LifeCare Edinburgh brought members of the local community together to enjoy some early festive cheer this year at their annual charity Christmas lunches. Over 150 two course lunches were served across three days in the charity’s Community Café, CafeLife, by volunteers from aerospace engineering company Leonardo, who chose LifeCare as their charity partner last year.
Guests also enjoyed entertainment from local choir, The Cheyne Gang, a community singing group for people living with long term respiratory conditions such as COPD, Asthma and Bronchiectasis, as well as a Tombola and Christmas Quiz.
LifeCare CEO, Sarah Van Putten, said: “Our Christmas Lunches are a fantastic way of bringing people together in support of a good cause.
“All the money we raise from our lunches and other Christmas activities go directly towards our Winter Warmer Appeal which we launched back in November, due to unprecedented demand for our services through the cost-of-living crisis.
“These funds will enable us to continue to provide vital support to local older people and unpaid carers during the difficult winter months. A huge thank you to all those who came along, including our wonderful volunteers and of course our fabulous choir. Your support funds ours, and it really does make a huge difference.”
LifeCare Edinburgh is a local charity with a proud 80-year-history of providing uplifting, positive and practical support for older people.
Their vision is of a society where no older person is alone or isolated, and their professional and high-quality support is delivered to the most vulnerable members of the community – including those living with dementia and unpaid (often older themselves) carers – within the home and out and about.
The LifeCare Christmas lunches have become a key date in the diary for many Stockbridge locals, with the 2023 events the second to take place since the covid-19 pandemic.
LifeCare encourages people to ‘share a little warmth’ through the charity’s Winter Warmer appeal
As the winter approaches older people are faced with difficult choices; colder weather and long dark nights make it harder to keep well and warm at home, and it can be trickier to safely get out and about, worsening issues of isolation.
As we face another winter of continued high prices, many local older people are struggling to make ends meet and are facing real choices around putting the heating on versus food shopping.
Local charity, LifeCare has over 80 years’ experience offering the vital care and support people need all year round, but with the organisation’s own costs rising they do not currently have the capacity to meet the increasing demands from a growing population of older people. The charity is calling on local people and businesses to get involved and help raise funds to support LifeCare and those struggling this winter.
Older people have been disproportionately affected through the recent covid, cost of living and health crises and charities such as LifeCare have never been needed more. LifeCare experienced a 250% increase in enquiries post-pandemic and recently a 67% increase in enquiries from people living on low incomes. LifeCare aims to keep service costs low, or free for those that most need it, so that they are accessible to everyone.
Recent research from Age Scotland shows that the numbers of older people living in poverty increased this year with approximately 1 in 6 older people living in relative poverty and 41% feeling financially squeezed (up from 26% in 2021).
70% of people surveyed were already cutting back on energy and heating costs, 50% said their standard of living had dropped and 38% were socialising less.
The long-term health and wellbeing impacts are still unknown, but with over 85% of LifeCare’s clients living alone, local older people in Edinburgh are becoming increasingly isolated and in desperate need of considered and caring support.
Originally established in 1941 as the Edinburgh and Leith Old People’s Welfare Council, LifeCare’s professional and high-quality services enable older people to thrive in their own homes and be active in their communities all year round.
Through its relationship-based approach the charity supports the growing numbers of people living with dementia, in isolation, with reduced mobilities, experiencing mental health, and those living on low-incomes.
Activities are delivered within the home, out and about within the community and from three registered day clubs across the city. Collectively the charity supports over 1,000 older people a year.
Through the ‘Winter Warmer’ campaign LifeCare aims to continue to deliver affordable care for those that need it most. This includes offering hot meals on wheels, unpaid carers support, dementia-friendly hairdressing and community engagement activities for those that need it.
And with support, the charity will continue to run CafeLife, the charity’s community café on Cheyne Street, as a welcoming Eat & Meet warm space offering free hot food, companionship and activities across weekends. The charity will also launch a series of workshops and groups such as ‘cooking on a budget’ and ‘mend and repair’ classes to help maximise limited incomes.
