Advantage issue 39 - spring 2014

Advantage

Age Scotland’s quarterly magazine spring 2014

Building Scotland’s Men’s Sheds See where they’re springing up p18-21 What’s afoot with podiatry? p12 Talking newspapers p22 Beacon for human rights. Alan Miller interview p26

issue 39

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

Email: advantage@agescotland.org.uk Telephone: 0845 833 9313

Write to:

Advantage magazine is part-funded by grant support

from the Scottish Government. Age Scotland aims

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

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.

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, Between battening down the hatches for winter, and summer’s lazy days, spring can be a good time to look afresh at our most fundamental choices. We might be content with our home, finances and lifestyle, but perhaps not, or we may simply wish to be ready should our circumstances change in the future.

I hope you will find lots in this edition to help you consider what’s best for you. On page 13 there’s advice on spring cleaning your finances, and in our Going Local pages (18 to 21) you can read about new opportunities for older men in ‘Men’s Sheds’ being set up across Scotland. The previous Advantage offered advice for weighing up your housing options, and on 31st March we’re following this up with a free conference in Glasgow at which you can meet some of Scotland’s top experts in older people’s housing (see our Calendar on page 6).

This spring also sees the start of some exciting Age Scotland initiatives. Following the successful launch of Silver Line Scotland, now answering 1230 calls a month, the information and advice service is going on the road. Over the next few months, Information Outreach Worker Lynn Allan will be assisting

member groups which want to provide information to develop their services, and looking at how we can improve access to information through our charity shops. And a new Allied Health Professional role (shared by Yolanda Strachan and Jenny Ackland) will allow us to influence policy and practice in professions such as occupational therapy and Podiatry (see page 12 to find out about more about Podiatry services.)

Following very positive feedback in last year’s Advantage survey we’ve kept the magazine in the format that readers have told us they like. But we’re always looking for ways to improve, so this month you will find our centre pages (14 and 15) are designed as an information wall-chart explaining how to give feedback on, and make complaints about, public services. Please tell us how we’re doing by completing and returning this year’s readers’ survey, which you will find enclosed along with a freepost envelope.

Bye for now

Brian Sloan

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news

At the Stroke Charte

r launch (ph

o t o : Fl a s

hmunk i Photo graph y)

Health and care legally joined with rights vow

Charter aims to empower people living with stroke

The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill, which aims to join-up health and social care so that people experience these as a seamless service, passed through the Scottish Parliament on 25 February.

A ‘Charter for people living with stroke in Scotland’ has been published to improve their experience of, and access to, community services. This describes care and support that should be available to people living with stroke. It aims to enable service users, family members, councillors, MSPs and others to ask informed questions about the availability of services in their local area.

Brian Sloan, Age Scotland Chief Executive, said: “This is a very welcome development and something we’ve long campaigned for. We applaud the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing for ensuring at Stage 3 that human rights principles are embedded in the Bill.

“It’s unfortunate that amendments to enshrine the role and contribution of third sector within it, and to further empower patient’s and service users, didn’t succeed. However at implementation stage we will identify and take opportunities to ensure older people’s voices, and those of the third sector organisations that work with and for them, are heard.”

Also in February Audit Scotland, the public scrutiny body, raised concerns about slow and piecemeal progress in the Scottish Government’s ‘Reshaping Care for Older People’ programme and associated £300m Change Fund. Brian Sloan said: “Reshaping care to prioritise preventative and anticipatory services in the community, shifting away from expensive and unnecessary hospital treatment, was never going to be easy, but it is vital. This report shows that we need both to do more and do better.”

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The Charter draws on Scottish Government policy, and the best evidence of what people need and benefit from, to describe what all local services should aspire to provide. It is not, however, a Scottish Government policy or an instruction to local providers.

The Charter can be downloaded, including in accessible formats, from www.strokecharterscotland.org.uk.

Postal copies can be requested from Angela Macleod on 0131 555 7244.

New faces on the Board In the autumn Age Scotland welcomed three new Trustees to its Board: Sue Holloway, Dr Alasdair Rutherford and Alison McKean. The East members elected a new East Regional Trustee, Dorry McLaughlin.

Sue is a serial entrepreneur whose media company is the largest (by billings) independent agency in Scotland. Alasdair is an economist at the University

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

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of Stirling, with research interests including ageing and social care. Alison is a partner in a firm of solicitors in Perth and is qualified in Human Rights.

Dorry, who replaces Anne Glencorse, is Chief Executive of Viewpoint, a specialist older people’s housing association.

The Charity said goodbye to Chair David Fraser, who due to unforeseen personal circumstances was no longer able to provide the necessary time and commitment the post required. Interim Chair Paul Adams (formerly Vice Chair) said: “We understand David’s position and are grateful for the contribution he has made. We would like to wish him every success for the future.”

Age Scotland also thanks Hammy Smillie and Anne Glencorse who both retired from the Board.

Continuing on the Board are Paul Adams (Interim Chair), Primrose Scott (Treasurer), Diana Findlay (South Regional Trustee), Bill Martin (West Regional Trustee), Brenda Nicolson (North Regional Trustee), Suzanne Munday, Glenda Watt and Professor John Williams.

Free TVs and radios for isolated older people WaveLength, a UK charity that gives free radios and televisions to isolated people living in poverty, is calling for applications from Scotland. The charity, which was established by the BBC and Rotary Club in 1939, offers Freeview ready TVs and a choice of digital and analogue radios. It also takes care of delivery.

Beneficiaries can be referred by a third party such as a social worker, care or housing worker, a charity, a community leader or a neighbour.

For more information call 0800 018 2137 or visit www.wavelength.org.uk.

WaveLength does not fund TV licenses, however, many older people will be eligible for a free one from TV Licensing.

Call TV Licensing on 0300 790 6131 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk for more information.

Follow us on www.twitter.com/agescotland

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calendar

March 2014 31 Towards a Home for Life: Age Scotland’s inaugural housing conference The Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow 10.30am-2.30pm. Free.

A one-day conference on the theme of supporting you to live independently at home for as long as you so wish. Whether you’re looking for information on income and advice services, or on where to turn to for reliable repairs and adaptations, are thinking about moving home, or would like advice on making your home warmer, this event is for you.

Speakers include representatives from the Silver Line Scotland helpline, Care & Repair Scotland, Housing Options Scotland and Home Energy Scotland. There will also be an opportunity for you to have your say on any concerns you have about later life, to inform Age Scotland’s future priorities.

