Advantage Autumn 2014

Advantage

Age Scotland’s quarterly magazine autumn 2014

issue 41

Luminate

Tips on supporting volunteers p24 Benefits you could be entitled to p14 Silver Line Scotland update p9

Scotland’s creative ageing festival p22

Advantage is the Age Scotland magazine that provides information, inspiration and ideas to empower Scotland’s older people, their friends, families and carers.

p 4

News

p 6

Calendar

p 8

Inform

p 16 Get Involved p 18 Going Local p 22 Inspire p 24 Clubs’ Corner p 25 Soap Box

photo on front: Eoin Carey

p 26 Interview

If you have news, events or issues that you would like Advantage to cover, please get in touch. We would also welcome ideas on how we might improve the magazine.

Advantage magazine is part-funded by grant support from the Scottish Government. Age Scotland aims to ensure that information in this magazine is accurate at the time of production and cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions, or for the content of any third party advertisements.

Email: advantage@agescotland.org.uk Telephone: 0845 833 0200 Write to:

Advantage, Age Scotland Causewayside House 160 Causewayside Edinburgh EH9 1PR

Age Scotland, part of the Age Network, is an independent charity dedicated to improving the later lives of everyone on the ageing journey, within a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland. Registration Number: 153343 Charity Number SC010100. Registered Office: Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PR.

ISSN 1747-4515

Foreword

foreword

e ecutiv x E f e i h C Brian Sloan,

Hi Everyone, I hope you had a great summer! Here at Age Scotland, we’ve been busy preparing for our best autumn yet. Not only are we gearing up for our first national Age Scotland conference, we’re celebrating our new training arm, getting the word out about the most exciting Luminate to date, and much more.

The first Age Scotland National Conference, Later Life in Scotland: Tae Mak it Worth Bein’, is only weeks away and will feature diverse speakers from football legend Jim Leishman to pioneering Cognitive Ageing and Epidemiology researcher Professor Ian Deary.

The conference will bring together members and guests from across Scotland to explore the theme of Wellbeing in Later Life. Held at the accessible Perth Concert Hall, in the heart of the city, close to the train and bus stations, the conference is central enough to have attendees from across the country.

This is a great opportunity to meet friends, join some fascinating discussions and learn something new.

With people in Scotland living longer and healthier lives than ever before, the conference provides a space to reflect on how we can make the most of later life and the contribution older people make to society.

I’m pleased that the former Scottish Pre-Retirement Council (SPRC) and the former Tayside Pre-Retirement Council (TPRC) have joined with Age Scotland. This is just the beginning of a new training programme.

If you’re preparing for retirement, whether you’re looking forward to taking up a new hobby, or have concerns about financial planning, these preretirement courses will give you the support you need.

Silver Line Scotland has had a full and productive summer, including our busiest month yet. I’m incredibly happy that we are speaking to more people than ever before, continuing to grow, and better serving older people throughout Scotland.

I’m also looking forward to Luminate – Scotland’s Creative Ageing Festival – in October. In its third year, the festival continues to showcase innovative celebrations of ageing life. Read more on page 22.

I hope you enjoy our autumn issue, and look forward to seeing you at one of our events in the near future!

As always, we’d love to know what you think about the magazine. If you have any projects, stories or campaigns you’d like us to help showcase, get in touch with the team behind Advantage by writing to us at 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh, EH9 1PR, or emailing advantage@agescotland.org.uk.

Bye for now

Brian Sloan

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news

e air Penni ence Ch Confer

tre th Conference Cen Taylor | Per

National conference Football legend Jim Leishman, British Heart Foundation exercise specialist Bob Laventure, and ground-breaking researcher Professor Ian Deary will be among the speakers at Age Scotland’s first national conference.

Chaired by journalist and health specialist Pennie Taylor, the event is a chance for members and guests to meet, share knowledge and ideas, and learn about Age Scotland’s work and services.

The conference promises to be informative, and action packed, with a wealth of exhibitors on hand including Housing Options Scotland, Solicitors for Older People, NHS Physiotherapy and Allied Health Professionals and Autodotbiography.

High demand is anticipated, so book early! More info: www.agescotland.org.uk/nationalconference

With the theme Later Life in Scotland: Tae Mak it Worth Bein’, the conference takes place at Perth Concert Hall on Wednesday 19th November. It’s free to members, with attendees expected to travel from Shetland to Selkirk and everywhere between.

New Trustees Announced

The guest speakers will lead discussions on how to lead a healthy and fulfilling later life. They’ll ask how we can ensure that the considerable skills and contributions of older people are recognised and valued by society, and what needs to be done to ensure more people in Scotland enjoy later life.

Lord George Foulkes has been a Member of the House of Lords since 2005. He was a Member of the House of Commons from 1979-2005 and a Member of the Scottish Parliament from 2007-2011. Before entering Parliament he was Director of Age Concern Scotland.

People in Scotland can now look forward to a longer life expectancy than ever before. But research has highlighted major challenges around this demographic change. These challenges require a significant change in thinking about later life across the generations, to ensure that we live not only longer, but more enjoyable, healthier and productive lives.

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This summer, Age Scotland was proud to announce three talented and exciting new Trustees: Lord George Foulkes, Brendan McCormack, and Tom O’Connell.

Brendan McCormack is Head of the Division of Nursing, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Prior to this he was Director of the Institute of Nursing and Health Research and Head of the Personcentred Practice Research Centre at the University of Ulster. His internationally recognised work in person-centred practice development and research has resulted in successful long-term collaborations

Sign up for e-news at www.agescotland.org.uk

news in Ireland, the UK, Norway, The Netherlands, Canada, Australia and South Africa.

He is also the Editor of the International Journal of Older People Nursing.

Brendan comes with a solid background knowledge of the Age Network as he was the Chair of Age NI prior to moving to Scotland.

Tom O’Connell is a Chartered Accountant and has been in professional practice for over 40 years. He has considerable experience with charitable bodies both as a trustee and also providing professional advice through his firm.

He is presently the treasurer of the Glasgow City Heritage Trust, East Ayrshire Carers and Kirkintilloch Community Sports Club.

Pre-retirement Training News Most of us look forward to our retirement, whether we want to devote more time to hobbies, travel, charity work, or our families. But for many of us, it can be difficult to adjust after the routine of working life.

Tailor made products and services for the over 50s • Home Insurance • Travel Insurance • Car Insurance • Gas and Electricity • Personal Alarms • Funeral Plans

Age Scotland is now delivering pre-retirement training to help people prepare for a happy and healthy retirement. We’ve joined forces with the former Scottish Pre-Retirement Council (SPRC) and the former Tayside Pre-Retirement Council (TPRC).

As of July 1st, staff and volunteers of both the SPRC and TPRC became part of Age Scotland, bringing more than 80 years of combined experience.

Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland, said: “Retirement is a period of life that people should look forward to as their own time. We’d like to see employers prioritising support for staff who are about to embark on the next stage of their life.

“These courses help prepare people for all aspects of retired life – from information about volunteering and learning opportunities to maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. There is also an emphasis on financial planning, which is the big fear for many.

“Ensuring people are prepared makes sense not only for individuals, but also for wider society as people will be less likely to need support in their later years.”

Course dates are available at: www.sprc.org.uk.

For a no obligation quote, visit:

Age Scotland Enterprises Ltd- Edinburgh Causewayside House 160 Causewayside Edinburgh EH9 1PR

Tel: 0800 456 1137

(Open 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday)

Age Scotland Enterprises Ltd- Glasgow 37 Glassford Street Glasgow G1 1UG

Tel: 0800 500 3159

(Open 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday)

Or visit:

www.agescotland.org.uk/products Buying through Age Scotland helps us make later life a better life Age UK Home, Car and Travel Insurance are provided by Ageas Insurance Limited.

