. This postponement is in line with government guidance and regulations about public gatherings, Information about revised arrangements or a new date will be circulated to members and posted on the website when the situation changes. … [Read more...]
Coping with the crisis
What the papers have been saying in the week ending March 28th 2020 We remain engulfed by reports of the spread and impact of Covid-19 across the countries of the world. Sam Jones and Angela Gluffrida reported on old people being found dead and abandoned in care homes in Spain. They provide similarly chilling references to situations in India, South Africa Italy, France, China and SouthKorea … [Read more...]
The virus, the Churches and other faith communities
A ready source of help and support Marion Shoard, a member of the committee at Christians on Ageing, and a noted writer on issues of interest to older people, has a letter in The Guardian today about supporting older people and others who become subject to self-isolation as a consequence of the coronavirus phenomenon. Churches and other faith communities are well placed to identify people in this situation, to offer and provide practical help and to reduce their risk of feeling alone: How … [Read more...]
‘From slippered pantaloon to zimmered malcontent’
What the papers have been saying – Week ending March 7th High profile advocates for people with dementia and their families, are having a difficult time. Now we have Professor June Andrews OBE (for services to people with dementia) FRCN, being pilloried for her comments to a Public Audit Committee of the Scottish … [Read more...]
Shorter lives, more struggle
What the papers have said at the end of February There is one main topic for the week, introduced by Sarah Bosely in ‘Austerity linked to life expectancy' https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/feb/24/austerity-blamed-for-life-expectancy-stalling-for-first-time-in-century She and others review the findings and advice from the Marmot Report updated ten years after its first appearance www.health.org.uk/publications/reports/the-marmot-review-10-years-on. This is a damning observation on … [Read more...]
Not a week for the faint-hearted
What the papers have been saying in the week ending 22.2.20 It is usually good to find ‘Alzheimer’s’ on the front page of the newspaper – it does not happen often – and perhaps most of the hot headlines prove to be red herrings, but Saturday’s headline: ‘Alzheimer’s charity ‘gave £750,000 in NDA Payoffs’ is saddening rather than uplifting https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/feb/21/alzheimers-society-allegedly-paid-out-750000-to-staff The story is based on the witness of a … [Read more...]
Not treating people properly
What the papers said in the week ending February 15th There is much to be said about the damage done by the unresolved Windrush scandal. After silence for many weeks there is re-emergence of news, anger and sadness as it is evident that victims are being short changed. Some people have died https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/09/windrush-scandal-wrongly-designated-illegal-immigrants ‘I kept it from my family. I felt so afraid’: writes Amelia Gentleman - Guardian … [Read more...]
Living well, dying well
What the papers said – Week ending February 8th 2020 Finances: Interest in the wealth of older people is given a new twist by reports of an increase in insolvencies, especially amongst women over 65. There has been a rise in insolvency among women of all ages – but in men only among the over-65s. The number of insolvencies amongst women now exceeds the number amongst men. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/feb/03/rates-of-insolvency-among-women-over-65-rapidly-increasing Ways … [Read more...]
Prisons, funerals, and Nicholas Parsons
What the papers have said: Week ending 31 January 2020 The promised policy of extending the sentences of prisoners committing crimes of violence or sexual offences is questioned by the Prison Reform Trust (Guardian 27.1.20: Jamie Grierson – Research rebuts hard line prison policy) http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/PressPolicy/News/vw/1/ItemID/791 This would add to the already large prison population, increasing the number of older men detained – and at great cost with no benefits in … [Read more...]
Inflammatory views
Noticed in the papers during the week ending 25.1.20 The most gripping and sustaining article came from Edward Bullmore www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/19/inflammation-depression-mind-body It tells of the increase in destructive inflammatory activity via cytokines as we get older – This is the mechanism behind many age-related pathologies: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, macular degeneration, dementia, depression and more. There are links … [Read more...]
Exporting care and expert care
IT WAS IN THE PAPERS Export trade of people with dementia It is shocking to read that some older people with dementia are being placed for their last months of life in care homes at the other side of the world: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/12/families-sending-relatives-with-dementia-to-thailand-for-care This revelation comes from a study by researchers from Newcastle upon Tyne and the University of British Columbia. They found older people from the UK living in care homes … [Read more...]
Death, discrimination and deprivation
Noticed in the newspapers: week ending 11.1.2020 Letters: Bags of Life (and more) Frank Cartwright tells of the response from a till girl when he asked if a bag was guaranteed to outlast him: ‘She looked at me very intently and said: ‘In your case, sir, certainly.’ Mr Cartwright is 86 Godfrey Keller wonders which of he (67), his partner (68), and a kitten they rescued, will be the first to go Albert Beale makes the serious point that checkout machines and the like are designing … [Read more...]
Rich pickings
Review of the newspapers for the first week in January 2020 Just two rather unusual, relevant perspectives: Amelia Hill gives us: ‘Pensioners’ spending is adding billions to the economy’ https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/02/uk-retirees-spending-rockets-as-younger-people-spend-less An article which draws on a report for the International Longevity Centre: https://ilcuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Maximising-the-longevity-dividend.pdf It provides a thorough and elegant … [Read more...]
