Your invitation to a new series of Conference Calls
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.
22 September 2020
Recruitment and support of volunteers in church activities (with older people).
The national effort to offer support within communities and to individuals has highlighted the work of volunteers, of every age and walk of life. This discussion will focus on the needs of volunteering within the Churches. It will be chaired by the Rev Dr Joseph Cortis, Co-ordinator of Caritas Diocese of Leeds, who is a member of Christians on Ageing Executive Committee
20 October 2020
Care Home Update
As care homes relax some of the visiting restrictions imposed during lockdown, are relatives, friends, ministers and pastoral visitors able to see residents as much as they can reasonably expect? Are homes willing to be more flexible on allowing the visiting of people with dementia who would be distressed by the absence of visitors, as government has advised? What lessons from handling visiting during the March lockdown can we learn for future lockdowns? Our second Conference Call on the important subject of engaging with older and disabled people in care homes will be chaired by Christians on Ageing Executive Committee member and author of How to Handle Later Life, Marion Shoard.
17 November 2020
Supporting family carers and friends of people with dementia
The effects of the pandemic within society have been many and serious and areas of life often hidden from view have been exposed to the light of day – and fresh scrutiny. The way in which those supporting people with dementia have themselves been shown to have needs for support has been a significant development in how we understand a growing phenomenon. The discussion will be chaired by Julia Burton-Jones of the Diocese of Rochester with a commentary from Dr Albert Jewell, a member of our Executive Committee.
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The practical stuff
Each session will start 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 will 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 twelve, including the chair.
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 readers of the newsletter and visitors to our website www.christiansonageing.org.uk but 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 have recently published a special issue of plus devoted to the issues raised for older people by Covid-19.
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Find out why these Conference Calls are important to you and your Church.
Read what your colleagues discovered when they joined one of these Calls in June and July..
Conference Calls: a Report
We held a series of Conference Calls, facilitated by Zoom technology, during June and July. They were limited to about a dozen participants on each occasion so that discussion would be easier. All four were fully subscribed and feedback was overwhelmingly positive – people actually liked being part of something new and useful. What did we talk about? What did we discover? What do we hope for now?
Older and disabled people in care homes
This is a flavour of what you will find by reading the report of the discussion :
- 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!”
Black and minority ethnic older people
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. 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!
The challenge of grief
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
Older people self-isolating at home
These are the highlights of the discussion. You can read the full report here.
- 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!
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You can read more about these Conference Calls and other Christians on Ageing activities and views by subscribing to our e-newsletter. Use the subscribe box on the Home Page or send an e-mail request to info@ccoa.org.uk
We very much look forward to ‘seeing’ you next month.
Register by e-mail: discussion@ccoa.org.uk
