Health and wellbeing – Page 92 – The NEN

Wellbeing Week: Vintage Vibes charity tackles loneliness one song at a time!

Local charity shortlisted for a Creative Lives Award

Edinburgh-based charity project, Vintage Vibes celebrates Wellbeing Week (24 – 30th June) as the multi-award-winning project’s over 60s singing group, Vocal Vibes is shortlisted for the Creative Lives People’s Choice Award.

The singing group was created as part of the charity project’s social groups to improve wellbeing and tackle loneliness among older people (known as VIPs) across the city. Vintage Vibes builds confidence and friendships, empowering older people feeling lonely and isolated to live life to the full.

Now over 20 strong, the singing group meet every fortnight to rehearse, catch up with friends and do what they all enjoy most – sing. From old tunes such as ‘Travel These Ways’ and classics like ‘We Will Rock You’, through to ABBA and The Beatles, the group love to sing and perform.

The Creative Lives Award celebrates the achievements of community-led creative projects and groups (singing, performing, dancing) and Vocal Vibes have been shortlisted for using creativity to bring people together.

VIP, George said: “I have been a member of Vocal Vibes since its formation in 2018 and have found it very therapeutic. It’s a most enjoyable part of my life and is an important part of my social life.”

DJDJDJDJ

Georgia Artus, Development Manager at Vintage Vibes said: “This is so exciting for the Vocal Vibes group! They love to sing, and it brings so much joy.

“As we mark Wellbeing Week, we know how much loneliness can negatively impact a person’s wellbeing, as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and are thrilled that 91% of our members feel that Vintage Vibes groups and activities help improve their mental health and wellbeing.

“Many older people across Edinburgh face issues ranging from bereavement, lack of confidence, mobility, sudden/ongoing poverty, dementia, mental health challenges, and/or living with a disability, and supporting and celebrating groups such as Vocal Vibes is essential to enriching local lives.

“Vintage Vibes was created to help lonely and isolated over 60s in Edinburgh to take part in inclusive activities that they enjoy, offering friendship and fun to tackle loneliness, improve wellbeing and celebrate individuality.

“The singing group is part of our wider events, groups and activities across the city to empower older people feeling alone to join together with like-minded volunteers and enjoy life. We’re so happy to be shortlisted – but to win would be amazing! Please vote if you can!”

Recent feedback from the older people the charity supports has shown that 97% feel that being involved with Vintage Vibes made them feel less isolated, happier and have a better quality of life.

The group didn’t even let lockdown stop their love of getting together and singing, with Vintage Vibes uniting them on Zoom to continue the group during what was a lonely and difficult time for so many.

They even wrote and performed their own song called ‘Tomorrow’ which you can find on our YouTube channel at ‘Tomorrow’ by Vocal Vibes (Vintage Vibes) #TagforTomorrow (youtube.com).

Judging panels from each nation will choose a winner for Scotland, England, Ireland & Northern Ireland, and Wales, while members of the public can vote for their favourite in the People’s Choice Awards!

Voting in the People’s Choice Award is open until 29 July 2024. To learn more about the shortlisted projects and to cast your vote, visit https://www.creative-lives.org/2024-shortlist.

34 creative groups shortlisted from across Scotland, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. Winners will be announced at the Creative Lives Awards ceremony in Cecil Sharp House, London on 26 September 2024, partnering with the Everyday Creativity Research Network conference. Winners will receive a bespoke award, framed certificate, cash prize and access to support and training.

In what has been an amazing month for Vintage Vibes, the project is also celebrating winning the Evaluating Impact Award at Generations Working Together’s Excellence Awards on 11th June 2024 for their work tackling isolation in older people across Edinburgh through intergenerational friendships, groups, events, and constant listening and learning.

A video demonstrating Vintage Vibes vital work in the community can be found at https://vimeo.com/960285360.

RSV vaccination programme in Scotland

Following last year’s advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), Public Health Scotland has been working with the Scottish Government and NHS boards to develop plans for the roll out of Scotland’s  Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme to protect newborns, infants and older adults.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that generally causes mild illness with cold-like symptoms. Most cases recover after 2-3 weeks of illness, but RSV can cause severe illness in some people, including newborns, infants and older adults, leading to complications and hospitalisation.