To book your place (available on a first come first served basis) call Greg McCracken on 0845 833 9332. You can also book online at www.agescotland.org.uk/housing2014.

April 2014 24 Cross Party Group on Older People and Ageing Scottish Parliament, 1pm to 2pm The Group aims to bring together those with an interest in the well-being of older people, including MSPs, organisations and members of the public.

This meeting will focus on loneliness and isolation and will include a contribution from Esther Rantzen, broadcaster and founder of The Silver Line Helpline.

For more information and to book contact Hannah Lister, Age Scotland Policy Engagement Officer Tel. 0845 521 2457 Email. Hannah.Lister@agescotland.org.uk

June 2014 9-16 Carers Week This year’s focus is reaching out to the thousands of carers who are missing out on advice and information, support and services. www.carersweek.org Tel. 020 7378 4955

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Email your events to advantage@agescotland.org.uk

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Kinship carers don’t stand alone All across Scotland thousands of people – many of them grandparents – care for children full-time or most of the time because their parents are unable to do so.

If this describes your circumstances, then you are a kinship carer says Lindsay Isaacs, Kinship Care Service National Co-ordinator at Citizens Advice Scotland.

Every kinship care situation is different. The arrangement might be formal or informal, it might involve the social work department, or it may be that a court or a children’s hearing has played a role. Consequently, the rights and responsibilities of kinship carers can be complicated. Getting advice is important so you know about your options and can be confident that you’re getting the practical and financial support that you are entitled to.

Citizens Advice Scotland runs a dedicated Kinship Care Service that can provide up-to-date advice and information about all of these circumstances. We can help you find out about your legal rights and responsibilities and your financial entitlements, and advise you about where you can get the practical and emotional support you might need to help you cope. The sorts of kinship care issues that we deal with on a daily basis include: establishing the legal status of the child (some children in kinship care have formal local authority involvement - they are called ‘looked after’ children - and some do not), conducting a full benefits check to ensure you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to, establishing if you are also entitled to a Kinship Care Allowance payment from your local authority and, if so, helping you claim it, and tackling other issues that are common with kinship care arrangements, including housing and education problems.

We work closely with other organisations, such as CHILDREN 1ST and Mentor, and can refer you on to those best placed to respond to your particular circumstances. We can also put you in touch with any local kinship care support groups that operate

in your area. These are often informal groups run by kinship carers themselves, and are an excellent means of providing peer support and reducing feelings of anxiety and isolation.

Directory Citizens Advice Scotland You can get the help you need by visiting your local Citizens Advice Bureau – these are listed in the phone book, or find them online at www.cas.org.uk.

If you can’t get to a bureau, or there isn’t one in your area, you can call the confidential CAS Kinship Care Helpline on 0800 800 0006 (calls are free from landlines and most mobiles).

Visit www.cas.org.uk for kinship care publications.

You can also access information on kinship care at www.adviceguide.org.uk, the main public information service of the Citizens Advice service.

CHILDREN 1ST National Kinship Care Service For help with emotional and practical issues, or to find out if there is a support group near you, contact the CHILDREN 1ST Kinship Care Helpline on 08000 28 22 33.

Visit www.children1st.org.uk/kinship-care Mentor For help with training, support and resources contact Mentor on 0131 552 8660.

Find topic fact sheets at www.agescotland.org.uk/publications

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Do you feel in control of your own care?

Last year the Scottish Parliament passed legislation to give older people entitled to home care greater choice and control over how they receive services. With the Act about to come into force, Amber Scott, Age Scotland’s Information Writer, looks at the changes it will introduce.

The passing of Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 is part of a larger shift towards ‘personalisation’ of social care in Scotland, enabling people, as far as possible, to make their own decisions about their care. The new rights introduced by the Act are due to become law on April 1st 2014. The fundamental idea of self-directed support is to introduce more choice, and a variety of possibilities for support, into the care system. It also aims to change the way in which people think about their own care, and to promote the rights and responsibilities surrounding this.

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For insurance call 0845 833 0758

This is potentially a big step forward in terms of the control you have over your own care, either now, or should you need it in the future. So what’s different, and what will stay the same? Come April, social workers will continue to carry out assessments and ‘personal care’ will remain free in Scotland for people age 65 and over. And self-directed support has been available for some time. When the Act comes into force, however, local authorities will have a legal duty to offer four options to people who have been assessed as needing a community care service.

The Scottish Government hopes that enshrining these four options in law will lead to a major increase the use of self-directed support. Certainly the experience of Silver Line Scotland is that callers who have heard about self-directed support, and they are the minority, are often under the impression that if they agree to it the only option would be to take on full responsibility over the budget and arrangement of their care (Direct Payments). The Act clarifies

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that self-directed support is flexible so that older people can get as much, or as little, responsibility for their own care as they wish. Another common misconception among Silver Line Scotland callers has been that if they agree to self-directed support they will be pressurised into employing staff to care for them. The Act should allay such fears.

So what are the options, and the pros and cons associated with each of them?

Option 1 - Take a Direct Payment.

If you pick this route you would be required to manage your own budget, but in turn have full control over your support at home. The local authority decides how much money you need, after which you could, for example, pay a care service directly or even employ your own care staff.

Although this provides you with the most control out of the four options, it also comes with the most responsibility.

Option 2 – Make your own choice and the local authority arranges and manages your care.

This option allows you to decide between different care or support providers, following which the local authority arranges this for you, along with the budget. This allows for more choice about care provision without the responsibility of managing the money involved.

Option 3 – Ask the local authority to arrange and manage your care.

After the social work team has completed its assessment, it would then arrange all your care and support. This involves the least responsibility out of the four options, but it also means that you have the least amount of choice about the management and delivery of your care.

department and ask for a ‘needs assessment.’ From this first point of call, the social work department has to assess your care needs if you ‘appear to be in need of community care services.’ Once this has been carried out, and assuming the assessment has shown that you do need help at home, you should be given the relevant information to make an informed choice about your care.

Carers should also benefit from the Act. Local authorities will have a duty to support unpaid carers who have had a carers’ assessment. It is very important for carers to have this assessment carried out to gain access to help and support. If this has not already been done as part of the needs assessment for the person you care for, contact your local social work team and ask for an assessment to be carried out.

