Christian Council on ageing

for older people and their life of faith and hope.

 

CHRISTIANS ON AGEING:  a resource to the Churches 

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

  • Home
  • About us
    • More about us
    • Who’s Who?
    • Video
  • Being Older
    • Some facts
    • Health & Social Care
    • The Churches’ pastoral care
    • Spirituality
  • Resources
    • Bookshop
    • Publications
    • Our magazine
    • Older Prisoners
    • Prayers and Reflections
    • Helpful contacts
    • Ministry and Training
    • Ageing Issues Study Network
  • NEWS
  • Contact us
    • Support our work
  • Membership
    • About our Members
    • Join or Renew Membership
    • Conference Calls and Conference 2021
  • Speaking Out
  • Blog

Unease & Understanding

25th May 2020 By

What the papers said in the week ending May 23rd 2020

Religion

Churches and other faiths are receiving comment in the media, perhaps more frequently than in normal times: The covid-19 death of 88 year old Bishop Vincent Malone of Liverpool was given prominence along with the deaths of people, some of whom are well known, others previously only know to friends and family. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-52709987

British Muslims prepared to celebrate Eid on line: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/23/eid-celebrations-go-virtual-uk-muslims-urged-stay-home

Canon Rosie Harper protested at the way that the Churches had acquiesced to government requirements and closed all church buildings. Most will feel that the Churches’ action was the only responsible way forwards, but as we see relaxation of constraints in other settings, it is to be hoped that thought is being given to steps which will allow churches to become again places for communal prayer and worship. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/21/synod-member-attacks-church-of-englands-self-obsession-in-pandemic

Reasons

Understanding of how and why the UK, particularly England, has suffered such high rates of infection and death, is growing. With the understanding there comes regret and very hard learning:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/18/sage-advice-britain-coronavirus-science-government-policy

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/19/uk-government-pandemic

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/21/did-the-uk-government-prepare-for-the-wrong-kind-of-pandemic

It is little comfort to know that our experts have required the nation to follow a pattern of measures which might have been effective in a flu epidemic, but coronaviruses behave differently. Perhaps matters would have been different if Public Health expertise had been given greater weight.

The number of excess deaths is now over 55,000 but there is encouragement that current measures and time will see a return to normal rates of death per week by July https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/almost-55000-excess-uk-deaths-during-covid-19-outbreak-says-ons

Deaths in care homes have been so very many – and source of much heartache, exacerbated by rules which have limited family contact during their terminal days. Better focussed control on other counties has minimised deaths in their care homes https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/mps-hear-why-hong-kong-had-no-covid-19-care-home-deaths

It is becoming clear that spread of the virus between care homes has been transmitted by staff, often agency workers, moving from home to home to fill vacancies. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/18/agency-staff-were-spreading-covid-19-between-care-homes-phe-found-in-april

New outbreaks are feared https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/18/london-care-homes-report-possible-fresh-covid-19-outbreaks

A pioneering initiative led by a retired GP in Sheffield traced many cases and contacts to care workers, but found that many of them were not prepared to cooperate with tracing, and had worked despite knowing they had symptoms. This is the reality of life when people need to work to pay their bills. Somehow this phenomenon must be overcome. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/21/uk-first-coronavirus-contact-tracing-group-warns-of-difficulties

The value and standing of people providing social care is being realised. It must be that this receives appropriate long-term reward https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/19/the-guardian-view-on-care-work-a-vocation-that-has-been-betrayed

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/21/a-first-class-analysis-of-boris-johnsons-third-rate-government

Consequences

Old people complain of loneliness despite the efforts being made to combat this. Some fear they are losing their retirement years https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/17/i-miss-people-terribly-the-growing-pain-of-older-peoples-isolation-lockdown

Other illnesses continue and deaths from them have risen: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/20/thousands-of-cancer-patients-could-die-early-due-to-coronavirus-delays-study-finds

Dental services remain vestigial, despite claims from ministers during the week that all is well. Arguments are being made within the profession for a disciplined return to practice as normal https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/17/allow-dentists-to-go-back-to-work-now