Gas and Electricity is provided by E.ON Energy Solutions Limited.

Age Scotland is a registered trademark. The use of the name and logo Age Scotland is done so under a license agreement between Age Scotland and Age Scotland Enterprises Limited, its commercial services arm. Net profits are split between Age Scotland and Age UK. Age Scotland Enterprises Limited is a joint venture trading company owned by Age Scotland(registered charity number SC010100) and Age UK Enterprises Limited. Age UK Enterprises Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Age UK(registered in Scotland number SC199856).

Promoter: Age Scotland Enterprises Ltd, Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh, EH9 1PR MP3168V3Jul14

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calendar

October 2014 1 Age Scotland Awards Ceremony Garden Lobby, Scottish Parliament, 6-8pm Age Scotland’s annual awards celebrate the groups and individuals who have made a significant contribution to the lives of older people in Scotland. all Luminate, Scotland’s Creative Ageing Festival Scotland-wide events Luminate takes place across Scotland throughout October and spotlights arts activities by and for older people, as well as events for audiences across the generations. The 400 events in the 2013 festival - from the Scottish Borders to Shetland - offered a wealth of enjoyable and exciting creative experiences that proved that creativity has no age! Visit Luminate’s website at www.luminatescotland.org.

31 Scottish Older People’s Assembly Debating Chamber, Scottish Parliament Issues selected for SOPA 2014 include: standards of care, hardship in meeting bills, cuts in welfare budgets and family impacts affecting older people.

For further information contact Glenda Watt, SOPA Co-ordinator.

Telephone: 0131 469 3806 / email: glenda.watt@edinburgh.gov.uk

November 2014 1-7 To Absent Friends, a People’s Festival of Storytelling and Remembrance To Absent Friends will give people across Scotland an excuse to remember, to tell stories, to celebrate and to reminisce about people they love who have died.

Find out more and get involved here: www.toabsentfriends.org.uk 19

Later Life in Scotland: Tae Mak it worth Bein’ Age Scotland’s First National Conference Perth Concert Hall, 9.45am – 3.30pm. Free A one day conference discussing wellbeing in later life and what needs to be done to ensure more people in later life experience high personal quality of life. What can we do to make sure that the knowledge, talents and experiences of older people are valued and maximised by society?

For more information call 0845 833 0200 or email agescotlandnationalconference@agescotland.org.uk.

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Email your events to advantage@agescotland.org.uk

advertising feature

John S tracha n readi ng from h

is autob iography

| John Stra chan’s auto biography

Write your life story with Autodotbiography

When wondering what would make a good present for her dad, John, Liz Robertson saw an advert for Autodotbiography and couldn’t think of anything better for the whole family than to have her dad’s autobiography. Autodotbiography is an online system created to enable anyone, no matter how good or bad a writer they are, to create a beautiful book of their life story.

Together with her brothers Alan and Billy they bought it as a surprise Christmas present. “My dad is always up for a challenge. He’s always got a project or something on the go.

“He was 79 when he wrote his autobiography. I knew that he would be able to do it at this point and felt that it was important for him to do it then as when people ‘put things off till later’ sometimes things happen and then you don’t get the chance to do it later. I didn’t want to have that regret,” says Liz. The ease of the system and support available was a major factor in Liz’s decision to use Autodotbiography.

“What attracted me to Autodotbiography was the fact that it looked like you get a really professional, high quality book. I liked the idea that you could easily upload your own photos, and that you got a whole year to do it. There’s also a telephone number you can call and get support as often as required, and you’re given ideas of what to write and things that prompt you and jog your memory.

“Although my dad can type, he found it much easier to hand write his story and then I typed it all up for him. I can honestly say we enjoyed doing this together.”

And the finished result has kept everyone entertained.

“The book was fantastic. One minute you were laughing at something Dad had said, then the next you were filling up, and tears were coming down your cheeks. We bought additional copies so my brothers and I and all the grandchildren have their own copies to keep.

“Without Autodotbiography’s format, affordable price, and all the support and expertise, this would never have happened for us.

“At my dad’s 80th birthday party he made a speech and showed people his book, telling them that he had written his life story and if anyone wanted to read it, they could borrow it. It has now been circulating around many friends and relatives.”

One year’s access to Autodotbiography’s online system, along with a finished hardback copy of your book costs £250. Age Scotland and Autodotbiography are working in partnership so that when you buy a copy of Autodotbiography via Age Scotland, you are also helping older people across the country enjoy a better later life. For every copy of Autodotbiography bought via Age Scotland, the Charity receives £50. To do this simply use the link www.autodotbiography/agescot when you’re purchasing, or tell Autodotbiography that you heard about the service via Age Scotland.

Call Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90

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Money Matters We all know that a sudden unexpected change can play havoc with your finances but it can also be difficult for people who have long-term health conditions or those who care for them. The additional costs of managing your care on a tight budget can have a negative impact on how you manage health and care needs. Here, Age Scotland’s Geraldine Day lists some things to consider when managing your money.

Firstly have you had a benefits check? Billions of pounds of benefits go unclaimed each year. With the Welfare Reform changes being rolled out, it can be difficult to work out what you may be entitled to.

If you want to check whether you qualify, learn how to make a claim, or ask questions about your current entitlement, contact Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90.

Going into hospital can have an impact on your benefits too. Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment will stop after 28 days. If you are a carer your carer’s allowance will stop if the person you are caring for has been in hospital for more than 28 days. If you have a Motability agreement in force when you go into hospital, once payment of the mobility component of DLA has ceased, Motability can recover your vehicle after 28 days.

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In some cases, if you are travelling to hospital for an out-patient appointment you can get help with your travel expenses, and expenses for someone who has to go with you where it is deemed medically necessary. You can apply for this help if you are exempt from NHS charges, on certain mean-tested benefits or on a low income. In addition people living in the Scottish Highlands and Islands can claim a refund on their travel costs over and above the first £10 if they are travelling more than 30 miles from home or more than 5 miles by water.

If you have difficulty managing at home because of age, ill health or disability you can contact your local social work department for a Community Care Assessment. They can provide a range of care services. A carer can request her or his own assessment too. This could include respite care so they can take a break.

If you have mobility problems, it can often be hard to stay warm. If you haven’t had a home energy check, or want to check you are on the right energy tariff, contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282.

For more information, call Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90.

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inform

Silver Line Scotland Update From Shetland to Selkirk, an increasing number of older people across Scotland are receiving friendship, information, and advice from Silver Line Scotland, a 24-hour a day, seven day a week, service launched in November 2013 for older people in Scotland. The service has had a full and productive summer, including our two busiest months to date! Silver Line Scotland offers a great s chance for you to get involved through it’s ‘Silver ndrew Sophie A O E C h t i w f S f i l a v t e s r d Line Scotlan Line Friends’ programme. Offering a befriending service to older people by calling a person once a week, the service matches volunteers with likeminded individuals. It is not a counselling service, but a friendship network where volunteers offer an ear and a chat, check people are ok, and know they are making a wonderful difference in the life of an older person. Here’s how Deborah Cunningham, a volunteer with Silver Line exercise class and is even Friends who regularly speaks contemplating getting to grips with a woman named Sue*, with computers! But none of Just one of the many reactions describes how her experience this changes the fractured way from Silver Line Scotland’s is bringing enjoyment to both she feels inside or the need wonderful callers. their lives: she has to talk about that and the life she shared with her “I have a new friend in my life. husband. So she contacted Silver Like most friends we talk regularly, Line Scotland, who suggested a know quite a lot about each other and telephone befriender.” have shared a few laughs. But we have never

“Thank you, you’ve made my soul sing today.”

met or chatted over a cup of tea and probably never will, yet both of us are quite happy with the situation.