Self-directed support is not for everyone, and you do not have to take this on if you don’t want to. Many people are happy with the service that has been arranged by the local authority and feel comfortable receiving their care this way. However, others do find that they benefit from having this choice, and are happy to take on the extra responsibilities that this may bring. What the new Act says is that the choice is entirely yours.

Find out more Age Scotland publishes a detailed factsheet about Self-Directed Support. You can download this from www.agescotland.org.uk/publications or call Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90 to request a postal copy. We can also offer specific information and advice on this topic to help you make an informed choice.

Self-Directed Support Scotland Visit www.selfdirectedsupportscotland.org.uk

Option 4 – Use a mixture of all the above.

At the moment, local authorities are only required to offer the first option (Direct Payments) but many are already offering all four.

If you think you may need support at home, the first step to take is to speak to your local social work

This Scottish Government website offers up-to-date information about self-directed support in Scotland.

It also provides details of local support services that you can contact for help and advice. The availability of support does vary across the country; so you may be directed to your local authority.

Call Silver Line Scotland 0800 4 70 80 90

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Steps to avoid trips and falls About one-third of all adults aged 65 and over fall at least once a year and the likelihood of a fall increases as we get older.

But falling is not an inevitable part of getting older says Amber Scott, Age Scotland Information Writer.

If you are unsteady on your feet, have had a fall in the past or are worried about someone who has, don’t increase the risk by doing nothing.

Talk to someone about your concerns. This could be a family member or a friend, but ideally it will be your GP. Often people are reluctant to speak to GPs about an experience of falling, anxious perhaps about wasting their time, or not being taken seriously. However if your GP is made aware of what happened, or the worries that you have, they can look into the cause for you. They can also make a referral to your local social work department for a ‘needs assessment.’

The social work team is the gateway to help and support at home. Even if you have never had a fall, it is still important to ask for an assessment if you think you need help to live comfortably and safely at home. This can be done through your GP or you can phone your local social work department directly.

Services provided are wide-ranging and depend on your assessed needs. For example this may involve provision of equipment, aids and adaptations, care at home and/or telecare services such as a care alarm.

If you have been living in your house for a long time it is often difficult to recognise factors that could put you at risk of falling. Poor lighting, loose rugs and even pets walking around your home can heighten the risk of falling. Your local Care and Repair service may be able to help you spot things that could be made safer. For example, if you need a hand putting

up curtains or tacking down carpet they may be able to offer advice and practical assistance. Services differ throughout Scotland and include help with repairs and adaptations, and some have a trade referral facility.

Ask yourself whether your home is accessible if you were to need help, and whether you would be able to alert someone if needed. Here are some useful tips: 1. Make sure your keys are not left in the lock.

2. Consider having a key safe installed outside your door so that people who you know and trust can get into your home by entering a code. This can be part of the ‘needs assessment’ carried out by the social work team.

3. If you wear a care alarm, make sure you are wearing it all the time throughout the day and night, even in the bath or shower as they are waterproof.

If you take your care alarm off when leaving your home, hang it next to the door and replace it straight away when you come back in.

4. Consider carrying a mobile phone when you are out and about.

Staying active and eating a balanced diet is important at any age, however, it is especially important if you have had a fall. The worry and stress that can stem from having a fall sometimes prevents people from going out. As a result, this weakens the muscles that we use when we walk, causing further risk of falling. Virtually any physical activity can help, such as gardening or going for a walk. If you have not been active or exercised in a while speak to your GP to discuss what is realistic for you. You could also contact Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90 if you would like to know more about exercise groups in your area.

10 To find out about legacy gifts to Age Scotland call 0845 833 9358

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and e v i t c a g n i Stay d diet e c n a l a b a eating ge, a y n a t a t is importancially so if you but is espe fall.” have had a If you use any medication it’s always a good idea to keep tabs of this and take it as prescribed. Some medicines may also have side-effects that could affect your balance for example. If you notice any changes speak to your GP or your local pharmacist.

Foot care also has a vital part to play in reducing the risk of falls. Bad circulation, loss of feeling and problems with toe nails are just a few factors that can dramatically affect your ability to walk. See our Podiatry article on page12 for information about how to get the best out of foot care services.

Directory For more in-depth information, see our new leaflet, published in partnership with NHS Health Scotland, titled ‘Up and About: Taking positive steps to avoid tips and falls.’

Silver Line Scotland Tel. 0800 4 70 80 90 We can provide information and advice about any of the topics in this article. For example, if you want to find out a bit more about needs assessments.

For medical and health advice contact NHS Inform (see below.)

Age Scotland publishes free factsheets that cover many areas that are relevant to preventing falls. This includes needs assessments, aids and equipment, funding adaptations to your home and general health information.

Call us to request them or visit www.agescotland.org.uk/publications to download.

NHS Inform Tel. 0800 22 44 88 Call if you have any questions about your health condition. You can also visit their website at www.nhsinform.co.uk.

Care and Repair Scotland Tel. 0141 221 9879 For information about local care and repair services.

Visit www.careandrepairscotland.co.uk

Call 0845 833 0200 to find local solicitors 11

inform Government launched guidance that explicitly states that personal footcare is not the responsibility of NHS Podiatry services. Even where there is a diagnosis of diabetes, foot screening will determine whether someone is low, moderate or high risk, with Podiatry care involved in the latter two categories only.

Is this a major problem for older people? Not necessarily. Misconceptions about Podiatry may be part of the issue. Podiatrists can help prevent, diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions that affect the feet and legs.

However many aspects of foot care, such as toenail care, skin care and footwear checking, don’t require their specialist skills.

What’s afoot with Podiatry?

Podiatrists, formerly known as chiropodists, treat a wide variety of conditions of the foot and lower limb, from verrucae, to ingrown toenails, to arthritis. But is Podiatry’s availability as a free service now at risk asks Doug Anthoney, Age Scotland’s Communication and Campaigns Officer.

Well cared for feet can improve comfort, mobility, confidence, independence and have an impact on an older person’s overall quality of life. But over the last few months Silver Line Scotland has heard several reports of problems with Podiatry services.

Some callers said their GP is reluctant to refer people with foot complaints on to a NHS Podiatrist, while those referred sometimes find themselves on very long waiting lists.

Pressure on NHS Podiatry services has increased in recent years, not least as a result of the increasing incidence of diabetes. In September 2013 the Scottish

Self-care can be challenging for people who no longer have flexibility to easily reach their feet.