With the new programme set to commence later in the summer, some information is now available on NHS inform and more detail will follow soon.  

View the JCVI advice on RSV immunisation programmes

View NHS inform information for newborns and infants and older adults

Webinar examines the key role of higher education in supporting enhanced healthcare innovation

InnoScot Health’s last ‘lunch & learn’ session for the first half of 2024 is entitled Engaging students in healthcare innovation for an improved NHS and will provide interesting perspectives on this key facet of turning ideas into health service improvements.

Hosted on Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 26 June from 12 until 12.45pm, the free to join webinar will be introduced by Innovation Manager, Fiona Schaefer.

She will discuss InnoScot Health’s work over the past two years in providing more than 10 teams of students from Heriot-Watt University Engineering Design and Manufacture and Glasgow School of Art’s product design manufacture students with real world project briefs from NHS innovators.

Fiona will be joined by two guest speakers:

Dr Faezeh Shalchy, Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt University’s School of Engineering and Physical Sciences who has been providing academic support to engineering design and manufacturing students working on healthcare projects
Lorraine Thomson, Business Engagement Manager at Interface who works with organisations to match them to Scotland’s world-leading academic expertise, helping to turn innovative ideas into reality

Fiona said: “Over the past couple of years, InnoScot Health has successfully engaged with students at Heriot-Watt University and Glasgow School of Art. This has resulted in enduring collaborative relationships and this webinar will provide a showcase of successes to date.

“We’re also delighted to have great guest speakers – Dr Shalchy who is a forward-thinking engineer specialising in projects which aim to enhance lives.

“Interface will also provide engaging views which draw on its role as a central hub connecting industry and academia, often leading to enhanced healthcare innovation.

“A Q&A section will round off the webinar, allowing attendees to probe and receive guidance on their own particular areas of interest.”

“While InnoScot Health is pausing its webinar series for the summer holiday season and recommencing in late August, we’re already looking to the autumn for innovation challenges which could suit engagement with engineering students to explore a new concept, test ideas, or explore solutions to a pressing problem.”

Deafblind Awareness Week

24 – 30 JUNE 2024

This week is Deafblind Awareness Week. However, did you know that Scotland does not formally recognise Deafblindness as a distinct disability?

Deafblind Scotland, with the support of the Cross Party group on Deafness, have been calling on the Scottish Government to formally recognise deafblindness as a distinct disability in Scotland.

The ALLIANCE supports the definition of Deafblindness – can you?

As part of Deafblind Awareness Week, Deafblind Scotland will be recognised for the work they have been doing at a parliamentary reception at the Scottish Parliament on 26th June.

You can find out more here: https://www.dbscotland.org.uk/defining-deafblindness/

MND Scotland launches network to connect people with MND and researchers

MND Scotland has launched a network of events to bring together researchers and people with, and affected by, motor neuron disease (MND) to help drive research through shared knowledge, ideas and lived experience.

Following a series of successful pilot events in 2023, the Lived Experience and Researcher Network (LEARN) aims to connect MND researchers and people with MND. In the pilot, seven people supported by MND Scotland were invited to take tours of researcher’s labs, allowing researchers and people with MND to connect, while also giving researchers the opportunity to directly hear the opinions of people affected by MND on research.

This year, LEARN will invite people affected by MND to meet with researchers in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow during September and October, and culminate with a whole day event in March 2025.

Dr Jane Haley, Director of Research at MND Scotland, said: “We know that people with MND are eager to learn more about research happening here in Scotland. MND Scotland’s dual role, delivering support and funding research, means we can provide opportunities for people to learn about research directly from the researchers themselves.

“Building relationships between people with lived experience and researchers introduces real world perspective which helps ensure that research reflects the needs of people with, or affected by, MND.

A better understanding of the condition and the needs of people affected by MND will also help researchers better communicate their work in a manner, and using language, that is accessible to everyone, no matter what their level of scientific knowledge.

Dr Christopher Henstridge, a Principle Investigator who runs his own lab in Dundee, participated in the LEARN pilot. He said: “As a lab-based research team, we rarely get the opportunity to hear directly from people affected by MND about their experiences of the very condition we are trying to understand and treat.