LifeCare is calling on everyone, from individuals to local businesses, to join their appeal, share a little warmth and give a donation to help deliver support to those that need it most this winter.
Sarah van Putten, Chief Executive of LifeCare said “We are extremely worried about local older people this winter, with continued high prices for food and fuel, it will be devastating for many. On top of the ‘heat or eat’ dilemma they are also at risk of serious social isolation. It’s times like these which highlight the critical need for services such as ours.
“LifeCare has a long history of supporting and empowering older people to live life to the full, but as a charity we rely on donations to enable us to deliver our vital support and care. Thanks to our services, we ensure that each older person receives the support they need.
“We make sure they are warm in their homes, they eat well, have company to look forward to and are able to get out and about to activities safely. Our regular, reliable and non-rushed support is delivered by the same friendly faces, so friendships are formed and care is consistent. And we know it works; in our recent survey over 91% of day club clients felt more social connected and 85% felt their health and wellbeing had improved.
“It’s frustrating because we know we can deliver the care that people want and need, but we are facing increased costs too. We are asking local people and businesses to consider giving a one-off or regular gift through our Winter Warmer appeal.
“Donations can be made on our website or alternatively people can come along to our community café to pledge their support. Even choosing to have your coffee or lunch from our café will help us to deliver the care local older people need to ensure they continue to thrive at home.”
Local MSP Jeremy Balfour is supporting the charity’s campaign encouraging people to get involved.
Jeremy Balfour MSP for Lothian said: “I am delighted to be supporting LifeCare’s Winter Warmer campaign.
“Winter can be a difficult time of year for people of all ages, however it is an especially tough period for older people and the work that LifeCare does to support them over the winter months is life changing.
“I would commend anyone who is able to support their work in any way that they are able.”
All money raised through Winter Warmer will go directly towards supporting older people in the city.
We are delighted to welcome our new permanent CEO, Sarah Van Putten, to the LifeCare family.
Sarah joins us as an experienced third sector Chief Executive, with a career in health and social care spanning 3 decades. For the last 6 years, Sarah has been supporting Befriending Networks across the UK, and tackling loneliness and isolation by influencing public policy.
On her appointment, Sarah said: “I am delighted to have joined the LifeCare team as permanent CEO.
“I bring a long track record of working within and managing social care organisations. I knew of LifeCare as my great Aunt was a client and I have always been impressed by the work they do.
“Since taking up post, the commitment and passion of the team has already become evident – with staff continuously going above and beyond for the people they support. I look forward to working closely with staff, our board of trustees and most importantly the clients to identify our priorities for the next 3 years.
“I hope to bring my wider experience of social isolation policy work to help Lifecare amplify the voices of those who use our services, so that we can continue to offer those “extra years of Zest” to the people in our communities that need it most.”
LifeCare Edinburgh launches new dementia-friendly hairdressing service helping local older people “feel like themselves again”
COVID restrictions taught us all how much we value a visit to our local hairdresser to help us feel like ourselves, boost our self-esteem and to simply enjoy a chat and a catch-up with a friendly face.
Sadly, for people living with dementia this lockdown experience can be a permanent feature in life as visiting an everyday salon can be inaccessible, overwhelming, and without the right training, difficult for a hairdresser to deliver well.
However, things are changing in the capital as local charity LifeCare has launched the city’s first dedicated dementia-friendly hairdressing service providing essential haircare services for people living with dementia and their unpaid carers.
LifeCare’s new ‘Forget-Me-Not’ hair service involves an experienced, caring and dementia-trained mobile hairdresser visiting people in their homes so that they can continue to experience the joy of a haircut.
The benefits of a hairdressing experience for a person living with dementia can be significant. Haircare helps people to maintain their appearance but also impacts how they feel, their personal identity, and their overall self-esteem.