I look forward to our weekly telephone conversations and always (or usually) come away cheered.

To become a Silver Line Friend visit http://www.thesilverline.org.uk/get-involved/ volunteering/ or call Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90.

I signed up after reading that weekly telephone calls were making a difference to the lives of older people who felt lonely, isolated or disconnected from those around them – it seemed such a simple thing to do. Sue got involved a few months after her husband died. She had done her best to get on with life – she met friends, volunteered in charity shops, started learning a language, went to an

If you’re in the Edinburgh area there are also volunteering opportunities available which are based in the Age Scotland office. We are recruiting volunteer telephone advisers to support the Silver Line Scotland team in offering information, advice and friendship. For more information on these opportunities call 0845 833 0200 or email volunteering@agescotland.org.uk.

*names have been changed

Call Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90

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Eat Well, Swallow Well Continuing with our theme of healthy eating, Age Scotland’s AHP Consultant and Speech and Language Therapist Yolanda Strachan offers some hints and tips for safe swallowing.

Eating and drinking can become problematic for people for many different reasons – sometimes as the result of a medical condition and sometimes just a normal part of becoming older.

As we get older, changes to our teeth and gums can make it more difficult to control food and drink as we prepare to swallow. The muscles we use to chew and swallow safely can also become less efficient.

You tend to know you have a problem if you are taking much longer to eat or if you find you are coughing a bit more at meal times. Sometimes your voice can sound gurgly after eating or drinking and you may feel you have to clear your throat a bit more.

Here are a few simple steps to make your swallowing as safe as possible: • It really is important not to talk and eat. Talking opens up your airway inviting food and drink to go down the wrong way.

• It helps to sit upright when you are taking meals or drinks and to stay upright for at least 20 to 30 minutes after you have finished in order to let the food and drink travel down safely.

• As well as sitting upright, you can try tucking your chin in slightly each time you swallow. This helps to protect your airway.

• When drinking, it can be helpful to leave the bottom third of the cup or glass or to use a shallow cup or glass. This stops you tilting your head back and again helps to keep your airway protected.

• With foods, you may like to think about whether you can more easily manage foods which are softer and easier to chew or indeed foods which can be easily mashed down with a fork. These consistencies are less likely to ‘stick’. You may choose to avoid dry, crumbly foods and it may be helpful to remove the skins from fruit and meats such as sausages.

• If you are taking certain medications, your mouth may tend to be drier and you may need to think about making extra sauce or gravy to go with your meal.

• If you have difficulty taking your tablets you can try taking them with a teaspoon of smooth yoghurt or custard to help them glide over. You can also ask your doctor if you may have the coated varieties which may help you to swallow them more easily.

• Take good care of your teeth and mouth to reduce the risk of harmful bacteria getting in to your lungs.

A free copy of Eat Well - A Guide for Older People in Scotland will be available soon. For more information call Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90.

10 To donate regularly to Age Scotland call 0800 833 0200

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Care and Repair In this article, Care and Repair Scotland’s James Richardson gives us some tips on preparing for winter and how to get the most from Care and Repair services.

Prepare for Winter The autumn months provide a good opportunity for us to think ahead and prepare our home for the winter. Some simple things can go a long way to help us through the coldest time of year: • Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

If you already have them installed, check they are working on a regular basis.

• Have heating systems and chimneys serviced annually, ideally before cold weather sets in.

• Have gutters cleaned and checked for leaks.

• Have loose or broken roof tiles replaced.

• Check your home insurance policy to see what’s covered and what excesses you may have to pay in event of a claim.

• Any outdoor furniture, loose outdoor items and planters should be stored away or tied down to avoid damage when high winds occur.

• Everyone in the home should know how to shut off water and other utilities in case the need arises.

Care and Repair Services The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 creates a new Scheme of Assistance for housing purposes. The Act introduces new powers for local authorities to re-focus financial assistance from repair and improvement grants.

The framework for financial assistance is around the following principles: Owners are primarily responsible for the costs of maintaining their properties.

Owners must use all reasonable means at their disposal to meet those costs, which includes using savings and affordable commercial lending.

This means that there will be variations in what qualifies for grant assistance through Care and

Repair in each local authority area. Our staff will explain to you what assistance and other options may be available to you as part of their overall advice service.

Care and Repair services operate throughout Scotland to offer independent advice and assistance to help homeowners repair, improve or adapt their homes so that they can live in comfort and safety in their own community.

The service is available to owner-occupiers, private tenants and crofters who are aged over 60 or who have a disability.

The provision of advice and information is a central part of Care and Repair’s role, as well as providing practical assistance with grant applications and coordinating repairs. Care and Repair is a home-based and personalised service, which puts the client in control of decisions.

Staff visit people at home and assist them through the entire process of deciding what work is to be done, arranging finance and organising the building works.

Each case involves a different approach and often staff must cross disciplinary and departmental boundaries, working closely with health, housing and social work staff.

Care and Repair staff will be happy to advise you about these and other aspects of maintaining your property. For further information, contact Care and Repair Scotland at: www.careandrepairscotland.co.uk Email: enquiries@careandrepairscotland.co.uk Tel: 0141 221 9879

Download our factsheets at www.agescotland.org.uk/publications 11

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Why write a Power of Attorney?

Choosing to write a Power of Attorney (POA) is one of the most important decisions you can make in your life. Making this choice allows you to ensure that your personal wishes are met, even if you become unable (or need help) to express them. In this article, Age Scotland’s Amber Scott explains Power of Attorney basics.

If you have made a Will and thought that this meant that all your affairs were taken care of, you are not alone. You are also not alone if you assumed that if you were to become ill or unable to make decisions for yourself, a family member could act on your behalf. Both are simply not the case.

Many people in Scotland never think about Power of Attorney at all, but without it, nobody has automatic authority to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself.

So what exactly is ‘Power of Attorney’?

A Power of Attorney is a legal document which features statements called ‘powers’. These powers give someone else the authority to make specific decisions about your life if you were to need help

or lose the ability to make decisions for yourself.

The person who gives permission is known as the ‘Granter’ and whoever agrees to act on that person’s behalf is the ‘Attorney’.

There are three different types of Power of Attorney.

General Power of Attorney (GPA) is usually created for a set amount of time or for a specific issue. For example, to plan for the eventuality that someone will go into hospital or goes abroad and would like someone else to have the authority to make decisions on their behalf during this time.

Continuing Power of Attorney (CPA) allows you to appoint someone to look after your property and financial affairs and could include the powers to manage bank accounts or sell a house. You can arrange for this to become effective immediately (to get some help to manage your finances) and it can continue on if you were to lose capacity. Alternatively, you could choose that the CPA would only become effective if you lose the ability to make decisions. If you want to authorise someone to act on your behalf whilst you are still mentally capable, this is only to assist you – your decisions still lie with you.

12 To donate regularly to Age Scotland call 0800 833 0200

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Welfare Power of Attorney (WPA) enables the Attorney to make decisions about your health and welfare, but only if you are unable to do this yourself. No-one can make decisions about your welfare whilst you have the ability to do this for yourself. Welfare powers can include things like deciding where you will live, medical treatment and personal care. If your Attorney needs to step in to make decisions on your behalf, you should still be given the opportunity to make your own decisions and be consulted as much as possible.