New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton has set up a factory in its library to produce protective equipment. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/17/uk-hospital-tackles-ppe-shortage-by-making-5000-visors-a-day

More people are discovering the joys and rewards of gardening and growing their own: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/17/how-lockdown-has-created-veg-growing-revolution-uk-coronavirus

Natural life – the animals and birds of the countryside – are expending their territory in parks: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/22/animals-cities-coronavirus-lockdowns-deer-raccoons

Indeed the human animals are also using parks more – mostly within guidance – taking advantage of the good weather and time without school or workplace. Our movements are tracked by Google via our mobile phones, Eerie but true https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/21/data-public-uk-relaxed-attitude-lockdown-restrictions

Sales of bicycles have risen. The pleasure and safety of cycling during these days of reduced traffic will not be so pleasurable of safe when more vehicles return to the roads https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/may/23/two-wheels-good-bike-sales-soar-as-uk-takes-to-cycling

But the benefits of DIY should be enduring: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/may/23/paint-diy-and-save-cash-lockdown

The end?

The weekly celebration of those providing services in these difficult and dangerous times – clapping on Thursdays at 8pm – has added to local feelings of solidarity – even bringing neighbours to know each other for the first time. Its focus on particular groups, terminology couched in war phrases and the like, have led to some unease and it may cease after the next clap https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/22/lets-stop-clapping-for-the-nhs-says-woman-who-started-the-ritual

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/21/nhs-doctor-enough-people-clapping

I hope the Sunday candle at 7pm might continue its quiet acknowledgement of this special time

Captain Tom is to be knighted https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/beacon-of-light-capt-tom-moore-to-be-knighted

Other news

The law now expects body parts to be harvestable when we die unless we or our family opt out https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/organ-donor-law-england-opt-out-register-children-max-keira-a9524216.html

Trivia: more letters about the use of old tights, people hearing cuckoos for the first time in years

David Jolley

 

Filed Under: NEWS

Adjust your text size:

Zoom in Regular Zoom out

Speaking Out

There are some things which just have to be said.  We have to speak out because at the heart of the Christian message is our belief that God is not silent.  God has spoken through creation itself and the evolving universe; through the human story; through the dwelling of Jesus Christ in time; through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in each believer; through the inspiration of the scriptures; and through the wisdom and the teaching of the Church through the ages.

We use words all the time.  Words of welcome.  Words of wisdom.  Words of warmth.  Words of warning.  Words of wistfulness.  Our words are wasted if words are just words.   In the beginning was the Word.  And the Word was with God.  And the Word was God.  Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him.   The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word made things happen.

As Christians, as followers of the Word, we do something about what we have heard.  Our own best words are our actions.

Please tell us what you would like us to Speak Out about by contacting:  info@ccoa.org.uk

 

Basket

News

The Jubilee might brighten the gloom

Troubling and shaming

Benches, buses and bills

The new Marco Polo

“I’m not really worth it any more”

A challenge for our country

Stressing times

A slow response to dire need

The fortunes of war and finance

Grim news on all fronts

More Posts from this Category

Reflect and Pray

Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown. Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with you. Christ of the mysteries, I trust You to be stronger than each storm within me. I will trust in the darkness and know that my times, even now, are in your hand. Tune my spirit to the music of heaven, and somehow, make my obedience count for You.”

St Brendan the Navigator   484-577

Prayers and Reflections

Postal Address

Ms Barbara Stephens
Honorary Secretary
7, Southland Mews Park Road
Ryde PO33 2FQ

 

© Christians on Ageing
Registered Charity Number: 289463

Become a Member

Christians on Ageing relies on the income from the subscriptions of its members, sales of publications and donations. If you wish to support our work please consider becoming a member.

 

Twitter feed

Tweets by ccoageing

Sign up for Christians on Ageing Newsletter

We only send occasionally, and do not share your information with other organisations
* = required field

Copyright © 2022 Christian Council on Ageing · Managed WordPress hosting kindly provided by 34SP.com · Log in