We may be locked-in but our minds are still free to roam.  We may not be able to meet each other and exchange our ideas in person.  But, we can still talk to each other and see each other talking through the technology at our fingertips.  Christians on Ageing wants to use this time and the technology to look at some important and pressing issues of the day.  We are going to do this by using a very popular facility: ZOOM.  

We are not able to have a conference in Sheffield in September 2020, as planned, because of the covid-19 restrictions. Instead, we held a series of four Conference Calls, on-line discussions (which started on 16 June 2020) about matters of central importance to Christians on Ageing, and us all.   The final one in this series was:

Tuesday 28 July
Older people self-isolating at home 
Many older and disabled people as well as younger people with medical conditions are continuing to self-isolate at home, sometimes in the company of a carer. How can churches initiate and maintain links with these people? What’s working and what’s not working? Are some apps particularly useful in facilitating video contact? Are meetings outdoors a realistic option? Could the streaming of services on Sundays be improved in a way that would help people self-isolating at home?

This is a summary report.  You can read the full report here.

4

‘What is important is the way you are with people’.   

 

Christians on Ageing Conference Calls 2020

Our on-line gathering to discuss

Self-isolation in the community

 What did we talk about?     What did we discover?

What do we hope for now?

These are the highlights of the discussion.

• The oddities of policies: Who is vulnerable? Who is shielding?
• The absence of older people in the great return from lockdown
• The digital world: who is in it and who is left out?
• The role of the local church in seeking out and supporting
• Grieving alone, afraid to go out

BUT

• Knickerbocker Glory afternoons and Cream Teas in a bag
• The work of Anna Chaplaincy
• The great range of support and help for the lonely
• The work of Holiday at Home
• The brilliance of modern media but don’t forget the telephone!

 

The Conference Call on Self-isolation in the Community was the last in the current series.  There will be new Conference Call sessions starting in September.  The proposed topics are:

• Recruiting volunteers now
• Visiting people in hospital now
• Christian carers of those living with dementia

 

Register your interest by e-mail: discussion@ccoa.org.uk 

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Here are brief reports of the previous Conference Calls

 

3

Each grief is a personal grief

 

Christians on Ageing Conference Calls 2020

Our on-line gathering to discuss

The challenge of grief

 What did we talk about?     What did we discover?

What do we hope for now?

 

These are highlights of the discussion.  You can read the full report here.

• A new realisation of our mortality in shared loss
• A ‘time-bomb’ of grief awaits the nation
• Thinking and talking about death cannot be avoided
• Guilt and anger are normal in bereavement
• Does it do any good to blame or complain?

BUT

• Clapping for carers released goodwill
• Now we know: care home staff deserve better
• Lockdown: time to look in at ourselves & look out for others
• Bereavement support crucial for all, young as well as old
• Loads of helpful support services, but need to find & signpost

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2

 

Christians on Ageing Conference Calls 2020

Our on-line gathering to discuss

Issues for older Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Christians

What did we talk about?    What did we discover?

What do we hope for now?

The discussion was led by Revd Dr Joseph Cortis who is a member of the Christians on Ageing committee and Coordinator of Caritas Leeds (Catholic Diocese of Leeds).  There was a special presentation by Jabeer Butt OBE who is Chief Executive of The Race Equality Foundation.

Read the report of the discussion here and the visuals to accompany the introduction in this link.  Here are some highlights:

• Information on ethnicity is far more useful than race alone
• Is it true? BAME elders, single or couples, are less likely to be living alone
• If you are Chinese you have better health prospects among BAME elders
• Socioeconomic status, ethnicity and racism affect inequalities in health
• Covid-19: there ARE higher risks for BAME people, working and retired

BUT

• Life expectancy in BAME communities is increasing
• Actions taken now are full of promises to tackle inequalities
• There’s lots of good ideas and initiatives – just too little publicity
• Retired BAME people make great volunteers
• Our society is a fantastic mix – it’s worth exploring more.  And we will!

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1

 

Christians on Ageing Conference Calls 2020

Our on-line gathering to discuss

Older and disabled people in care

 What did we talk about?   What did we discover?   

What do we hope for now?

 

This is a flavour of what you will find by reading the report of the discussion (click):

•  One of the best places to be in a care home? Orkney!!
• The scandal of care homes being side-lined and forgotten
• The media made sure we found out: no PPE, no extra money
• The sadness of people with dementia isolated and stressed
• The short-sighted rules getting in the way of human support

 BUT

•  The great amount of goodness and generosity displayed by many
• The opportunities for volunteering still there
• The new ways of doing things – zooming through the airwaves!
• “I’m not just a mask. Here’s my photo to prove it!”

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For future reference

THE PRACTICAL STUFF

Each session starts at 10.30 am and run for 40 minutes and then, after a ten-minute comfort break, a further 40 minutes. After introducing the topic, the chair will invite participants to offer their own experience and reflections, followed by general discussion. We  publish a short report of each session on our website. To ensure everyone has the opportunity to contribute, we are limiting the number of participants for each session to around twelve.

Joining the sessions

All you need to do to join the discussion is to register your interest by e-mailing discussion@ccoa.org.uk giving your name and any useful background information (e.g. your church and the town where you live).  You will be sent a link by e-mail which will allow you to join the discussion via the Zoom video-conference facility.  You will not need to register to use the facility.

Who are the sessions for?

We are not confining these discussions to members of Christians on Ageing; they are open to all – though we hope, of course, that if you are not a member you might consider joining and supporting us in our work. Benefits of membership include receipt of our quarterly journal plus; we are currently planning a special issue of plus devoted to the issues raised for older people by Covid-19.

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If these first sessions prove a success, we will hold more. As well as issues such as dementia, the plight of older people in prison, and inter-generational matters, we might also host discussions about films, books or TV programmes which bear on the world of older people. Some of the sessions would confine themselves to the Churches and older people, others could be about later life more generally. If you have any ideas for subjects or any questions or general comments about this new venture, please email us at discussion@ccoa.org.uk

We will also look into the possibility of organising an audio equivalent for people who do not use the internet but might join a telephone conference

We very much look forward to ‘seeing’ you next month.

Register by e-mail: discussion@ccoa.org.uk