Both Continuing and Welfare Power of Attorney documents have to be lodged with the Office of the Public Guardian to be valid.

How to create a Power of Attorney There are two different ways in which you can set up a Power of Attorney agreement. The first is to go to a solicitor who will draft up the document for you. Most people choose this option to ensure that the content is written clearly and accurately in order to protect both the person who grants it and the person who is appointed as Attorney.

The second is to write the document yourself. You can do this by setting out the ‘powers’ that you would want your Attorney to have, along with a certificate from a solicitor or a doctor and the signature of your Attorney. The document has to be written in a very specific way and comply with the Office of the Public Guardians guidelines.

Either way, the ‘powers’ within the document should be completely tailored to what your personal wishes are.

What happens if there is no Power of Attorney in place?

If you find yourself in the situation where you have lost the ability to make decisions for yourself, in most cases someone would have to go to court to get authority to act on your behalf. The process itself may take a long time, cost a lot of money and above all it can be a very stressful and emotional experience for everyone involved. The only way to avoid this happening is to grant someone as your Attorney whilst you are still capable of doing so.

ers’ w o p ‘ e h t , y Either wa ocument d within thempletely o should be c what your tailored towishes are. personal Points to consider If you are considering getting a Power of Attorney drawn up, make sure you have thought carefully about what you want and who you could trust with the responsibility of making sure your wishes are met. Whoever you choose, you need to have confidence that they would act responsibly on your behalf and that they have the necessary skills to carry out the tasks. Granting a Power of Attorney shows absolute trust in the person you appoint and you should never feel pressured into taking this step.

If you do know someone that you could trust to take on this role and they are happy and able to do this, why not get your own Power of Attorney set up so you can relax in knowing that your future is in safe hands.

Find out more Age Scotland have also published a new booklet called A Guide to Power of Attorney in Scotland which features more detailed information about Power of Attorney. You can download this from our website at www.agescotland.org.uk/POA. Alternatively, call Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90 (8am-8pm Monday – Friday) for advice and to request a postal copy of the guide.

Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) Tel: 01324 678 300 If you have any specific questions, the Office of the Public Guardian Scotland can also provide a wide range of advice and guidance.

Give them a phone or visit their website at www.publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk

Call Silver Line Scotland 0800 4 70 80 90 13

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Benefits for older people As you approach State Pension age you are likely to have decisions to make about your finances.

You may want to continue to work, or to retire, and you may need to know about the benefits you are entitled to claim.

If you are looking to find out if you are entitled to any benefits (but perhaps don’t know where to start), this is a brief overview of the different benefits that are available for older people.

State Pension The State Pension is entirely based on National Insurance (NI) contributions. A man can claim it at 65, and a woman at just over 62 – the age is gradually rising to make it equal for men and women. During this phasing a woman’s state pension age depends on her exact date of birth.

You don’t have to claim state pension when you first become entitled to it, you can defer claiming and receive a higher amount of pension later on.

The standard amount of State Pension is £113.10 a week for people who have the maximum amount of national insurance contributions. However, most people do not receive this exact amount because they have fewer contributions or receive a top-up from one of the earnings-related schemes which have changed over time (graduated, additional, State Earnings Related or State Second Pension).

The Government is introducing new rules for a “single tier” state pension in April 2016 but this will not affect anyone who is already receiving their pension.

Pension Credit Pension Credit is a means tested benefit for people who have reached the qualifying age (currently just over 62 and rising in line with State Pension age for a woman). There are two parts to Pension Credit: Guarantee credit and Savings credit.

Guarantee credit tops up your weekly

income to a guaranteed minimum amount set by the Government. If you do qualify you would automatically become eligible for help with your rent (through Housing Benefit), Council Tax Support, and some health costs and hospital fares.

The basic amount tops up your income to £148.35 for single people and £226.50 for couples but this amount is higher for some people who are carers, have disabilities or who have to pay mortgage interest and some other housing costs.

Savings Credit is money that is available for people who have some savings or an income that is higher than the basic State Pension. You may be eligible if you, or your partner is 65 or over. The maximum weekly amounts are £16.80 for a single person or £20.70 for a couple.

Health and disability If you have a health problem or a disability, you may be entitled to some money that could really make a difference.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) If you were 65 or over and receiving DLA on the 8th of April 2013, you can continue to claim it for as long as you meet the criteria and you may be entitled to a higher amount if your disability becomes worse.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) You can qualify for PIP if you are aged between 16 and 64 and have a physical or mental disability

14 Text AGES10 £5 to 70070 and donate £5 to Age Scotland

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which means that you have mobility problems or need help with daily living. It is important to note that eligibility for PIP is not based on your specific disability or health condition, but rather how this practically affects you day to day.

PIP has two parts to it – a daily living component, and a mobility component. They are paid at different rates, depending on the level of difficulty you have.

You can claim one or both components depending on your ability to carry out particular activities.

You can continue to claim PIP after the age of 65 if you still meet the qualifying conditions.

Unlike Attendance Allowance, PIP can include a ‘mobility component’ , therefore we would urge people who have not yet turned 65 to claim PIP while they can still qualify for help with mobility problems.

Qualifying period: You will usually have to show that you have met the criteria for at least three months before became entitled to PIP. It also has to be likely that you will continue to fit the criteria for nine months after your claim Weekly amount: Daily living component Enhanced rate £81.30

Standard rate £54.45 Mobility component

Enhanced rate £56.75 Standard rate £21.55

Attendance Allowance (AA) is a benefit for

people who are 65 or over who have a physical or mental disability and need help with personal care (such as washing or dressing) or need supervision to make sure that they remain safe. You do not have to have a carer and AA is not ‘means tested’ so you can apply regardless of how much income or savings you have.

A common misunderstanding is that AA is for the person who is ‘attending’ to your care needs but AA is a benefit for someone who needs care, not a carer.

Carers Allowance (CA) is a benefit for people

who care for someone who receives Attendance Allowance, the middle or higher care components of Disability Living Allowance or either rate of the “daily living” component of Personal Independence Payment.

Carers Allowance has very specific rules about your income and the amount of time you spend caring – claiming it can also reduce the benefits of the person you care for so you should check if this applies to you before you make a claim.

If you are under your state pension age and claim Carers Allowance you may receive National Insurance credits each week towards your pension. If you are already claiming your State Pension and claim Carers Allowance you cannot usually receive Carers Allowance at the same time but your ‘underlying entitlement’ to Carers Allowance could mean that you become entitled to, or receive a higher rate of means tested benefits such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support.

Weekly amount: £61.35 per week

Find out more This article can only give general information, as every benefit has complicated rules. To find out if you are eligible to claim any of the benefits above or for more detailed information, call Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90 (8am-8pm Monday to Friday).

If you want to call us for a benefits check, have information to hand about your income, savings, housing situation and any benefits you are currently receiving (including the amount you receive).

Qualifying period: You have to be in need of care or support for six months before you receive AA but there are very specific rules about this.

If you have a partner or you have other people living with you, the adviser will also need to know their financial situation. This gives us the best chance of identifying what you may be entitled to.

Weekly amount: £54.45 if you need help during the day or night. £81.30 if you need help during the day and night.

If you just want to know a bit more about your options or when you will reach State Pension age, we can advise about that too.

Silver Line Scotland: 0800 4 70 80 90 15

Get Involved

The Big Knit and Helping Hands The Big Knit, a joint campaign between innocent drinks and Age UK, is returning for the 11th year.