However Free Personal and Nursing Care, which is available without charge for everyone in Scotland aged 65 and over who has been assessed by their local authority as needing it, includes keeping fingernails and toenails trimmed as one of the personal hygiene aspects of personal care. If you have been assessed and feel that footcare assistance has been wrongly withheld, you can find out how to challenge this decision on pages 14 and 15.

Each Health Board is now looking at how it might support and encourage community capacity for self-care, and there is an appreciation that delivery of good footcare services relies upon effective partnership working between health, social care, voluntary agencies and independent sectors. So it may be an opportune time for older people’s groups and services to ask them what they can do for their members and service users.

Silver Line Scotland says: Call NHS Inform on 0800 22 44 88 for information on foot care and Podiatry services in your area.

Visit www.lookafteryourfeet.info for the Scottish Government’s foot-care guidance, and to download booklets and DVDs, both for people wishing to carry out their own footcare and for those who want to assist someone else.

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

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Spring clean your finance A rainy spring afternoon is the perfect opportunity to spring clean your finances and make sure you are making the most of your money, says Heather Smith, Age Scotland’s Information Development Manager.

A quiet afternoon in checking your bank statement may not be your idea of a good time, but it could be time well spent. Have a look at your bank statement (on paper or online) and check.

Is your income what you expect it to be?

Payments of benefits and pensions change annually and it is a good idea to make sure that annual letters about your entitlement match what is actually being paid into the bank. If you are claiming any means-tested benefits you may have to declare any changes to your income – call Silver Line Scotland if you want to know more as different benefits have different rules. Some benefits are changing because of welfare reform, so please get in touch if you receive a letter about a new benefit and want advice about what to do next.

Do you know what all the outgoings on your statement are for?

You would be surprised at how many people are making payments by direct debit but don’t really know what they are for. If, for example, you have several different types of insurance, it is a good idea to check that they are all still relevant and that you are not paying for the same protection twice.

If you have regular payments for gas, electricity, insurance or any other contracts where there is a competitive market, shop around and make sure Canal you are getting the best deal.

Caledonian Have you had work done for you, or bought something but not been charged for it yet? Some small traders will send a bill over a month after work has been done which can be a shock to your budget if you have forgotten that you owe the money.

If you have savings, check that you are getting as much income from them as you can and making good use of tax-free savings. Up-to-date recommendations for good savings deals are listed in many newspapers and on websites such as www.moneysavingexpert.com.

If you are regularly going overdrawn, or your budget isn’t balancing, you should get advice to see what options you have for getting things back under control. You could contact your local Citizens Advice (call 0808 800 9060 for details of your nearest office) or call the Money Advice Service on 0300 500 5000.

If you would like advice about benefits, would like to know if you are entitled to help with heating, or need to know more about the costs of care, call Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90.

Call 118 202 Directory Enquiries and donate 9p for each 40p call 13

How to:

complain

Housing When something goes wrong the first thing to check is your tenancy agreement (lease). This sets out both your, and your landlord’s, rights and responsibilities.

The Age Scotland Information Team offers advice so that, should you feel it necessary to make a complaint, your experience is as positive as it can be.

If you rent from a Council or housing association your landlord must have a formal complaints procedure.

Almost all private landlords must register with the Council, and the Council may be able to help if you have a problem with one. The private rented housing panel may also be able to help (see directory).

If we are dependent on a public service for our well-being, complaining can make us feel vulnerable.

Housing law in Scotland is complex, so we suggest you seek independent advice before you make a complaint.

Yet, as a rule, public services in Scotland welcome feedback from service users, including complaints, and the opportunities for improvement that they provide.

Getting ready to complain • Think about the outcome you want. Is it an apology, your money back, or that lessons are learned for the benefit of others?

• Make diary notes of relevant events (what, when, where and who) so you are not reliant on memory.

Making your complaint

Directory Shelter Scotland: 0808 800 4444 http://scotland.shelter.org.uk For specialist and confidential housing advice.

Online register of landlords: www.landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk Private rented housing panel: www.prhpscotland.gov.uk Includes sample complaint letters for download.

• Ask for the service’s complaints procedure.

• Clearly mark your letter ‘complaint’.

• Write to the correct member of staff at the right address. Phone the organisation for advice if you’re not sure who to write to.

• Ensure your letter is clear, concise and calm.

• Keep copies of your letters and any replies. If someone from the service responds by phone, ask that they also do so in writing.

• If you are unhappy with a reply, inform the organisation that you wish to go to the next stage of the complaints procedure.

If you need support you could ask a friend, relative, Councillor or MSP. The following can tell you about advocacy services in your area.

Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance: 0131 260 5380 www.siaa.org.uk Citizens Advice Scotland: www.cas.org.uk

Needs assessments If you need help to remain at home you are entitled to a ‘needs assessment’ from your local social work department. If this identifies that you have personal care needs a ‘care plan’ should be put in place setting out services you will receive to meet these. You should receive a copy of your care plan.

If you are not happy with the assessment (for example you are told that you do not meet the criteria, or are not offered enough support) ask for a written statement of the decision and the reasons for it. If you remain unhappy, follow the Council’s complaints procedure (this should be explained in the department’s response).

Health NHS services must comply with its ‘Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities’, most of which is legally binding. The Charter covers; accessing your rights, communication and participation, confidentiality, respect, safety, and your right to complain.

Make your complaint as soon as possible. The deadline is six months from the event or, if you only become aware of the problem later, within six months of its discovery (in the latter case within 12 months of the event).

If your complaint is about a community-based NHS service such as a GP, dentist, optician or pharmacist, they should make the NHS Scotland complaints procedure available to you. The same time limits apply.

Directory NHS Inform Helpline: 0800 22 44 88 www.nhsinform.co.uk To discuss your rights as a patient.

Health Rights Information Scotland: www.hris.org.uk to download the ‘Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities’.

Patient Advice and Support Service: Accessible from local Citizens Advice Bureaux.

Each Council has a ‘designated officer’ whose job is to guide you through the complaints process, and should be able to help you access advocacy services if necessary.

If you are initially happy with your support but find your needs change, you can ask for a review. Should this lead to withdrawal of some or all services you can appeal using the Council’s complaints procedure.

Directory Silver Line Scotland: 0800 4 70 80 90 With a third of our enquiries involving ‘care’ issues our team are specialists in this area.

