Did you know that Edinburgh is the loneliest city in the UK for older people?
@Vintage Vibes Edinburgh is a charity project that matches you with a wonderful older person who is local to you and has a shared interest, to create a fantastic friendship that meets once a week. It’s flexible, fun and fulfilling.
“You couldn’t have picked a better person, she is a great friend.” – Doreen
Interested? Email hello@vintagevibes.org.uk or go to vintagevibes.org.uk and sign up online
For those older adults looking to get back in the saddle again, Ageing Well, will be starting a new 11-week cycling course, where participants can develop those dormant skills in a relaxed and social atmosphere with like-minded companions.
Ryan Dignan, Edinburgh Leisure’s Community Development Officer for Older Adults explained: “Cycling is a great way to keep fit, active and mobile and enjoy the outdoors and countryside on the amazing network of dedicated cycle paths in the Edinburgh area.
“Perhaps you’d like to join grandchildren on family rides or just to meet some new people? And don’t worry if you haven’t been on a bike for ages or don’t currently own one, we even provide bikes, helmets, and Hi-Viz vests, so all you need to bring is yourself! The courses are led by experienced, fully trained volunteers who are passionate about cycling and supporting those who would like to get back in the saddle.”
The initial level 1 course, based on Cycling Scotland’s Bikeability material is an 11-week course, which will get participants comfortable again on a bike, developing skills, at a pace that suits them, in a dedicated area at Saughton. This part of the course will begin on Monday, 27th February at 10am-12noon.
Level 2 lasts 8-weeks and gives participants the opportunity to explore Edinburgh’s extensive cycle path network, from the leisure centres at Ainslie Park and Meggetland.
For more information and to book a place on the cycle course, contact a member of Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities team on: Tel: 0131 458 2260 or email: active@edinburghleisure.co.uk
The Ageing Well project promotes healthy lifestyles for older adults (typically 50+) in Edinburgh. The project is a partnership with NHS Lothian, Edinburgh Leisure and Pilmeny Development Project and is part of the UK Ageing Well network, which aims to increase the expectation of good health in later life.
Buddy Swimming is a great way to regain confidence and get back in the water.
Our volunteers are experienced and ensure you have support to get in the water confidently. Afterwards, we gather for a cuppa – the perfect end to our sessions!
Read more here https://edinburghleisure.co.uk/news/ageingwellcourses2023
Hourglass have submitted an open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed by politicians from across the political spectrum. The letter calls for the government to provide urgent financial support for the Hourglass helpline which provides 24/7 support and casework for older victim-survivors of abuse.
The open letter has been signed by MPs, Peers, MLAs, MSPs, MSs, academics, third sector leaders and other community supporters. Members of every major political party in the UK have supported this campaign, either by signing this letter or by contacting the Prime Minister directly asking the Government to support the Hourglass helpline.
Hourglass not only provides a 24/7 helpline, the only one of its kind in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but also creates tailored care plans for older victim survivors using caseworkers across the UK. The charity income plummeted in 2022 whilst cases have dramatically risen.
In 2022 the Hourglass helpline has seen a 96% increase in calls. Many of these calls are referrals from government and third sector agencies who rely on Hourglass as specialists in supporting older victims.
Despite this, government support for the helpline and casework service provided by Hourglass has declined. The charity is now bidding for funds from a Violence Against Women and Girls tender, which misses a significant swathe of its work.
Richard Robinson, Chief Executive of Hourglass, said: “The Hourglass helpline and case work service plays a critical role in supporting older people who have experienced abuse. This is a truly unique service and ensures older people can have hope during their darkest times.
“During the Conservative Party leadership campaign, the Ready for Rishi campaign promised that if elected a Rishi-led government would engage with organisations supporting victims, such as Hourglass. There has been no engagement, a string of cancelled meetings and limited understanding of challenge older people face, especially now during this financial crisis.
“The Prime Minister now needs to honour his campaign promise by working with Hourglass to ensure the only UK helpline supporting older victims of abuse can continue to provide a 24/7 service and doesn’t downsize drastically.”