We’re calling on nimble-fingered knitters to whip out their wool and needles and create little woolly hats for The Big Knit. For each be-hatted smoothie sold in Scotland, innocent will donate 25p to help Age Scotland fund its work, aimed at supporting older people across the country to enjoy a better later life.

Knitters can contact Age Scotland to get a free hat pattern. If you don’t fancy making a hat yourself, a £3 donation can be made to Age Scotland by *texting ‘AGES10’ £3 to 70070. For more information on The Big Knit in Scotland phone 0845 833 0200 or email bigknit@agescotland.org.uk.

‘No More Waiting’ Campaign Update Following pressure from our Still Waiting campaign on community transport, the Scottish Government committed to carrying out further research into community transport in Scotland. A new research project has been commissioned by Transport Scotland, seeking to fill the information gaps on the benefits of provision of Community Transport across Scotland. The contractor will work with a range of Community Transport organisations to collect information on the kinds of services provided and the ways in which these are supported and funded.

The announcement follows the Scottish Government’s commitment earlier this year for £1m to 29 Community Transport groups.

Get involved!

Do you have a story about transport? By sharing it with us you can help strengthen our call for more action to ensure older people aren’t isolated by lack of access to suitable transport. Your story will remain anonymous, unless you tell us that you are happy for your name and the area in which you live to be mentioned.

It’s also an incredibly exciting time because the Helping Hands project here at Age Scotland has officially launched!

Helping Hands is designed to help raise awareness of the issues facing older people across Scotland while highlighting how easy it is to give a helping hand and make a positive difference to the lives of older people in your local community.

All you need to do is draw around your hand, add a splash of colour or creative flare, send us the finished result and we will do the rest. The designed hands will then appear on eBay in a special charity auction where you will be able to bid on your favourite design. We already have a number of celebrities signed up in support - but we’ll only release the identity of each hand once the auction is complete.

For more information please contact Alisdair Caulfield at Alisdair.caulfield@agescotland.org.uk or phone 0845 833 0200.

Contact the Age Scotland Communications Team: Tel: 0845 833 0200 Email communications@agescotland.org.uk

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Get Involved

Power of Attorney Campaign It’s a tough decision that many of us choose to put off till later. But writing a Power of Attorney (POA) is one of the most important choices you can make in your life. Doing this while you are still able to allows you to ensure your personal wishes are met, even if you become unable,or need help, to express them in the future.

Basically, a Power of Attorney is a document which grants someone the legal powers to make specific decisions about your life if you lose the ability to make those decisions yourself. If you’re the person giving permission, then you’re known as the “Granter”, and the person you wish to act on your behalf is the “Attorney”.

Many people think they don’t need one. It’s easy to assume that a family member will automatically step in on your behalf if you become ill. But in fact it isn’t this simple.

Many people in Scotland never think about Power of Attorney at all. But without it, nobody has the automatic right to make decisions about your healthcare, your money or your property if you’re unable to do so.

According to Power of Attorney Project Worker Rebecca Dickson: “Setting up your Power of Attorney is easier than you may think and it will give you and your family peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be respected.”

In the coming weeks and months Rebecca will be speaking to groups, forums, and events about this important issue.

To book Rebecca for your event, email Rebecca.Dickson@agescotland.org.uk, call her on 0845 833 0200 or visit the Power of Attorney Campaign website at www.agescotland.ork.uk/POA.

Picture Age Scotland Get your cameras ready, because Age Scotland needs your help! We’re looking for images that capture the essence of what it means to be an older person in Scotland. We need photos taken everywhere that you live your life, from Edinburgh Castle to the shores of Eyemouth, from the windy hills of Sutherland to Stirling town centre.

We’ll be using these photographs in future issues of Advantage Magazine, in our advice literature, and many more places.

No matter if you’re near an iconic Scottish monument or in your back garden, we want to see it. And there’s only one important element in the photograph: you!

To find about more about the rules, prizes, and timeline for entry, visit www.agescotland.org.uk/photocomp or call Age Scotland on 0845 833 0200.

Sign up for e-news at www.agescotland.org.uk 17

going local

news from t he

west

Andy’s Games

ion G rs Act e n o i Pens

t roup Eas

(PAGE) Chairperson Andy Forrester

Older People, Active Lives (OPAL) Thanks to CACE’s (Cumbernauld Action Care for the Elderly) new project OPAL, funded by Big Lottery, older people in the Cumbernauld area are now enjoying activities such as carpet bowls, arts and crafts, photography, tea dances, outings and shopping on a regular basis. To support the activities programme CACE now has a fleet of three 10-seat minibuses and an eight seat MPV which groups or individuals can access to take them for trips. Steven Laughton, Project Co-ordinator, said “it’s a great opportunity for people who are feeling a bit isolated to get out, meet new people, try new things and most importantly to have fun.” Also on the cards are two new Football Reminiscence projects in Kilsyth and The Northern Corridor. These groups are for men with memory problems who enjoy football, sport and the banter!

In addition, a new Men’s Shed is under development, with funds from the change fund. The shed will hopefully move to its own workshop premises soon.

For more information and to have a chat around the services available contact Steven on 01236 451393 steven@careatcace.com.

Your local Age Scotland team To get in touch with your local age Scotland team contact: Elizabeth Brown: 0141 420 4002 / email: Elizabeth.brown@agescotland.org.uk

So the Commonwealth Games have been and gone. Three days before the Opening Ceremony the Queen’s Baton was carried by Andy Forrester (pictured) through the streets of the East End of Glasgow. Andy is chairperson of Age Scotland member group – Pensioners Action Group East (PAGE); as well as being on the board of Playbusters, another member group. Andy said he was selected to carry the baton up a hill so was in training beforehand. It was ‘a great experience’ he said, especially with all the support on the day and also meeting the other baton carriers.

Dates for your diary 1st Oct: Rutherglen & Cambuslang: Active Ageing Festival – Seniors Together & F@F, South Lanarkshire Get out and get active. Tai Chi, Zumba, health checks, aquafit, trade fair, family history and prize draws all for free. 9.30-2.30pm.

More info from Sheena McKay on 01698 454105 or sheena.mckay@southlanarkshire.gcsx.gov.uk.

1st October: Paisley: SOOPIR Week International Day of Older People sees the start of SOOPIR week in Renfrewshire. The Lagoon in Paisley will kick off the week with an information fair and lots of FREE activities.

More info from Carolyn Russell on 0141 618 5598 or carolyn.russell@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

16th October: Glasgow: West Network Event Renfield St Stephens in Glasgow will be the venue for our next network event, where the theme for the day will be health - physical and mental. 10am -2.30pm.

To register call Liz on 0141 420 4002 or email elizabeth.brown@agescotland.org.uk.

21st October: Paisley 23rd October: North Lanarkshire Funding Awareness for Age Scotland members Raise your knowledge and abilities to source, access and apply for funding. FREE. 10am -1pm. Lunch inc.

Info / registration: contact Liz on 0141 420 4002 or elizabeth.brown@agescotland.org.uk.

18 For news and views visit www.agescotland.wordpress.com

going local news from the

south

Inspiring Change – Celebrating the Commonwealth Games Achievements of women in difficult situations around the world have been celebrated in a special event staged by the Dumfriesshire-based group Women of the World. WOW helps newcomers from different cultures and faiths integrate into the local community.

The day was called Inspiring Change and appropriately took a butterfly as its logo. It gave women from various groups in the area a chance to meet and chat.