“Last year, we hosted three people in Tayside affected by MND for an afternoon of lab tours and research discussions. For us, this was a great opportunity to practise talking about our work in a language that can be easily understood.

However, talking about our research is what we do every day, so the most impactful conversations were the personal stories so honestly and openly shared by people with lived experience.

“The strength and courage they show every day is inspirational and we really appreciated the interest and insight they showed in our research. I hope that the experience gave everyone that came along insight into the scientific process and instilled real hope that there are a lot of researchers like us pushing hard to find effective treatments and a cure.

“When I come into work and discuss the research projects with lab members, I no longer think of “MND”, I think of the individuals affected by it and this emotional connection really drives me to ensure we are doing rigorous and impactful research.

“I believe these interactions are extremely important and I’m delighted to hear that MND Scotland plans to expand the LEARN scheme and develop new ways of bringing even greater numbers of researchers and people with lived experience together.”

LEARN is a three-stage initiative that will conclude with an event in Edinburgh in March 2025, hosted in partnership with fellow MND charity, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation:

Stage 1

MND Scotland will host drop-in sessions in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen between September and October 2024. These sessions aim to form relationships between people with lived experience of MND and researchers.

The drop-in sessions will be held at the following locations –

Aberdeen Science Centre, Aberdeen – Monday 9 September 2024

Bonnie and Wild, St James’ Quarter, Edinburgh – Thursday 26 September 2024

MND Scotland Office, Glasgow – Thursday 3 October 2024

Dundee Science Centre, Dundee – Thursday 24 October 2024

Stage 2

Stage 2 will involve laboratory tours, much like the pilot, allowing people affected by MND to get a first-hand view of MND research. This will give people a behind-the-scenes look at how MND research is carried out and provide an opportunity for those affected by MND to share their thoughts on research and how to make MND research more accessible.

Stage 3

LEARN will conclude, in March 2025, with a day-long event at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, where My Name’5 Doddie Foundation will be joining MND Scotland to work in partnership to deliver the event.

The day will offer information for researchers and training opportunities for ECRs, along with sessions involving people with lived experience of MND.

The collaboration between MND Scotland and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation reflects the shared commitment between MND charities to push for a world without MND.

More information about the events will be available on our website, via our newsletters and social media channels. www.mndscotland.org.uk

To provide more details on the events and the aims of LEARN, the MND Scotland research team will host a webinar at 12.30 pm on Friday, 26 July 2024.

To sign up for the webinar, please complete this form:

https://forms.office.com/e/ewyTKeCHBs

Volunteer Opportunities at PCHP

Do you want to become a part of wonderful community based in North of Edinburgh? Look no further – Pilton Community Health project Needs You!

Currently we have few roles available.

For more information email hello@pchp.org.uk, call 01315511671 or just pop in to PCHP for a chat.

The NEN North Edinburgh News

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

Granton Community Gardeners

Support for people in Scotland with high blood pressure

Digital hypertension platform hits 100,000 users

More than 100,000 people in Scotland have benefited from a technology tool which allows them to monitor and manage their blood pressure remotely – saving the NHS an estimated 400,000 plus face-to-face appointments since 2019.

Connect Me allows patients to share their blood pressure readings with their GP through a digital platform to encourage better hypertension health.

With an estimated 1.3 million Scots impacted by high blood pressure, it is the leading preventable risk factor for heart and circulatory disease, associated with around half of all strokes and heart attacks. Research has shown that patients using remote monitoring achieve and maintain optimal blood pressure levels much faster compared to those seeing doctors just once or twice yearly.

The programme allows clinicians to monitor patient trends and change medication as required, whether levels improve from healthy habits or start deteriorating over time. Around 99% of users found the platform easy to use and 94% said they would use it again. It also offers patients choices for sharing readings, including via mobile app, web browser, text message, or automated call.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “Connect Me is another example of how we’re embracing technology to help tackle the challenges facing health and social care. It’s extremely encouraging to see that over 100,000 patients have benefitted from the platform to date saving an estimated 400,000 appointments.

“I would encourage health boards to increase the roll out of Connect Me and for people who have hypertension to ask their GPs if they might be eligible for the programme. By empowering patients to take control of their wellbeing we are not only improving health outcomes but also significantly reducing pressure on primary care services.”