For a person living with dementia, hairdressing can be a unique multi-sensory experience providing a valuable opportunity for touch and physical contact which is often missing outside of practical interactions.
Regular visits and time for conversation can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Feelings of self-worth and positive self-image are boosted and this increased confidence can mean people are more likely to be motivated to attend other activities and stay engaged with their community.
Evidence shows haircare services support reminiscence activities as scents and experiences involved can be incredibly evocative and personal appearance can relate to people’s life stories and relationships.
James Wells, Chief Executive of LifeCare said“It’s sad and unfair that people living with dementia struggle to access ordinary haircare services that many of us take for granted.
“The typical busy, hot and noisy hair salon environment can just be too overwhelming for some and a lack of understanding amongst hairdressers can make the experience really difficult for everyone. Mobility issues and transport concerns also create problems.
“At Lifecare, we have a proud 80-year history of providing essential care services for local older people, ensuring no-one is left alone or isolated and that everyone can continue to enjoy the joy in their lives. So, we’re absolutely delighted that we are now able to launch this dedicated service which will make an immediate positive and life-changing difference to our older clients and their carers.
“We are already hearing from clients how they “feel like themselves again” and “can’t wait for their next appointment”. I’m looking forward to hearing more of these stories as the service continues to grow.”
Audrey McDonald, LifeCare’s dementia-friendly hairdresser said: “It is an absolute pleasure to be helping to deliver this fantastic service. From my own personal experience, I understand how frustrating it can be for a person to be shut-out of these important pleasurable activities.
“Even a small trim can cheer a person up for the day. In just a few short weeks, I have already seen how much joy the service is bringing for local people.
“Together we are enjoying a giggle, a chat about old times and everyone is left feeling a million dollars.”
The charity relies on support from its funders to deliver all of its essential services. The Forget-Me-Not Salon has been made possible thanks to financial support from Age Scotland’s About Dementia project in partnership with the Scottish Government.
Head of Dementia at Age Scotland, Dr Kainde Manji said “We are excited to support LifeCare in their delivery of a dedicated haircare service for people with lived experience of dementia, and we recognise the importance of this type of community-based support in enabling ordinary activities that make a big difference to individual wellbeing.
“We know that increasing wellbeing and tackling social isolation can empower people with lived experience of dementia to take a more active role in their communities.”
The “Forget-Me-Not” hair service has been initially set up as pilot project offering the service to clients for free to ensure that it is accessible to all.
A charity set up to empower people to make informed decisions around funerals and end of life planning, is hosting a free afternoon tea event at 2pm next Wednesday at Life Care in Stockbridge.
Dying to Talk? is an informal and friendly chat about death, dying and loss over afternoon tea.
Caledonia Funeral Aid Funeral and Bereavement Advisor Emma Kelso explains: “Death is a subject that’s never been easy to talk about, and yet itaffects people every day.
“Life is finite and death is inevitable, so our aim is to encourage people to bring it out into the open, break the taboo and reduce the fear.
“We will invite people to share experiences, talk about things that they’ve discovered during their own journeys and maybe discuss their own personal end-of-life plans, all over a cuppa.
“By empowering people to talk in a friendly, safe space, we hope to move towards a Scotland where everyone is empowered to make the right choices for themselves and their loved ones. As a result, they will become aware that there are choices and consequently we can realise a Scotland without funeral poverty.”
Although the event is free, people are encouraged to pre-book at Caledonia Funeral Aid’s website www.funerals.scot
We are looking for new trustees to help LifeCare in its great work supporting local older people
LifeCare is at an exciting stage in its development and we are looking for Trustees who will passionately inform our services bringing new skills and experience to help lead the organisation.
We are particularly (but not exclusively) interested in individuals with experience in the following fields:
Health and Social Care
Finance
Fundraising
Marketing and Digital Innovation
Hospitality
Most of all, we are looking for people with lived experience of care, or as an unpaid carer, to help strengthen our capacity to better embed the voice of the people who use our services at Board level.