Care Information Scotland: 08456 001 001

Residential care

All care homes will have a complaints procedure, but the complaint’s route will differ depending who your contract is with.

If you have entered into a care home via a needs assessment, and the Council owns or manages the home, use the Council’s complaints procedure.

If you enter into a care home via a needs assessment, but you live in an independent care home, you have the following three options; (1) Use the complaints process of the individual care home you are in.

(2) Follow the Council’s complaints procedure.

(3) Contact the Care Inspectorate (see below).

If you are in an independent care home and have organised this yourself, use its complaints procedure or complain directly to the Care Inspectorate, which is the regulator for all care services in Scotland.

Directory The Care Inspectorate 0845 600 9527 www.careinspectorate.com Regulator for all care services in Scotland.

Silver Line Scotland: 0800 4 70 80 90 For advice on complaint options for your situation.

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman The Ombudsman is the final stage for complaints about public services including Councils, the NHS, housing associations, the Scottish Government and its agencies. It will consider cases only if you have followed the complaints processes of a public service to completion.

0800 377 7330 / www.spso.org.uk

Get Involved

Still Waiting campaign goes to Parliament In December Age Scotland presented Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP with 6,500 signatures gathered for its Still Waiting petition.

ners at Parliament ng campaig Still Waiti

Life’s a lottery That Age Scotland is promoting a lottery may come as a surprise, but it is in fact one of the many social enterprise activities we undertake to fund our free services for older people says Logan Steele, Age Scotland Enterprises General Manager.

The lottery is run by our partner Age UK to generate income on behalf of the Age network of charities.

Net profits generated through the lottery in Scotland are spent in Scotland.

If you play our Weekly Lottery you’ll have 1,000 chances of winning a cash prize every week. You could walk away with £2,000, £250, £150, £100, £50 or £10 in our weekly draw, which takes place every Friday, and also be automatically entered into our Quarterly Superdraw with a top prize of £25,000.

It costs £1 to enter, half the price of a National Lottery ticket, and you can choose one or two entries per week. All prizes are guaranteed and winners are notified within 14 days by post. So why not take a flutter, help fund our work with and for older people, and just maybe make 2014 your lucky year.

Get involved!

To play the lottery, call 0800 849 8198 (Lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm) or visit www.agescotland.org.uk/lottery to enter online.

We were disappointed that the Minister again dismissed our proposal to include community transport services in the National Concessionary Travel scheme on grounds of cost and complexity.

However we welcomed the additional £1m the Scottish Government has made available for community minibuses and its plans for research into the state and impact of the community transport sector.

Age Scotland’s aim now is to help shape the research project and keep community transport on the political agenda, pushing again for action as necessary when our parliamentarians step down from their current independence referendum campaign footing. We remain concerned that loneliness and isolation among older people who are unable to use public transport, and who lack a suitable alternative, will continue to increase as our population ages, unless a more strategic approach is taken and sufficient investment made.

Get involved!

Do you have a story about transport? Share it with us and 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.

Call the Age Scotland Communications Team on 0845 833 0200 or email communications@agescotland.org.uk.

Be part of Luminate 2014 If your group would like to have an arts or creative activity featured in Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing festival, this October, sign up for the festival’s e-news at www.luminatescotland.org.uk or call 0131 668 8066 to express an interest.

Registration information will sent to you in May.

16 Join us on www.facebook.com/agescotland

Get Involved

Cold Homes Week 2014 In Cold Homes Week, 3rd to 7th February, campaigners sent the UK Government a clear message - that fuel poverty will no longer be tolerated.

The week was organised by the ‘Energy Bill Revolution’, an alliance of charities, unions, consumer groups and businesses that includes Age Scotland. It calls on the UK Government to use the money it gets from carbon taxes on business to make the UK’s homes super-energy efficient, which could bring nine out of 10 homes out of fuel poverty.

Thousands of emails poured into MP letter boxes, 100 of whom attended a campaign Parliamentary reception. Every MP received a scarf, the campaign’s symbol. Social media was also used to great effect, with more than one million people receiving campaign tweets, and many posting a ‘selfie in a scarf’ to show their support.

Thank you to supporting Scottish MPs William Bain Glasgow North East Gordon Banks Ochil and South Perthshire Anne Begg Aberdeen South Russell Brown Dumfries and Galloway Malcolm Bruce Gordon Menzies Campbell Fife North East Katy Clark North Ayrshire and Arran Tom Clarke Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill Michael Connarty Linlithgow and East Falkirk Mike Crockart Edinburgh West Ian Davidson Glasgow South West Brian Donohoe Central Ayrshire Frank Doran Aberdeen North Sheila Gilmore Edinburgh East Tom Harris Glasgow South James Hood Lanark and Hamilton East Stewart Hosie Dundee East Cathy Jamieson Kilmarnock and Loudoun Eric Joyce Falkirk Charles Kennedy Ross, Skye and Lochaber Mark Lazarowicz Edinburgh North and Leith Michael McCann East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow Gregg McClymont Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East Jim McGovern Dundee West Ann McKechin Glasgow North Iain McKenzie Inverclyde Graeme Morrice Livingston Ian Murray Edinburgh South Pamela Nash Airdrie and Shotts Fiona O’Donnell East Lothian Sandra Osborne Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Alan Reid Argyll and Bute Angus Robertson Moray John Robertson Glasgow North West Frank Roy Motherwell and Wishaw

na Mo d n a , May , Alan e n a J Scarves on for the Bathgate shop team

Lindsay Roy Glenrothes Jim Sheridan Paisley and Renfrewshire North Robert Smith Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine John Thurso Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Michael Weir Angus Eilidh Whiteford Banff and Buchan Peter Wishart Perth and North Perthshire

Get involved!

Is your MP still to back the campaign (see below)?

Write to tell them why fuel poverty matters to you, and to ask for their support, at: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. If your MP is on board you could also write to thank them, and encourage them to keep up their support. If you do write to your MP we’d love to hear how you get on.