Healthy Heart Tip: How to adapt your recipes to benefit your heart

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: How to adapt your recipes to benefit your heart

If you’re trying to eat healthier and live a healthy lifestyle, then some of the recipes that you enjoy cooking may not fit into your new way of life. By adapting your less healthy recipes to make them more nutritious, you can still enjoy these meals and look after your health.

This could be either swapping ingredients to healthier ones, removing some unhealthy ingredients or adapting the quantities of ingredients within the dish. These changes can help to reduce your blood pressure, LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and give you more energy.

Less than 50% of adults in the UK try to eat healthy most of the time, if you aren’t one of these then now is the time to change your unhealthy eating habits. Here are some tips to help you adapt your recipes.

Reduce your portion size

Overconsumption is an issue across the world, with many people not paying attention to their bodies showing signs of feeling full. Regularly people serve and consume large portions, as it is believed that you should finish your plate of food to avoid food waste.

However, if you reduce your portion size and freeze any leftovers for another day, then you can benefit your health by avoiding overeating. If you’re concerned that this might not be enough food, then reduce it gradually or add a side of vegetables to your meal.

Swap your protein

Swapping your processed or fatty protein source to a leaner version such as chicken, turkey or fish will help to reduce the amount of saturated fats you’re consuming and lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol, which is great for your heart.

You could also reduce the quantity of meat in your recipe and add in some lentils, this works great if you’re making a bolognaise or chilli con carne.

If you follow a plant-based diet or want to consume more plant-based protein, then use quinoa, tofu, pulses, nuts and seeds as your main sources. Try not to consume many plant-based meat alternatives, as these processed foods are often high in salt and saturated fats.

Add more fibre

Fibre is a great way to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Try swapping your chips for sweet potato wedges and bulk out your meals by adding fruit and vegetables. This will also help you to reach your five a day.

Another way to increase your fibre intake is by swapping your white carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta, rice and cereal for wholegrain varieties.

Don’t add salt and sugar

You could remove the addition of salt and sugar in your recipes and be aware of any that are already hidden in the foods that you buy. When cooking, try using herbs and spices such as garlic, coriander, and chilli to add extra flavour without increasing your blood pressure.

If you’re cooking with sauces, gravies or stocks, then opting for low-salt and sugar versions is much better for your heart.

Always check the food labels before you buy and choose the ones with the most amount of green on their traffic light labels.

New Digital Stroke-Management Pathway launched in Lothian

A new digital pathway aimed at supporting stroke survivors has launched today (Friday 21 June) in Lothian.

The ‘Life After Stroke’ Pathway has been developed by a partnership comprising health charity Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, NHS Lothian and Pogo Digital Healthcare.

The pathway provides stroke survivors tailored information based on their personal experiences, symptoms, and concerns in order to better manage their condition, alongside support from the Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland stroke nursing team who provide follow up support in the community.

When onboarded to the pathway, patients receive a self-assessment questionnaire to inform the health information they will receive. These questionnaires will be sent out bi-monthly to track changes in symptoms over time. Information will be sent to patients in the form of short slide presentations, which provide medical & health information, guidance, and signposting to further resources.

The Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland nursing team will be able to utilise the outcomes of the self-assessment questionnaires to better inform and tailor the support, education and advice that patients receive to support recovery.

Patients will only receive talks that are relevant to them, to avoid information overload and only focus on what matters to each patient. These tailored talks will be stored in the patient’s personal online portal, which can be easily accessed and referred to at any time.

Stroke survivor Jeremy Dearling, 67, was involved in the creation of the pathway as a public contributor.

Speaking about the launch, he said: “I have been delighted to have been part of the team developing this pathway with Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, a much-needed resource for survivors of stroke.

“As a public contributor, I have not only been heard and listened to, but as someone with lived experience of a brain injury and who was a staff nurse on a stroke ward, I have found a generous welcome to the team.

“There is a huge amount of support on offer using the newly launched Life After Stroke programme that is in addition to the existing resources available on the CHSS website. A stroke can be an isolating experience, unnecessarily so, so if you have had a stroke or care for someone with one, make use of the help available”.

Joanne Graham, Director of Service Delivery, at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland said: “We are delighted to be able to build on our existing relationship with NHS Lothian to support individuals post stroke through this digital pathway.