Care & The Queen’s Speech
Christians on Ageing people are signing this petition. Please consider adding your name We hope the Government prioritises supporting older people, giving them the dignity and security they deserve. We believe care should be free, fair, and available to everyone who needs it. Sign our petition herehttps://campaigns.ageuk.org.uk/page/52970/petition/1?chain&ea.tracking.id=EAF … [Read more...]
Reflecting on where we are now
What the papers have said in the week ending December 14th 2019 Nearly the third Sunday of Advent The General Election of December 12th has given us a confirmed Conservative government. Startling maps show a country painted even more definitely blue. (Guardian December 14th p 12 and 13). The analysis suggests that older voters gave more support to the Conservatives with younger age groups giving more to Labour. Class differences are also seen, with senior and middle professionals at the … [Read more...]
Hard lessons about life
This week's review of the papers gave us articles which opened our eyes. Taking on board lessons from reflections on possible conflict between generations which were addressed at our Sheffield conference in September, here is concern for our younger people in the changing world. Education and quality of life Richard Adams and Caelainn Barr gave headline: ‘Many UK children feel their lives have no meaning’. They were drawing on data and comments from the latest Pisa (Programme for … [Read more...]
Care in an ageing society
Caritas Social Action Network - representing all dioceses in England & Wales - has produced a Report and Resource for Parishes on the way in which the Catholic Church, and others, can and should respond to a growing older population. It does not just deal with need but outlines the opportunities that come with growing older. Read the Report here: Care in Time This is the press release issued for the launch of the Report. 6th December 2019 On 4 December 2019, two major new … [Read more...]
Recent Deaths/Inspiring Lives
Looking through the hail of political hype and crossfire ahead of the December 12th election, here are some stories of the week which bring us closer to people and values, include reflections on deaths of individuals. Doctor Sir Jonathan Miller has been part of our lives since Beyond the Fringe and all that followed from the 1960s in the arts, culture and a determination to be honest. He openly shared his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and gave time and talent to supporting voluntary work … [Read more...]
Deaths demanding attention
What the papers have been saying: a week where deaths demand attention: It has been a busy week for those of us looking for commentaries on the state of the nation’s health and the care available to people when they are in difficulty. The hardest information comes from death rates/life expectation. It is alarming to realise that death rates amongst new born have risen … [Read more...]
Radio Sheffield asks Questions
On Sunday 22 September 2019, a couple of days before our Conference, we were fortunate to get a slot on Radio Sheffield's Sunday morning programme. David Jolley, vice-Chair and one of the speakers at the conference, was in conversation with Sarah Major about the topics which were discussed at the conference. You can listen to the interview here: … [Read more...]
House of Lords Inquiry
House of Lords asks about illness-free later life The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee's inquiry on ageing, science, technology and healthy living sought evidence from interested parties by September 20th this year https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/science-and-technology-committee/news-parliament-2017/ageing-inquiry-launch/ The invitation noted the continued increase in life expectation in the UK but suggested that the added years … [Read more...]
NHS: how people are treated
Not published – but, worth saying Diane Taylor wrote movingly in The Guardian about her experience when her mother became ill. The article raises important points and we picked these up in a short letter to The Guardian – which has not been published - but we think worth sharing: The NHS saved my mum, but it is on life support. What does it mean? What can we do? www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/18/nhs-social-workers-patients-funding Diane Taylor writes with care and … [Read more...]
Conference Report
BEING OLD, BEING BOLD Our conference took place on 25 September 2019 in Sheffield. Read the full report here https://christiansonageing.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2019/10/Conference-2019-Report.pdf The day included: David Jolley, Honorary Reader The University of Manchester; retired Consultant and Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, reflecting on Intergenerational Fairness & Provision Helen McCormack, currently Ministry with Older People Development Worker, Northallerton … [Read more...]
Scarier Still: the ghost of Alzheimer’s before it becomes a reality
David Jolley muses on a challenging issue. Read more here: https://christiansonageing.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2019/04/Scarier-still-David-HJolley-apr-19.pdf … [Read more...]
Older people, depression and its treatment
Retired Professor in Old Age Psychiatry, David Jolley, and member of the Christians on Ageing Executive Committee has contributed to our Speaking Out pages on recent research into the treatment of depression and older people. You can read his reflection on this important issue here … [Read more...]
Older People in prison and smart tech
Christians on Ageing is delighted to note the continuing interest of The Guardian newspaper in the well-being of older prisoners. This is an issue our organisation has been investigating for the last few years. We have recently developed contacts with two prisons providing specialist care for older prisoners including HMP Wymott, which is mentioned in a report (6 March 2019) by Sarah Johnson: How smart tech is giving ageing prisoners a lifeline It is well worth reading and we would be very … [Read more...]
Prison Reform
Bishop Richard Moth, the lead Catholic Bishop for Prisons, has welcomed the comments of Prisons Minister Rory Stewart MP, who said that jail sentences of fewer than six months should be scrapped. The number of prisoners has doubled since the 1990s and around 60% of short term prisoners re-offend within one year of their release. The Minister said that "very short" jail terms were "long enough to damage you and not long enough to heal you". Mr Stewart said that such a move would create more … [Read more...]