They heard from Sherki Sherpa, a young Nepalese woman who came to live in Scotland as a child to escape repression in Nepal. She and her family have made a good life here, but Sherki has never forgotten her roots. She fundraises constantly to provide basic educational facilities for children in Nepal and regularly goes back to help with a variety of projects.

Author Mary Smith used her talk to describe the reality of life for women in Afghanistan. Mary lived and worked there for several years and showed a different and much more human side to the country most of us know only as ‘war-torn’.

The day was clearly appreciated: attendees left notes on special butterfly-shaped stickers saying:

“

Sherki is a legend - I’ve never been so in awe of anyone

”

“The day was filled with love, empathy and support” “We heard stories of real adversity - and realised we are so lucky” “The day will have a ripple effect. The stories shared inspired me and I will share them and hope to inspire others”

Broomlands & Bourtreehill Age Concern recently held their own version of the Commonwealth Games to celebrate the Commonwealth Baton coming through North Ayrshire, members were treated to a traditional Scottish lunch before the fun began, with a Zimmer frame relay, hook the ducks, roll the penny, the group’s own take on the games which was thoroughly enjoyed by all its members. The day was closed by the group’s own Community choir who performed the classics to the crowds of people who turned up on the day.

Project Helps Health Professionals Spot Danger Signs of Money Worries in Older People Many people across Scotland are struggling to manage their money and live within a tight budget.

But people over 50 are particularly prone to mental health issues as a result of financial worries.

Now Age Scotland has launched a pilot project in the Borders to help this age group to manage their finances better and avoid any negative impact on health.

According to the Citizens Advice Bureau in the Central Borders, clients’ average debt was £15,682 in 2013/14.

Each day, 314 people come to them for financial help.

Age Scotland’s pilot project will raise awareness among carers and health professionals of the danger signs of money worries. They’ll point people in the right direction for help and advice before the stress affects their mental and physical health.

Age Scotland’s Money Advice Project Worker, Geraldine Day said: “We really don’t want people lying awake at night worrying when they could be getting the help they need through the Age Scotland helpline. We hope that by developing links with health professionals and care workers in the Borders area, we can encourage people to seek help sooner.”

Your local Age Scotland team To get in touch contact Helen Simpson / Elizabeth Brown: 0845 521 2462 (Edinburgh) / 0141 420 4002 (Glasgow) / elizabeth.brown@agescotland.org.uk / helen.simpson@agescotland.org.uk

Follow us on www.twitter.com/agescotland 19

going local keeping in contact with other groups at various stages of planning right across our North area – from Portlethen to Thurso to Helensburgh – and attending meetings and events to raise awareness.

ch Club Croy Lun

News from the North Things have been busy in the North East over the past few months with work in Aberdeen, in particular, growing.

Early June saw us teaming up with Gay Men’s health to present at a Care Home Managers’ Development Day in Aberdeenshire. The presentation went down well with Care Homes eager to find out how they can support older lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people.

In Banff, Deveron Care Concern are launching their practical/ befriending project and are recruiting and training volunteers. We wish them well with this new venture. You can follow progress on their website www.deveroncareconcern.org.uk Even in this sunny weather, it’s raining Men’s Sheds!

We’re encouraging and supporting three potential sheds in the Aberdeen area and a small group in Fort William who are in the early stages of trying to establish a local Men’s Shed. We’ve also been

Your local Age Scotland team To get in touch with your local Age Scotland team contact: Christine Anderson: PO Box 5754, Inverness IV1 9BR / 01463 713160 / Christine.anderson@agescotland.org.uk

Planning for the future and end-of-life planning have been strong themes in our current work across the North. We are working with GATE (Good at the End) Project in Aberdeenshire. They have produced a resource to support people in planning for the future which includes issues such as Power of Attorney, wills etc. Their GATE plan resource pack is available on their website www.gateproject.org.uk. We provided an information stall at a Dying Matters event in Dunoon hosted by Marie Curie and are currently involved in a partnership planning a Dying to Know event in Inverness. We’re also working with local groups to make the most of our new Power of Attorney campaign.

Visiting social and activity member groups is always a real boost – hearing directly from older people themselves about the positive benefits of attending.

A recent visit was to Croy Lunch Club, near Inverness, which was established in the millennium year to respond to a need for more social opportunities for older people. Run in the village church hall, by a group of dedicated volunteers, it provides a delicious meal, activities and outings – and the fish-van drops by while it’s on!

Meet New Development Worker Carol Summers I am delighted to be part of the Age Scotland and the North team. I am married and live in Ross-shire with my husband, three grown-up children and our collie-cross rescue dog Skye.

I have worked in Community Development for a number of years and I also work as a part-time Coordinator with Befriending Dementia, and I am also a Director of Dementia Friendly Communities in East Sutherland too, both these roles fit very well with my new Age Scotland role. I am really excited about joining the fantastic team at Age Scotland and getting out and about in my area to meet everyone.

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going local News from the East Clackmannanshire Community Transport Group Representatives from several older people’s groups in Clackmannanshire have joined together with members of the local community to form the Clackmannanshire Community Transport Group.

Their aim is to look at developing a community transport system for the Wee County.

It started in 2013, when the proposed withdrawal of the bus link to the local hospital in Larbert would have had the effect of isolating communities, making it very difficult for older people and families without access to private transport. It was thought that a co-ordinated community transport system, accessible to all who needed it, could be established to address this matter. As a result, the Clackmannanshire Community Transport Group has been set up. The group hopes to map all available current transport provision within the county and ask for views and comment from the local community so that issues can be raised and prioritised and gaps found.

East Lothian ‘Fancy a coffee’ morning connects local projects Laura Dunkel, Community Development Officer, joined forces with Polly Cooke from the Royal Voluntary Service recently to hold a coffee morning for anyone interested in Older People’s issues in East Lothian.

15 people from local organisations came along to share information about the wide range of support and activities available in the area. A discussion about the purpose of the group was held to pave the way.

Laura Dunkel said: “We had great feedback that people found it useful and enjoyed getting to know others.

Folk were keen for it to happen on a regular basis.”

It is now planned to hold the coffee mornings every two months, and to include time for informal chat and presentations about local topics. The next session will take place on Tuesday 2nd September.

Contact Laura Dunkel for more information.

Generation Arts look to the future Laura Dunkel has been working with a West Lothian member group to build a three year vision for their organisation. Generation Arts aims to improve health & wellbeing in later life, through arts & cultural activities.

Cupar East’s new chairs

New Chairs for Cupar Following an Age Scotland grant of £1248 for new chairs, Regional Officer Douglas Macnaughtan called in to see the difference chairs had made to Age Concern Cupar. The hall was filling up for lunch as 50 older people got comfy in their beautiful new chairs “What a difference the new chairs have made to the comfort of all our service users,” said Acting Manager Evelyn Ritchie. “A big ‘thank you’ to Age Scotland for making our lunches a truly pleasant experience again!”

Local Events for Older People’s Day UK Older People’s Day is the 1st October to coincide with the UN International Day of Older Persons.

1st October: East Lothian: ‘Life After Work’, the Loch Centre, Tranent – contact Laura Dunkel.

Edinburgh: ‘Active Ageing, 50 years and beyond’, Meadowbank Sports Centre – contact Avril McKenzie.

West Lothian: ‘Older People have Talent’ Show, Strathbrock Community Centre, Broxburn – contact Avril Clerkson on 01506 237950.

22nd October: Kinross: ‘Celebrate Age’, Lochleven Community Campus – contact Carole Anderson.