Baroness Ritchie, Hourglass Patron, said: “The Government need to support older victims of abuse. In an ageing society, services like the Hourglass Helpline play a vital role.
“I urge the Prime Minister to answer the call of this open letter and provide adequate funding for the Hourglass Helpline.”
The charity is urging those keen to support the charity to donate by visiting www.wearehourglass.org.uk/donate or Text SAFER to 70460 to donate £10.
Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS.
If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text SAFERNOINFO to 70460
Many people in Scotland are facing a bleak run up to Christmas, as they cut back on essentials like food and heating to ensure they can buy presents for loved ones.
In a national survey of people aged 50 and over by older people’s charity Independent Age, a third (33%) of Scottish respondents said that in order to spend money on loved ones this year, they would reduce spending on essentials for themselves as Christmas approaches.
Of those who said that they will reduce their spending:
The findings come as inflation continues to rise, with the official rate recently soaring to 11.1%.
Scottish Government statistics show that 1 in 7 (150,000) older people in Scotland are living in poverty, with 120,00 pensioners living in persistent poverty (meaning they’ve spent at least three of the past four years in poverty).
Claire Donaghy, Head of Scotland at Independent Age, said: “It’s extremely alarming that those in later life are being forced to cut back on essentials so they can buy presents for loved ones.
“Older people living in one of the world’s richest nations shouldn’t have to risk damaging their health by reducing the food they eat and using less heating during the coldest months.
“For many in Scotland, the festive season is something to look forward to, but increasing numbers of older people are being hit from every angle financially.”
Cost-of-living fears this festive season
The immense financial pressure faced by millions of older people this winter is forcing many of them to cut back on essentials – as well as foregoing presents for others.
In the same survey over two fifths (41%) of people in Scotland said they are planning on spending less money at Christmas this year, compared to last.
When asked how they plan to reduce their spending, worryingly, 49% of people planning to spend less said they would reduce spending on food, and 47% said they would spend less on heating and gas.
When asked about general Christmas spending, 56% who plan to spend less at Christmas said they plan to spend less on presents for their children or grandkids, and this number rises to 78% when asked about other friends and family.
There will be even fewer ornaments and lights to enjoy this festive season, with 39% saying they will reduce spending on decorations that require electricity. These figures paint a bleak picture of how the cost-of-living crisis will stop many from enjoying their usual Christmas.
End the Pension Credit Scandal
With many households struggling to cope financially this December, Independent Age is calling on the government to ensure older people are receiving the support they are entitled to, including Pension Credit.
For people over 66, Pension Credit acts as an income top-up, and is a gateway to additional support, including the Warm Home Discount and Council Tax Reduction. It is also being used as a mechanism by the government to decide who gets some of the vital cost-of-living payments announced in November.
In what the charity is calling a ‘national scandal’, Independent Age estimate that almost 80,000 people who are eligible for Pension Credit in Scotland are currently not claiming, resulting in £160 million being missed out on by older people in Scotland.
Claire Donaghy continues: “The government was right to uprate Pension Credit by inflation in the Autumn Budget, but the hard truth is too many older people are still not receiving this vital income top-up that they are eligible for. Without it, many people in later life are facing a stressful and dire Christmas, forced to cut back on food and heating, which can be detrimental to their health.
“It is scandalous that people are struggling when billions of pounds has been set aside for them and the money is sitting there unused. The government must commit to a Pension Credit strategy to prevent hundreds of thousands of people missing out.”
Independent Age has launched a petition calling on the government to end the Pension Credit scandal and announce a strategy to increase uptake.
You can sign the petition here: End the Pension Credit Scandal
MOVING AN ELDERLY RELATIVE INTO YOUR HOME? EASE THE TRANSITION WITH SIMPLE COST-EFFECTIVE TIPS
As the cost-of-living crisis looms over us this winter, many families will be facing the tough decision of whether it is financially sensible, and safer, to move an elderly relative into the family home. With this, comes a host of new challenges to navigate for both the welcoming family and the elderly relative who is being moved homes.
Renaissance Care is a national care home provider and is well-versed in providing housing transition support for elderly people moving into its facilities and can offer some practical tips on easing that adjustment for both parties.