MPs who haven’t backed the campaign Danny Alexander Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Douglas Alexander Paisley and Renfrewshire South Gordon Brown Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath Alistair Carmichael Orkney and Shetland Margaret Curran Glasgow East Alistair Darling Edinburgh South West Thomas Docherty Dunfermline and West Fife Gemma Doyle West Dunbartonshire Tom Greatrex Rutherglen and Hamilton West David Hamilton Midlothian Anne McGuire Stirling Angus Brendan MacNeil Na h-Eileanan an Iar Michael Moore Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk David Mundell Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale Jim Murphy East Renfrewshire Anas Sarwar Glasgow Central Jo Swinson East Dunbartonshire

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

going local

news from t he

west

Your local Age Scotland team Linda Anderson (Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire) 01355 279 929 Charlie Murphy (Glasgow, Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde) 0141 427 5145 ad Young Un’s Concert Party perform The Red Ro

Rounding off the year in song

Men’s Sheds in the west

More than 70 older people gathered in Glasgow just before Christmas for our final network event of the year. As well as a talk on Age Scotland’s information services there were workshops in digital photography, getting started in all things IT, and having fun with PCs. Age Scotland Retail services provided a ‘pop-up shop’ for the event, making a week’s worth of Christmas sales in 30 minutes. After a festive-themed lunch participants were entertained by the Red Road Young Un’s Concert Party from Springburn.

The growing interest and activity in Scotland around Men’s Sheds has sparked the development of two new Sheds in the West. Monkland’s Men’s Shed had its first event in November, and activity is now well under way to develop an active shed in the Coatbridge Indoor Bowling Club. For further information call Sheena Macdonald on 01236 758855 or email sheena@voef.org.uk.

Lanarkshire services and activities An online tool that makes it quick and easy to find older people’s services and activities in South Lanarkshire, and which has had more than 200,000 visits since its launch in March 2013, is to be expanded to North Lanarkshire.

The ‘locator’ tool is an initiative of Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire and is funded by the Reshaping Care for Older People programme. It aims to reduce the sense of isolation many older people suffer from that leads to over-reliance on emergency services and unnecessary hospital stays.

In Barrhead funding from Age Scotland made possible a first Shed engagement event in February.

For details call Belinda Arthur on 0141 577 8480 or email belinda.arthur@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk.

Grants update Dixon Community Minority Ethnic Users Group in the South Side of Glasgow has been awarded a grant towards a boat trip around Loch Katrine in May – weather permitting (plan B is a trip to Edinburgh.)

Dates for your diary 20th MAR: ‘Afore Ye Go’ later life planning event Eastwood House, Giffnock, 9am to 5pm.

3rd APR: Funding training and advice surgery On entering your postcode, and how far you are VASLAN offices, Hamilton. 10am to 12 noon. willing to travel, you will be given a list of activities 10th APR: Funding training and advice surgery including details of meeting times, transport and costs.

Voluntary Action Undercover, Barrhead. 10am - 12 pm.

Visit www.vaslan.org.uk/locator and find out what’s available near you.

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

going local news from the

south

Your local Age Scotland team Morag Halliday (Dumfries & Galloway, Scottish Borders) 01387 251036 Heather Baillie (Ayrshire) 01563 528 441

Shed Directory Please note that some of the following Sheds are at an early stage of development.

The Loc kerbie s tee

ring grou p

Lockerbie Men’s Shed Contact Ken Harvey: 0751 1024394 / lockerbiemensshed@gmail.com

(Duncan, M ary, Ken, Colin & Baz)

Crichton Garden Project Dumfries

It’s raining Men’s Sheds

Contact Margie Miller: 01387 273730 / Margaret.Miller@dumgal.gov.uk

Men’s Sheds are springing up across the South Region, creating new opportunities for older men to enjoy working together on common interests and projects.

Dumfries Men’s Shed

Ken Harvey of the Lockerbie Men’s Shed says: “A couple of years ago a friend from Ireland told me she was going off to pick up her bike from ‘The Shed’.

I assumed she meant the one in her garden, but it turned out where she lived there was a thing called a ‘Men’s Shed’ where, apart from repairing bikes and making wooden furniture, local men got together for a bit of a chat, to work on community projects and to look out for each other.” Ken was so inspired by the idea that he’s helping to establish a Lockerbie Shed.

Stewartry Area

Age Scotland Development Officer Morag Halliday says: “We’re keen to support development of Shed’s in the South Region so if you think there is need for one in your area please get in touch, with me for Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, or Heather Baillie, if you are in Ayrshire.

“Men aged 50 and over who are retired, redundant or no longer working for whatever reason, often say that unless you are into a sport or the pub you can find yourself ‘pottering about,’ watching daytime TV or taxi-driving children and grandchildren. Sheds can be an ideal alternative; a chance to put your skills to good use, share ideas, hobbies and experiences, blether and have a laugh.

Contact Tina Gibson, Public Health Practitioner, Nithsdale Health Improvement Team: 01387 246948 / tina.gibson@nhs.net Contact Brian Jones, Community Projects Officer, The CatStrand: 01644 420374 / brian@catstrand.com Jed Shed Contact Margaret Urquhart: 01835 862565 / margaret_urquhart@yahoo.co.uk Langlees Men’s Shed, Galashiels Nigel Sargent, Volunteer Centre, Borders: 0845 6023921 / n.sargent@vcborders.org.uk To find out more about Shed’s proposals for Walkerburn, Eyemouth and Hawick contact Morag Halliday on 01387 251036.

Dates for your diary 10th APR: ‘Afore Ye Go’ Coldstream Community Centre , 10.15am to 2.30pm A free information / advice event on later and end of life planning from Scottish Borders Elder Voice (SBEV), Age Scotland and Solicitors for Older People Scotland.

Pre-booking recommended: 01896 668601 / info@eldervoice.org.uk

Call 0845 833 0200 to find local solicitors 19

going local Credit Frances Porter, Badenoch & Starthspey Herald

news from t he

: the Gra Transport y t i n u m re Com Lismo

north

da Nicolson joins the Strath Sunshine Clu th Regional Trustee Bren b’s Burns Af nny Bus | Nor ternoon

An Age Scotland supported pilot project in Aberdeen aims to enable people with dementia to produce creative art while in hospital, which could see them working with relatives and friends on artworks.

Men’s Sheds have burgeoned in the past few months.

Forres Men’s Shed has formed a partnership with local recycling charity Moray Waste Busters to share a former workshop space.

The Charity has awarded a £3000 grant to Grampian Hospitals Art Trust, which will deliver the project at Cornhill Hospital.

Waste Busters plans to repair bikes there, with their volunteers supporting people with learning disabilities, and it is hoped that older volunteers from the Shed will have opportunities to get involved. There will also be a shared social space for Men’s Shed and Waste Busters volunteers and staff.