Your local Age Scotland team To get in touch with your local Age Scotland team contact: Helen Simpson, Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside Edinburgh EH9 1PR / 0845 521 2462 / helen.simpson@agescotland.org.uk

More info: www.generationarts.wordpress.com

To find out about legacy gifts to Age Scotland call 0845 833 0200 21

inspire

Following its success in 2012 and 2013, Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing festival is back for its third programme of creative activities this October.

Last year, Luminate included 400 events, taking place from the Scottish Borders to Shetland, and the 2014 festival will once again packed with performances, events and creative activities run by communities and arts organisations all over Scotland.

The programme includes theatre, dance, music, visual arts and community projects that offer the chance to celebrate creativity, share stories and explore what ageing means to all of us, with many events designed to appeal across the generations, encouraging people of all to enjoy creative activities together.

On 5 October, events will be taking place across the UK as part of Silver Sunday, a programme that celebrates older people and their communities and offers a variety of free activities. Museums around the UK have also marked the occasion by creating Age Friendly Museums Day and several events at Glasgow Museums that are also part of Luminate are taking part. The Burrell Collection, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, St Mungo Museum and the Glasgow Museums Resource Centre are all offering practical, intergenerational activities that will bring their collections to life.

In Perth, Horsecross will be hosting a Creative Ageing Day on 13 October at Perth Concert Hall, with ‘pick and mix’ sessions in everything from playwriting and painting to music and dance. A brilliant opportunity to try lots of new things at once!

If you’re a dancer, or would like to be, there are lots of opportunities to give it a try during Luminate, with no previous experience required. Scottish Ballet in Glasgow and Dance Base in Edinburgh are each offering workshops for older dancers. They will also be teaming up with Generation Arts and Dance House Glasgow for day-long programme of performances and workshops at the Howden Park Centre in Livingston, West Lothian.

photos:

en / Eoin Carey Ari Seth Coh

Part of this year’s touring programme of performances is Company Chordelia’s Dance Derby, a fast-paced, energetic production that takes you to Depression-era America and the dance marathons that were the reality shows of their day. Accompanied by a live, six-piece jazz ensemble performing a soundtrack of original songs and choreography drawn from the popular dances of the 1930s, this show is sure to inspire you to get your dancing shoes on. The company are also presenting workshops, designed especially for Luminate audiences, to help you do just that.

Another production touring nationwide as part of the festival is Uninvited Guests’ Love Letters Straight From Your Heart. This unique piece of theatre is somewhere between a wedding reception, a wake and radio dedication show. Actors and audiences speak of their own and others’ loves – long lost or current lovers, mums, dads, absent friends – and dedicate a song to them. These dedications become the soundtrack for the show, so no performance will ever be quite the same.

As well as accepting dedications by email, the company will be holding workshops with invited older people as part of Luminate’s Outreach programme, encouraging them to share stories and music that will become part of their local performance. Outreach events take the festival into into care homes, sheltered

22 For news and views visit www.agescotland.org.uk.wordpress.com

inspire

housing and local groups, complementing the public programme and connecting older people, whatever their circumstances, with the arts and creativity.

Also on tour in the north of Scotland is Let Me Stay, a tender and unique story of the impact of Alzheimer’s on family relations, told with compassion and a streak of wicked humour. Julie McNamara has recorded her mother, Shirley McNamara, Queen of the Mersey’s songs and stories, and filmed and photographed her in all her glory over many years. The show weaves these images, stories and songs into a celebration of life and love, seen through her mother’s eyes, showing that Alzheimer’s need not always be tragic or a withdrawal from life, but can also be a shedding of all care and a gleeful approach to the world.

This year’s Luminate film programme takes the festival the length and breadth of Scotland with diverse and memorable stories of getting older. Each screening will be prefaced by a short animation created by older people in West Lothian, working with professional animators, as part of Luminate’s Outreach Programme.

Advanced Style is a documentary featuring seven unique New York women, whose style and spirit have guided their approach to ageing. In many venues, the film is screened alongside The Lady in

Number 6: Music Saved My Life, a documentary short in which 109-year-old pianist and holocaust survivor Alice Herz Sommer shares her views on how to live a long and happy life.

Love is Strange tells the story of Ben and George who tie the knot after 39 years together, but are forced to live separately with friends when Ben is fired. Their story echoes that of Leo McCarey’s 1937 masterpiece Make Way For Tomorrow, in which an older couple in Depression-era America are forced to move in with separate grown children when banks claim their home.

For the first time, Luminate will also be screening a film in partnership with the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival: the UK premiere of Alive Inside, which won the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award for US documentary and follows Dan Cohen from the charity Music & Memory as he demonstrates music’s incredible power to combat memory loss and restore a sense of self.

This is just a taste of what’s on offer during Luminate this October. Browse the printed brochure that accompanies this edition of Advantage and you’re sure to find an event that tempts you. The programme and more information about the festival are also available online at www.luminatescotland.org.

Follow us on www.twitter.com/agescotland 23

Clubs’ Corner

Other options include volunteer fairs, Facebook, Twitter and your local newspaper.

Finally, encourage volunteers to tell others about their great experience with you!

4. Be fair Stick to your recruitment plan and treat applicants consistently. If you need to turn someone down, explain why they are not suited to the role and if there is another role that might work better for them.

5. Communicate with your volunteers

Working with Volunteers Volunteers are vital to the success of Age Scotland.

We have around 275 volunteers who support us in numerous ways, from working in our charity shops, to answering calls to Silver Line Scotland.

Here Cat Campbell, our Information and Advice Volunteer Development Worker, reflects on her experiences and provides some tips to help your group be successful in recruiting, retaining and supporting your volunteers.

1. Prepare for volunteers Have a clear idea of why you want to involve volunteers and what they will do. Think about why a volunteer would want to do the role – to learn new skills or give you the benefit of their skills and experience. Decide whether you will need to disclose volunteers (see tip 8).

2. Plan the recruitment process Make sure you know who will be responsible for responding to applications. Think about the potential risk associated with the role, so that you ask the questions you need to, without bombarding people with unnecessary paperwork.

Be clear about the attitudes and values you require.

3. Advertise your roles Advertise on your own website (if you have one) and register with Volunteer Scotland to advertise on theirs. Also speak to your local Volunteer Centre (see tip 8 for contact details).

Keep potential volunteers up to date with what stage their application is at and when you will be in touch with them. Continue this throughout their volunteering to ensure they feel valued.

6. Support your volunteers Make sure volunteers know what they are doing and provide training not just about their role but also about your organisation.

7. Acknowledge problems If there’s a problem, speak to the volunteer in a sensitive manner and in a private space. If it is about their work, offer training. If it is their attitude find out if they’re unhappy with the role or have issues in their private life, if it’s the latter then you could offer them time off or reduced hours (if possible).

If you need to ask a volunteer to leave, do it in a sensitive way.

8. Further information Age Scotland’s booklet, ‘How to work with volunteers’, provides more detail on the topics in this article.

To request a copy email call 0845 833 0200 or email volunteering@agescotland.org.uk.

Check out the Volunteer Scotland website, www.volunteerscotland.net where you can advertise opportunities and find details of your local Volunteer Centre.

For information about PVG and disclosures visit Disclosure Scotland at www.disclosurescotland.co.uk or call them on 0870 609 6006.

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soap box

‘I ain’t done nothing yet’ Two instances prompted Alan Jones from Caithness to put something down on paper as a reminder to himself (and he hopes others who might read it) to continually adopt a course of action with the aim of achieving a fulfilling retirement.