Jozi Stables, care home manager at Edinburgh’s Glencairn Care Home said: “It can be a challenging time for families when they are transitioning a relative from independent living into an existing family home environment and something we are very aware of when residents come to stay with us at our care homes.
“It’s often a journey that all members of the family have to embark on and it’s very normal for there to be teething problems along the way. However, there are easy and effective ways that you can ease this transition to make the journey ultimately enjoyable for all involved.”
· Retain a sense of independence: Elderly relatives who have lived alone for many years have their own routine, their own social commitments and their own needs for personal space. So, it’s really important to make sure when moving a relative into the family home that these rights are respected. Relatives should be able to come and go to their existing commitments as they wish, freely and without judgement. It can be easy to become overprotective, but it is important to continue to promote and support your relative’s independence. . Set clear boundaries from the outset on what they would like your help with and what they can manage on their own and stick to these – there’s no harm in reviewing these often but it’s important not to fuss and overstep the mark.
· Routine is important: Moving an elderly person into a hustling, bustling family home can be overwhelming – the noise, the pace and the routine are all quite unfamiliar. Try and make sure the relatives routine is implemented and blended into the running of the family home, this might look like earlier dinner times, adapting meals to suit the palette of your relative, changing the TV schedule and quieter evenings if they are early to bed. It is important to ensure your relative still has choice and you support them with their choices and routine.
· Small adaptations are easily made: Making your home a safe environment that encourages independence can seem like a daunting task but actually there are so many products available on the high street and online that making small changes is very achievable. Ergonomically designed kettles that are suitable for elderly people, as well as specially designed crockery and cutlery, and apparatus that can assist with getting dressed, are all readily available and can make a huge difference to the enjoyment of someone elderly moving into the family home. At Renaissance Care – and across the care sector – we encourage risk enablement, meaning that if the benefit outweighs the risk then the behaviour or task isn’t modified, so encouraging elderly people to continue making their own cups of tea is just one example of this.
· Reassurance: Often elderly people feel that they have become a burden on their family, so providing consistent reassurance to the relative is very important. If it helps to take away the sense of being looked after, let your elderly relative contribute financially to the home, it might only be £20 but it will give them a sense of ‘paying their way’ – something heavily engrained in their generation.
· Health Monitoring: Often such a big upheaval can lead to elderly people experiencing depression and low moods, and so it is really important to keep an eye on your loved one and monitor behaviours and be aware of any changes in their baseline health. It’s normal to have the odd day here or there where you’re not feeling 100% but if it becomes a constant, it’s time to flag your concerns to your elderly relative and – if you can – the family GP.
· Create a quiet space: It might seem obvious but creating a small space with home comforts that the relative can escape to for some quiet time can be invaluable. This can simply be putting a TV in their bedroom so that they can watch their own programmes without the interruption of family life.
Jozi continued: “It’s really important to remember that your elderly relative is used to their independence, their home comforts and their own space – try and replicate those conditions in certain spaces within the home so that there is an escape from the hustle and bustle of a busy household. Most elderly people enjoy being around others but just like anyone else, they need time to recharge and unwind and we should be respectful of that.
“Sometimes it’s beneficial for both parties in the newly combined household to take a break, that’s where respite stays are an invaluable resource for families to call on – it can be a short weekend stay, a week or two.
“This is a big transition for everyone involved and it’s okay to take time, adjust and adapt – it might not happen overnight. There are also valuable resources available through Alzheimer’s Scotland, Health and Social Care Scotland and from your local GP practice.”
Renaissance Care Homes owns and operates sixteen homes located across Scotland and currently provides care provision for 700 residents throughout the UK.
Minister for Pensions Laura Trott is today calling on pensioners across the country to check if they are entitled to Pension Credit as soon as possible to ensure they stand the best chance of qualifying for an extra £324 cost of living payment.
Checking eligibility and applying by 18 December 2022 – just ten days away – will mean pensioners could also receive a £324 boost thanks to Pension Credit backdating rules.
This is because successful Pension Credit claims can be backdated for up to 3 months – as long as the applicant was also eligible to receive it during that time.