“Providing tailored health Information as early as possible is critical to support people to self manage their condition. This pathway will further support our charity’s mission to ensure every person with one of our conditions has access to quality supported self management and community recovery as part of our community health care support service.”

Jack Francis, CEO of Pogo Digital Healthcare, said: “I am delighted to be extending our digital self-management tool into a new Stroke pathway.

“ As someone whose family was negatively impacted by a stroke, it is brilliant to be involved in a project that will give people and their families the support and information they need.”

Dr Charlie Chung, AHP Stroke Strategic Lead and Consultant Occupation Therapist at NHS Lothian said: “I am excited that the Life After Stroke digital pathway will commence testing with the staff and patients of the stroke unit in the Royal Infirmary.

“Stroke survivors consistently report that targeted and relevant information about their stroke would have been valuable at the time of their admission to hospital but provision was inconsistent.

“A key objective is that information provision will not happen by chance, but will be a routine part of service delivery which will ultimately support the self-management of stroke survivors.”

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and Scottish Opera from new partnership to bring the therapeutic benefits of song to those with aphasia

Building on Scottish Opera’s ground breaking Breath Cycle project, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is collaborating with the country’s largest performing arts organisation to improve the lives of those living with aphasia, a communication difficulty that is a common effect of strokes
A new research report launched earlier this month by CHSS revealed that poor mental health and loneliness are severely impacting people in Scotland living with aphasia

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) and Scottish Opera have joined forces to develop online singing classes for people living with aphasia, which is caused by damage to the part of the brain that controls language, and in some cases leaves some unable to speak at all.

These new CHSS and Scottish Opera sessions coincide with Aphasia Awareness Month, which runs throughout June. This year’s theme is #AphasiaTogether, emphasising that those with the condition do not need to deal with this on their own.

This new strand of creative music making with CHSS — Scotland’s largest health charity working to help people with chest, heart and stroke conditions live life to the full — expands upon Scottish Opera’s pioneering Breath Cycle project, designed to support those with a range of conditions affecting lung health.

Following research and development sessions with medical educators, CHSS staff and people living with aphasia are working with Scottish Opera to provide supported communication and aphasia training, and help deliver the therapeutic singing, song-writing and breath control sessions.

The aim of these workshops is to improve the mental wellbeing and confidence in communication of those with aphasia and respiratory issues including COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), across the country.

Earlier this month, CHSS launched a report about the impact of aphasia on those living with the condition which revealed that:

More than half (52 per cent) of people with aphasia say their condition affects their mental health
Nearly half (48 per cent) with aphasia said they experienced loneliness as a result of their condition.
43 per cent of people with aphasia said it impacted on their ability to work as before
A third (34 per cent) of people with aphasia reported being treated negatively due to their condition.

CEO of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, Jane-Claire Judson, commented: “Working with Scottish Opera to unlock the therapeutic benefits of singing and song-writing to people living with aphasia is a fantastic opportunity to tackle real issues facing people across the country.

“We regularly hear from the people we support that living with a communication difficulty following stroke can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness and have a negative impact on mental health.

“We look forward to bringing people together to experience the joy of singing with others whilst exploring the benefits of singing and song writing to their communication skills.”

Jane Davidson MBE, Director of Outreach & Education at Scottish Opera, said: “Following on from the increased awareness of our Breath Cycle II programme in 2020, which was designed for people living with Long COVID and other respiratory conditions, Scottish Opera is excited to partner with CHSS to support people with aphasia.

“The work that CHSS undertakes each year with hundreds of thousands of Scots has set really high standards in the positive integration of mental health and well-being initiatives with clinical intervention.

“As Scotland’s largest performing arts company, we feel that the values of both our organisations are beautifully aligned in this new collaboration that seeks to enhance the quality of people’s lives across the country.”

Composer Gareth Williams, who along with writer Martin O’Connor, mentored the most recent online song writing Breath Cycle sessions said: “Our encounters with the Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland team, and our first conversations with our participants who have aphasia have been so inspiring.

“Our challenge is to help people find and connect with their voices again, both their physical voices and their creative voices. There are incredible stories to tell in this community, and together we will find them and share them through song.”