For more information call 01224 552429 or visit www.ghat-art.org.uk Moray Handyperson Services (MHPS) has launched a pilot Toenail Care Service run by volunteers.

A spokesperson said: “It’s a common sense approach to basic foot care, ie toenail cutting/filing for clients who are (generally) over-50 and unable to cut their own nails. It’s one of those simple support services which help folk remain independent and add to their well-being.”

Treatments are given within the HandyPerson Services Elgin premises for a suggested donation of £10 per treatment. Home visits may be offered in exceptional circumstances and incur an additional travelling charge. Clients provide their own nail clipping kit, which can be purchased from MHPS. For more information on the service or to volunteer call MHPS on 01343 559739

Your local Age Scotland team Suzy Gentle (Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Orkney, Shetland) 01309 673455 Jo Cowan (Highland, Argyll & Bute, Eilean Siar) 01855 821 809

Age Scotland Development Officer Suzy Gentle says: “Having supported the Shed’s start-up, including a £2000 grant, we’re thrilled to see them embarking on such an innovative partnership venture.”

The Dunbar Centre in Inverness has also forged ahead with its plans for Inverness Men’s Shed, securing premises in the city. Contact Alan Michael: 01463 790410 / alan@friendship-services.com.

Age Scotland recently welcomed new member group Lismore Community Transport. The group’s ‘Granny Bus’, a four-passenger Fiat Doblo, provides a transport lifeline for those over 75 or with mobility problems on the Isle of Lismore, off the Argyll coast. It offers onisland trips two days a week for access to the ferries, shop, Heritage Centre, and for social visits. There is also a Monday service to the GP surgery at the Public Hall. A service to Oban and other off-island locations is offered three or four times a month, with priority given to medical and other appointments. A bi-monthly social event brings everyone together. The service is run solely by volunteers.

20 Call 118 202 Directory Enquiries and donate 9p for each 40p call

going local news from the

east

A special anniversary for West Lothian 50 plus Network West Lothian 50 plus Network is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with an exciting programme of holidays, trips, workshops, theatre, events, and a big birthday bash.

West L oth

ian 50 p

lus: Seag

ull Trust c

ruise along the U

nion Canal

Shedding east In January, Development Officer Carole Anderson chaired a meeting in Alloa with a view to establishing a network to support the development of Men’s Sheds in the east of Scotland. Nineteen participants from Falkirk, Clackmannanshire and Perth & Kinross, including members of the Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed, exchanged information and experiences of setting up a Shed. Finding suitable premises is a common challenge, but the Shed’s entrepreneurs are proving tenacious. The Carse of Gowrie Shed meets in a local hall while they search for a more permanent home.

Sheds offer older men opportunities to feel valued and productive within the community, to share skills and expertise with others, to maintain an active mind and body, and to make new social contacts.

While many focus on woodworking, a wide range of activities can take place under the auspices of a ‘Shed’, from arts and crafts, to cooking, to vehicle maintenance. For further information on the Men’s Shed Network please contact Carole.

Membership update Age Scotland recently welcomed the Dundee branch of the British Polio Fellowship as a member. The branch attends to the social and support needs of people who have had polio; symptoms of which can be problematic as much as 50 years later. With no new cases of polio in the UK for more than 20 years its membership, and that of its four sister branches across Scotland, is becoming smaller and older. Age Scotland Development Officer Douglas Macnaughtan said: “We look forward to helping the Dundee group to access information and support that will benefit its membership.”

“It all started with a trip to the European Parliament in Strasbourg for a group of older residents in 1994,” says councillor Jim Dixon. “They enjoyed the experience so much that they set up the Network.

We now have 360 members, all of whom share a belief in active retirement.”

From its drop-in-centre in Bathgate the Network runs 28 groups and classes, including: walking groups, craft groups, Pilates, scrabble, canasta, music, dance, diet and health, bowling, a lunch club and a dinner club. The main group meets monthly with a speaker and a chance to chat over a cuppa. “One member told us ‘I felt I was past my sell-by date and now I feel useful and busy again’” says Jim, “which speaks volumes about the difference we are making.”

For information on the network call 01506 635510 or visit www.westlothian50plusnetwork.co.uk.

Dates for your diary 29th MAR: Men’s Network Event.

10.30am - 3.30pm, Glenmavis Bowling Club, Bathgate.

A showcase of activities and services for older men in West Lothian. Call Laura on 01383 721147.

22nd APR: North Berwick: A dementia friendly community?

10am - 12noon or 7pm - 9pm Hope Rooms, 34 Forth Street, North Berwick Call Sue on 01620 893056.

Your local Age Scotland team Douglas Macnaughtan (Fife, Dundee, Angus) 01324 717 079 Carole Anderson (Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire) 01577 864658 Laura Dunkel (Edinburgh & Lothians) 01383 721147

Visit www.facebook.com/AgeScotlandEdinburghCharityShops 21

inspire and Falkirk Council’s quarterly newspaper to 159 listeners. Chair Christine Moroney, who lost her sight at the age of five and has been involved since Newsline began in 1981, says: “It makes a big difference to me. I used to ask my family what was in the newspaper and they said ‘nothing much’, but now I bring things to their attention that they’ve missed!”

recording team of aper’s first Newsp g n i tilda Mitchell, Jim Newl a M k , r l i a incla ands ers T astair S 1000th edition s t i r Bord pouse, Al o f d e t i n u n re gy S chiso Peg n Ait e l e H and

Talking Sense Across Scotland talking newspapers are enabling sensory impaired and housebound older people to keep in touch with community life. Doug Anthoney, Age Scotland’s Communication & Campaigns Officer, reports.

Borders Talking Newspaper, now in its 22nd year, offers weekly editions of The Berwickshire News, Southern Reporter and Hawick News (Peebles and Berwick-upon-Tweed have their own services). “We started with borrowed equipment in a volunteer’s attic, recording on cassette tape. But now use the latest high technology digital recording system in our own premises,” says trustee Tom Ingoldsby.

Recordings are sent freepost on memory sticks to around 200 listeners, each of whom can also use their stick player to listen to Calibre talking books.

“Most of our listeners are over 80, but they have taken to the digital equipment with little or no difficulty, many praising the high quality of the reading and sound,” says Tom. “We give people who are housebound and cut off from their local communities a link to what is going on. One of the most popular sections is ‘Births, Marriage and Deaths’.”