The average Pension Credit award is worth over £3,500 a year and even a small Pension Credit award can provide access to a wide range of other benefits – such as help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills – in addition to the extra cost of living payments.
Minister for Pensions Laura Trott said: “The run up to Christmas is always a busy time, but one thing to make sure that’s on your list over the coming days is to find out whether you or your loved ones could be eligible for Pension Credit.
“Pension Credit can make a real difference and I am determined to make sure this support – worth an average of £3,500 per year – is reaching everyone who needs it.”
Pension Credit is designed to help people over State Pension age and on a low income with daily living costs, though you do not need to be in receipt of State Pension to receive it.
It tops up a person’s income to a minimum of £182.60 per week for single pensioners and to £278.70 for couples.
To ensure that a successful backdated claim falls within the qualifying period for the extra £324 cost of living help, eligible pensioners are being urged to claim Pension Credit by no later than 18 December 2022.
Currently, around 1.4 million pensioners in Britain receive Pension Credit. However, many are still not claiming this extra financial help.
One of those who recently claimed is Arthur from Lincolnshire. After learning about Pension Credit from his neighbour, Arthur successfully applied by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
Arthur said: “Highly delighted with the Pension Credit award we received – the money was quicker arriving than expected and all in all very pleased with the result. I’d really encourage other pensioners to check if they’re eligible – it’s made a real difference to me.“
Pension Credit can be claimed by phone and online, ensuring that older people can apply safely and easily, wherever they are. The online Pension Credit calculator is also on hand to help pensioners check if they’re likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive.
Less than one in five pension planners have confidence in the new government
Scots do not think the government is capable of restoring pension security, according to new research from My Pension Expert.
The at-retirement adviser surveyed 2,000 adults aged 40 and above. It found that nearly half (44%) of Scottish pension planners think the government will be unable to stabilise the pensions market, despite Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt’s attempts to restore faith in the UK economy. Just 14% have confidence in the government’s plans.
Almost half (47%) of those surveyed believe the current financial crisis has negatively impacted their retirement strategy. Nearly a third (30%) said they had now lost confidence in their pension scheme.
70% said that the recent turmoil in Westminster is distracting from the cost-of-living crisis.
As winter approaches, rising energy bills were listed as the greatest financial concern amongst 67% of Scottish pension planners. The majority of those surveyed have already started implementing a range of cost-cutting measures[1].
Nearly two thirds (63%) have avoided turning on their heating, despite temperatures dropping. Over two fifths (41%) have taken fewer showers or baths, while 1 in 5 (21%) have even gone as far as to skip meals.
Andrew Megson, CEO of My Pension Expert said: “Inflation is at record levels and expected to remain in double figures for the foreseeable future. Adding increased interest rates and constant chaos in Westminster, people are understandably desperate for reassurances. It is little wonder that public confidence has plummeted.
“The government must take action to protect retirees and pension planners. Being consistent with its policies would be a strong start. So too would providing Britons with the right tools to understand their financial situation and safeguard their hard-saved money – prioritising the launch of the pension dashboard and granting individuals access to affordable independent financial advice would be a positive step in this regard. Such action would help people to understand their financial situation and take steps to improve their financial situation.
“As winter arrives, people are understandably concerned about their immediate and future finances. So, the government must prioritise outlining a clear plan to support retirees and pension planners to understand their financial situation. That would mark a powerful statement that the government is putting savers first and even begin to reinstate some public confidence.”
For people who find themselves in need of care in the twilight of their lives, and for families who want to support them in their care journey, embarking on a particular course of action may be the most important decision they ever make (writes MIKE COLLIER).
However, though it is crucial at this stressful time to make informed choices, many people do not fully understand which elements of care are which, or where to go and who to speak to in order to get the best impartial advice.
It is more than eight years now since Scotland made a first attempt to put the voice of the supported person at the heart of care processes with the passing of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 (SDS).
It was intended to deliver choice and control when accepting support, with agreement about individual outcomes and a range of options to achieve these outcomes if people were assessed as having identified needs and requiring a budget.