Can you help us?We are looking for people who share our values, that are passionate and committed about supporting local older people, who can be creative in building our profile and work closely with our team and stakeholders to deliver outstanding person-centred services to our clients.
The Board usually meets in the evenings (either in-person or via Zoom). The role is non-remunerated however reasonable expenses will be reimbursed and training / ongoing support will be provided. If you have any questions or would like a quick chat to find out more, please contact our chair beverleyfrancis@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk.
To apply please send a CV and covering letter expressing your interest to beverleyfrancis@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk. Please contact us if you would prefer to submit an application in another format.
Are you an unpaid carer looking after a loved one? Or know someone who is? LifeCare is launching a series of classes and activities that are FREE for unpaid carers and the person they care for.
Starting on the 25th January at 11am in our Boardroom, come along to movement therapy designed to spark memories, have fun and boost your physical and mental wellbeing.
If you would like to attend, please submit your name on the following form:
LifeCare are providing a warm space at weekends, 3:30 – 6:30pm at CafeLife, 2 Cheyne St, Stockbridge, with free soup & hot drinks, board games, books & free wi-fi.
In response to the rising cost of living, thanks to funding from The Edinburgh Wellbeing Pact ‘Coorie in for Winter’ fund, LifeCare is opening a Warm Space for the community this winter.
We will be welcoming people to join us in our cosy cafe space at the LifeCare Centre in Stockbridge on Saturdays and Sundays between 3.30pm and 6.30pm. We will be offering free soup and hot drinks as well as board games and books to enjoy.
Stockbridge charity urgently needs funds to keep people warm and well this winter
LifeCare Edinburgh has launched an urgent appeal to raise vital funds to support older people living across the city this winter. The renowned charity, which turned 80 last year, provides positive care for hundreds of local people but is struggling to cope with the increasing demand for its services.
LifeCare’s personal and practical services include registered outreach and day-clubs, help at home, meals on wheels, unpaid carers support, and companionship activities.
The charity runs a busy community hub and café on Cheyne Street in Stockbridge with all profits going directly to the running of its services. Through its relationship-based approach the charity supports those living with dementia, isolation, reduced mobilities, mental health concerns, and those struggling on low-incomes.
With over 85% of clients living alone, services enable each older person to live well and independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
Through the ‘Winter Warmer’ campaign LifeCare will extend its services this winter. This will include setting up their community café as a welcoming ‘warm space’ offering free warmth, hot food, companionship, and activities to those that need it across weekends, but the charity needs support to offer this care.
The organisation is calling on everyone, from individuals to local businesses, to join their appeal and give a donation to help deliver care to those that need it most this winter.
James Wells, Chief Executive of LifeCare said: “We are extremely worried about those in our community. The cold, dark months are always difficult, and this year, with rising food and fuel costs, it will be devastating for many.
“Older people are still coming to terms with the aftermath of the covid restrictions; abilities and mobility deteriorated rapidly and enquiries for our help are rising, up 250% in some services.
“Now hit by the cost-of-living crisis these same people, who are just regaining the confidence and motivation to get back to their communities, can’t afford to take part in activities or meet friends for food/drink. On top of the ‘heat or eat’ dilemma they face this winter they are also at risk of serious social isolation.
“LifeCare has a long history of supporting and empowering older people to live life to the full, but as a charity we rely on donations to enable us to deliver our lifesaving and life-affirming services.
” Thanks to our care, we will ensure that each older person receives the support they need. We will make sure they are warm in their homes, they eat well, have company to look forward to and are able to get out and about to activities safely.
“We are asking local people and businesses to consider giving a one-off or regular gift to our Winter Warmer appeal. With support, LifeCare can deliver the positive care older people need to ensure they keep warm and well in body and mind.
“There are different ways people can help support. One-off and regular donations can be made on our website or alternatively people can come along to our community café to pledge their support. Even choosing to have your coffee or lunch from our café will help us to deliver the care local older people need.”
