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...]
THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO SAY
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...]
Christmas: a time for family? Not for all …
The newspapers in the days before Christmas Loneliness: The media had their way in producing a story of an older man who faced the prospect of a Christmas alone and without a Christmas tree. His interview on Breakfast TV provoked the staff to mobilise local students in Oldham to visit him, equipped with tree and a choir to sing ‘Silent Night’. Terence told of happy Christmases spent with his mother. His plan for this year is to spend time with a 90 year old lady met via his voluntary work … [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...]
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...]
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...]
National attitudes to death
On our News page there is a report about an initiative earlier in 2018 by Co-op Funeralcare: the provision of low-cost funerals which involve no mourners and no ceremony. The Co-op announced that it would be conducting a nationwide survey of British attitudes towards death. The results of the survey have been published as ‘Making peace with death’ and can be read here. The Co-op says that over 30,000 responses were received although this figure is amended in the formal reference to the size … [Read more...]
Euthanasia
A recent ‘long read’ contribution in The Guardian explores reflections on the availability of legal access to euthanasia in a growing number of countries. The subject is headlined: Death on Demand: Has euthanasia gone too far? https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jan/18/death-on-demand-has-euthanasia-gone-too-far-netherlands-assisted-dying? … [Read more...]
Older people, depression and its treatment
A commentary on recent research and media reports by David Jolley, a member of the Christians on Ageing Executive Committee and, formerly, holding senior positions in the study of Old Age Psychiatry at Wolverhampton and Manchester Universities. https://christiansonageing.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2019/03/Too-many-old-people-are-given-antidepressants.pdf A response from Dr Susan M Benbow drsmbenbow@gmail.com I have read David Jolley’s blog with interest and, whilst I agree … [Read more...]
Assisted Dying
The Royal College of Physicians has recently adopted a position of neutrality on whether or not the law should be changed to allow a doctor to hasten a patient’s death in keeping with their expressed wishes. David Jolley, a member of Christian on Ageing Executive Committee, offers this comment: https://christiansonageing.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2019/03/Assisted-dying.pdf … [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...]