The Act imposed a duty on local authorities to take reasonable steps to facilitate a supported person’s dignity and involvement with the community and to explain the nature and effect of the four options available to them, which are:
Well-intentioned as these provisions may be, increasingly across the country social workers who are in place to advise clients are not even mentioning these options when they go to do assessments and, as a consequence, people remain in ignorance.
There has been intensive scrutiny by a number of agencies of SDS since it was implemented, mostly concluding that it had not yet been fully implemented and that its potential was not being realised.
Inconsistent knowledge across the workforce has been highlighted, which may explain the silence of social workers about the system, and it has been suggested that traditional care culture has been difficult to shift.
Certainly, option three – that is, direct delivery of services by the council, which prevailed before the Act – remains the dominant kind of provision and research shows that failure by social work staff to discuss the options is a common issue.
Most people would not of their own volition choose to go into live-in care and more needs to be done within the limitations of SDS to highlight alternatives such as domiciliary care, which enables older people to maintain a level of independence while staying in their own home.
In this milieu, professional carers can assist with meals, cleaning, shopping – and simple companionship – at a time and duration of the client’s choosing. It provides a sense of stability and normality which can be beyond value.
This is sometimes known as an hours service, since clients can choose the time carers are with them, in contrast to unpredictable, rushed and short home visits offered by councils which are under significant financial and resource constraints.
The main thing is for people to have a choice, and to be aware of the choices available to them. Speaking to a practicing care professional is often the best first step towards the right decision.
Mike Collier is Managing Director of Plus Homecare Ltd
After months of trying to secure a meeting with the Safeguarding Minister, delayed due to changes in Ministers and turmoil in the heart of Government, Hourglass is frustrated that the Home Office has now cancelled another scheduled meeting with Minister Sarah Dines for Wednesday 14 December.
The meeting has been cancelled due to the Home Office launching a commercial competition for funding as part of Violence Against Women and Girls VAWG) strategy. Hourglass (Safer Ageing) is the only specialist UK wide charity supporting older victim-survivors of abuse, with 40% of the casework being with older men.
Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity focused on ending the abuse and neglect of older people, believes there needs to be a separate strategy and funding pool to address abuse of older people, as they have specific needs that a different to other demographics.
Hourglass has seen a 96% increase in calls to its 24/7 helpline this year. It is unacceptable that every request made by the charity to meet with Ministers has fallen on deaf ears when older people are suffering.
On 29 July this year, the Ready for Rishi Campaign made the following commitment to Hourglass: “If he is fortunate enough to be elected as Prime Minister, a Rishi-led government would seek to engage with organisations supporting victims, such as Hourglass, in order to ensure that no one is left behind and the needs of all those who need help are met.”
The Prime Minister now needs to honour his campaign pledge and ensure his Ministers meet with Hourglass to tackle abuse of older people.
Richard Robinson, CEO of Hourglass, said: “With Safer Ageing Week looming, it is incredibly sad that the charity has had this vital meeting cancelled once again. This is not just disappointing; it is a dereliction of duty.
“We are seeing significant increases in calls to our helpline and casework referrals, yet the government still do not take this issue seriously.
“The Violence Against Women and Girls strategy is designed to address this important issue. The criteria for VAWG funding applications will obviously be based on addressing violence against women and girls, not abuse of older people which needs a separate strategy and funding model.
“Support to stem sexual violence in the Ukraine was this week confirmed at £3.45 million with an additional £12.5 million to tackle sexual violence in conflict globally. These, like the equally essential child abuse and domestic abuse charities deserve this support, we are simply asking why are older people last in line? The £300k committed to date seems to underline how far towards the bottom of the list of priorities the 2.7m people affected by elder abuse seem to be.”
The charity confirms it will apply for Government funding from their newly announced VAWG grant scheme.
However, with the enormous pressures of the cost of living crisis and a huge spike in calls to the Hourglass 24/7 helpline, the organisation believes it needs to be at the heart of a Safer Ageing Strategy for older people.
The charity is urging those keen to support the charity to make a donation by visiting www.wearehourglass.org.uk/donate or Text SAFER to 70460 to donate £10.
Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text SAFERNOINFO to 70460.
