Christian Council on ageing

for older people and their life of faith and hope.

   

A VOICE FOR OLDER PEOPLE AND THEIR LIFE OF FAITH AND HOPE

 

Realism

By

What the papers said in the week ending October 17th

Care: This is a week when the importance of care and the people who deliver care have come to the fore.

Madeleine Bunting’s articles and book have found a resonance with the feelings of the nation. Priorities are reconsidered

Emily Kenway’s reflection on living through the dying and death of her mother complement the theme.

And a three day exploration of grief and bereavement will add to our understanding and prepare us for what may be

Covid

There is little which is cosy or reassuring in the articles addressing the current state of the covid crisis. There have been numbers and graphs to bring fear, and changing rules with tensions high between factions of differing interpretation of what to do.

It may be that the world is ill-prepared to cope well with the challenge because we have spent resources recklessly and not laid up strength to protect the weak

It is predicted that there will be many more cases and many more deaths world wide

Professor Paul Anand of The Open University gives the most humane and measured analysis and comment in a short letter which cautions against crude, blunderbuss reactions which are damaging to everyone and do not take account of the differing needs and lifestyles of different groups within the population. A still small voice which should be heard

In anticipation of many deaths by covid, Councils have been instructed to establish particular care homes to accept patients with Covid 19 when discharged from hospital. It is a dreadful scenario in prospect. The unthinkable being required

Unacceptable practices reported in the early months of the care home crisis are held up for examination

Legal action is being brought by a group of three cross party MPS against the practice of government issuing huge contracts to private firms without parliamentary scrutiny

Some companies have made extraordinary profits out of the crisis:

Personal accounts of survivors are published widely

Those who have hoped that medication will succeed in countering the infection will be disappointed that one of the front runners – Remdesivir – is proving to be ineffective. Millions of pounds have been spent on purchasing stocks

Hope continues to spring – a trial of the potential  of BCG vaccine to increase immunity against the virus has been announced

Meanwhile – even senior medical practitioners find that when they or their family turn to the health service, that service is defensive and difficult to access

Child poverty and food poverty

Evidence of the vulnerability of the poorest, especially the poorest children, has found a champion in Marcus Rashford – international footballer. Even he fails to warm the cold heart of government, at least at first attempt – but this is not something which can be denied. Surely with our recent appreciation of care, a way through will be found

Trees and immunity

Natural immunity is improved in children and adults by exposure to trees and the natural world- Something which can be acted on with benefit

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/14/greener-play-areas-boost-childrens-immune-systems-research-finds#:~:text=Greener%20play%20areas%20boost%20children%27s%20immune%20systems%2C%20research%20finds,-Autoimmune%20diseases%20are&text=Children%20whose%20outdoor%20play%20areas,a%20month%2C%20research%20has%20shown.&text=This%20means%20their%20immune%20systems,more%20prone%20to%20making%20mistakes.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/08/forest-bathing-japanese-practice-in-west-wellbeing

Black issues

The Windrush scandal continues unresolved as reports are noted but not acted on and money earmarked is not being spent

But wider and deeper appreciation of the contributions of Black people to the life and history of this country is finding receptive ears. ‘We need to hear about excellence, not just oppression’

Dementia and contact sports

The deaths of Jack Charlton and Alan Jarvis, both international soccer players, with dementia has raised the profile of trauma as causative of dementia – and of other neurological conditions. The Coroner described Jarvis’ death as in part a result of an industrial injury. Does this open the door for compensation claims? More important will be to seek a modification of rules to reduce the likelihood that players will be involved in violent collisions and concussion

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/15/inquest-rules-heading-heavy-leather-balls-a-factor-in-death-of-alan-jarvis#:~:text=Football-,Inquest%20rules%20heading%20heavy%20leather%20balls%20%27a%20factor,in%20death%20of%20Alan%20Jarvis&text=A%20former%20Wales%20international%20footballer,an%20inquest%20heard%20on%20Thursday.&text=A%20coroner%20at%20Ruthin%20recorded,due%20to%20an%20industrial%20disease.

Other important matters:

Euthanasia is legal in Holland – more than 6,000 terminations in the last year. A modification of the law now means that deaths of children aged 1-12 can be covered by the legislation

Harriet Harman is lobbying to reduce the unfair dismissal of older women from their professional employment

There is a continuing rise in the number of prescriptions for opioids, especially to older people

The question of whether married couples grow to look like each other through their time together, or chose a partner who looks like them, provides interest and debate:

Dr Rowan Williams claims a headline for the churches with his comments on fossil fuels

Museums and other buildings with history:

There is a lobby to return the remains of an Irish giant to his homeland. He would have preferred to be buried at sea

An unprepossessing bunker in an out of the way location has been transformed by a grant to demonstrate local history and culture

And any of us wishing to experience life in historic hospitals can move in at prices ranging from £325,000 in Norfolk to much more in Northumberland

 

David Jolley

 

Reflect and Pray

Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth.  Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust.  Lead me from hope to love, from war to peace.  Let peace fill my heart, our world, our universe.

The noon prayer for peace

Prayers and Reflections

Postal Address

Ms Barbara Stephens
Honorary Secretary
Christians on Ageing
The Depozitory
23 Nelson Street
Ryde
Isle of Wight PO33 2EZ

 

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