The first instance was when I found that at the end of a day in which I had been lulled into inactivity by really inclement weather, it had given me no satisfaction. The second was speaking to a seemingly unhappy ex-colleague who told me he ‘did as little as possible’ now he was retired.

i ng mak e r u t ni rity. nd fur r c ha rning a u o t f d o l o l w f e o Alan with examples and s ds make which he and the group of frien

I’m now convinced that doing something positive each day that exercises the mind and body and keeps you in touch with others in the community is the basis for a happy, healthy and fulfilling retirement and is of added benefit to the community as a whole.

Today I met an old workmate his name is Sam MacKay,

‘I ain’t done nothing yet’

He goes to a Retirement Group and thought that I should try

Ignore the clock there’s plenty of time, I’ve nothing much to do, Turn over, have another nap for just an hour or two, Still plenty of time to make a move when the postie brings the mail, But if there’s none then I’ll get up by ten – without fail,

Computing, woodwork, cooking and perhaps other courses too, A fit me doing all these things would really be quite new, What a surprise to give the wife not being underfoot, Telling her ‘what and how to do and where things should be put’.

Today it was quite different, I set myself an aim

A cup of tea, a slice of toast, put on the telly set.

Oh look! It’s nearly mid-day and ‘I ain’t done nothing yet’.

A shower for sure then get dressed, make lunch then have a snooze,

To be up and showered by eight o’ clock, ignore the forecast rain.

The morning saw me in the shed making a necessary space, For the special workbench – which I used the afternoon to trace.

Then I made the dinner and got the table set,

Check the e-mail, read the paper, no exciting news.

Coffee time and friends to phone to catch up with the crack, Who’s been slandered, who’s left who and who has got the sack, Microwave a ready meal, outside it’s getting wet, Oh look! Its nearly news time and ‘I ain’t done nothing yet’.

I’d better watch the news in case there’s anything to note, There’s letters here that friends have sent, it’s really time I wrote To let them know what’s going on and all the things I’ve done, But half a page is all I got and inspiration gone.

If it was dry I’d have a walk to see who I’d have met.

Oh look! It’s nearly bedtime and ‘I ain’t done nothing yet’.

Och! It’s nearly bedtime and ‘I’m not finished yet’ You know, I think I’ve now cottoned on to what retirement could hold for me, And that a more positive approach could suit me to a tee, I’d make new friends to replace the workmates I have lost, By doing something productive every day and being my own boss.

Do you have a story or issue you want to raise on Soap Box? If so call us on 0845 833 9313 or email communications@agescotland.org.uk.

Call Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90 25

interview

Angiolina Foster CBE

A motivating mission The task of ensuring Scotland’s healthcare services continually improve their quality and safety is no small feat, and it’s the job of Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Age Scotland’s Katrina Coutts met its recently appointed Chief Executive, Angiolina Foster CBE, to find out more about how it’s going about this mission.

In April 2014, Angiolina Foster took charge of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), the organisation whose mission is to ensure people receive the best healthcare possible, day in, day out.

2014, HIS had carried out 30 of these inspections at 26 hospitals across the country, with a key focus on:

We meet on a rainy day in Glasgow just 12 weeks into her role, but the weather is not dampening her enthusiasm for the team she has joined. “It’s such a privilege to work in an organisation where the people are absolutely committed and passionate about what they’re doing. And as an organisation I think we are lucky to have been given such a motivating mission. To have a role that is to drive up the quality of healthcare in Scotland – what could be more energising and motivating.”

• dementia and cognitive impairment

Angiolina joined HIS from the Scottish Government, where she had been Director of Health and Social Care Integration since 2011, with responsibility for the huge programme of reform to integrate health and social care services in Scotland.

Angiolina says that in general they are finding that NHS services are delivering high quality care from a committed workforce. She is particularly keen to push home this point as it’s often the negative findings of HIS inspection reports that get the most attention.

One of the areas HIS is responsible for is providing public assurance about the quality and safety of healthcare through the scrutiny of NHS hospitals and services, and independent healthcare services such as private hospitals and hospices. Since 2011 this has included specific inspections looking at the care of older people in acute settings. As of the start of August

However, she does believe there is always room for improvement and one specific area she points to is “boarding”. This is where patients are moved from one ward to another not because it benefits their care, but because of wider service pressures, and is something HIS inspectors have seen in a number of hospitals.

• treating older people with compassion, dignity and respect • preventing and managing falls • nutritional care and hydration • prevention and management of pressure ulcers To date the inspections have been a mixture of announced and unannounced, but Angiolina explained that now they have had a few years to bed in, and the NHS understands the process, they will be purely unannounced in future.

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interview

“We have found that is still happening rather more often than you would want. Our view is that particularly for older people that can be confusing, upsetting and unhelpful. So we would like that to be happening less often, and we’ve found that’s also the wish of the service providers; it’s only ever done for reasons of constraint so we’re all working to make that happen less frequently.”

It’s that reference to, “we’re all working” which gives an insight into the wider work of HIS, beyond the inspections. The organisation has three interlinking roles – Evidence, Improvement Support and Scrutiny. So, put simply, HIS gathers evidence of what works in healthcare, uses that to advise the NHS, working with the NHS to put the advice into practice, and then inspects to see whether it’s working. The key for the organisation is to ensure everything leads to improvements for patients.

Speaking to Angiolina and looking at the evidence HIS has, it’s clear that there is good and innovative work going on in the NHS. The challenge is to make sure it’s not existing in silos and that different health boards are linking up to share good practice.

Examples include the ASSET (age-specialist service emergency) team at NHS Lanarkshire. They have created an alternative to hospital admission with their virtual ward, which cares for frail older people in their own homes. The team is made up of a mixture of health professionals, including a consultant geriatrician, Allied Healthcare Professionals and advance nurse practitioners.

At NHS Forth Valley they have set up a rapid access frailty unit, which allows GPs to directly refer frail older patients to the right professionals, quickly, bypassing the front door. If the patient needs to be admitted they are found an identified frailty bed in an ageing and health ward – avoiding A&E and the usual medical receiving ward completely.

While the HIS inspections to date have been focused on acute settings, the integration of health and social care will mean changes to how the organisation works, as health and social care can no longer be viewed separately, in isolation from each other. HIS and its counterpart the Care Inspectorate, which is the organisation responsible for inspecting social care services, are already piloting joint inspections.

“We’re very keen that the standards reflect the personcentred ambitions of NHS Scotland’s Quality Strategy.”

Given her former role with the Scottish Government, it’s an issue close to Angiolina’s heart and, while it will bring challenges, she is convinced it will radically improve health and care for older people in Scotland.

Another big piece of work for HIS is a consultation on the national standards for older people in acute care, a project Age Scotland has been involved in.

At the time of going to press this was expected to launch in September. In addition to aspects of safety and effectiveness, it is expected to have a strong focus on dignity and respect, discharge arrangements and rehabilitation support and planning.

Angiolina says: “Our intention will be to make sure that we conduct a process around those standards that really listens very, very carefully to people – to patients, to carers, to families. We’re very keen that the standards reflect the person-centred ambitions of NHS Scotland’s Quality Strategy.”

Healthcare Improvement Scotland is also working with the Scottish Health Council on a piece of work entitled A Stronger Voice. This work aims to ensure health and care services do more to listen to and promote the voices of patients and service users. More information on this is available at scottishhealthcouncil.org/strongervoice.aspx.

More about Healthcare Improvement Scotland: www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org.

For news and views visit www.agescotland.wordpress.com 27

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