Forth Valley Talking Newspaper Association, known to its listeners as ‘Newsline’, offers free audio versions of the weekly Falkirk Herald, a monthly magazine

Deputy Chair Brian Sharp says: “We used to get a lot of referrals from social services, but this has lessened recently. It may be because of their increasing workloads, or perhaps people are not so interested in local newspapers. All talking newspapers in Scotland are experiencing a fall in Listener numbers. So if Advantage readers think that they, or someone they know, could benefit from one, I would encourage them to get in touch with their local service.”

Janelle Scotland, Chair of the Association of Scottish Talking Newspapers, adds: “Our potential listeners can’t read the notices in the library or optician’s waiting room so we have to rely on other people to help us spread the news.”

Janelle also Chairs Edinburgh’s ‘Lothiansound’ talking newspaper, which last year saw its 25th anniversary marked by a Parliamentary debate secured by Jim Eadie MSP. “If more MSPs would take an interest in their local talking newspaper, the ensuing publicity would help our cause,” says Janelle.

Directory Borders Talking Newspaper 01361 884206 / office@btn.org.uk www.btn.org.uk Forth Valley Talking Newspaper Association 01324 228313 / info@newsline.org.uk www.newsline.org.uk Association of Scottish Talking Newspapers Support and guidance to Scotland’s 65 talking papers and has a directory of them on its website.

0131-661-2850 (care of Lothiansound) info@astn.org.uk www.astn.org.uk

22 Follow us on www.twitter.com/agescotland

inspire

Grace S mith

(in beig

e coat)

with Co nnie Siss on

, a good fr iend that Gr ace has made throug group h engaging with ICOD Social

Investing in Communities Older disabled people in Inverclyde are living life to the fullest, thanks to a Big Lottery Fund project run by Inverclyde Council on Disability. Landa Rolland, Big Lottery Fund’s Communication Manager, explains how it’s making a difference.

Every week Grace Smith has a packed schedule that gets her out and about in her community. Whether it’s the weekly supermarket shop, a day trip with a good friend or attending a computing class, she knows that Inverclyde Council on Disability and their Lottery funded Connected, Confident and Included Inverclyde project is there to help.

Grace, who is age 81, has been benefiting from the project for the last ten years after her mobility started to deteriorate. She explains: “I’ve had polio since I was six years old and as the years have gone on I can now only manage walking a short distance.

Without the help of the shop mobility service I wouldn’t be able to do basic things like my shopping.”

Grace makes use of the shop mobility powered wheelchairs, and takes part in social activities, events and outings thanks to the project. “I have been to so many places and day trips I can’t keep track,” she says. “Without Inverclyde Council on Disability I would never have been able to visit all of these places. It’s opened up a whole new world for me and I’ve made a good friend through these trips.”

She has also been on training courses in basic computing, digital photography, and internet safety.

Now, equipped with her own laptop, Grace is taking on the wide world and its web.

“The online learning has been brilliant,” she says.

“I do a lot of crafts and make my own cards. I can now use the computer to do lots of things like print off verses and look up craft websites for inspiration.

Knowing how to use the internet has opened up a whole new world to me. I can also use e-mail to keep in touch with my family and I can keep up with the latest news on lots of different sites. I’ve even been on Twitter to find out what’s going on there.

“Had I not found Inverclyde Council on Disability I would be in my house most of the time and not able to go out. I can honestly say it has been a lifeline.”

Inverclyde Council on Disability received £452,962 from the Big Lottery Fund in 2012. The project will benefit more than 700 older disabled people over three years helping them to access financial advice, specialised ICT training, a Shopmobility service and a range of social activities. An outreach service is also available to those who are housebound.

You can find out more about Inverclyde Council on Disability and its services here www.icod.org.uk.

To find out how your group could follow in their footsteps and apply for a Big Lottery Fund grant turn to page 24.

To find out about legacy gifts to Age Scotland call 0845 833 9358 23

Clubs’ Corner

Getting Lottery funding for your group Across Scotland older people are running and benefitting from a range of Lottery funded projects. And the largest of the National Lottery distributors, the Big Lottery Fund, wants to fund even more says Landa Rolland, the Big Lottery Fund’s Communication Manager.

Over the last year the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland has awarded £48 million to projects benefiting older people. Through our Investing in Communities programme we want to see even more applications for funding from groups which help older people to maintain their independence for as long as possible.

Groups from across Scotland can apply for funding for up to £1 million over five years. Whether it’s teaching people to use new online technology, or helping them to take part in their community through social activities, Lottery money could help.

What’s more there has never been more help to apply. From talking through your idea from the outset, to helping you get your ideas down on paper, we tailor our advice to help you put together the strongest bid possible. And we won’t ask you to fill in a full application form unless we think you have a high chance of success. You can even access funding to develop your project.

One group which has successfully applied to the Big Lottery Fund is the Cowal Elderly Befrienders SCIO in Argyll. The group has received two Investing in Communities awards over the past five years to provide a range of Befriending Services designed to improve quality of life, and reduce isolation and

loneliness of older people. Pauline Livingstone, Project Co-ordinator shares her experience of applying. She says: “When we first approached the Big Lottery Fund we had an idea for a project but wanted to discuss it in more detail to make sure we were on the right track. The person I spoke to at this initial stage was really helpful and gave me some good advice.

Upon submitting the first draft of our full application I was keen to find out how I could strengthen our proposal and again they gave me some practical advice around writing outcomes, evidencing need and explaining our project plan in a concise way.

“For anyone thinking of applying I’d say don’t be frightened to ask for help and advice. The Big Lottery Fund wants you to be successful and they will do everything they can to help you strengthen your proposal. Yes, it can be a big piece of work but the rewards are fantastic. We had such a good experience applying the first time round that we reapplied for a second project in 2012 and were successful again. Our grant officer has been really supportive and continues to be there for us at every turn as our project progresses.”

If your local group has an idea for a project which will help older people to remain independent and active for as long as possible, you can contact the Big Lottery Fund’s Big Advice team in Scotland.

Email enquiries@biglotteryfund.org.uk or call 0300 123 7110 to chat through your project idea.

You can also visit our website to find out more about our wider range of funding programmes; www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland We look forward to hearing from you.

24 Join us on www.facebook.com/agescotland

soap box

Hands off universal pensioner benefits

By Agnes McGroarty from the Scottish Seniors Alliance ‘Hands Off’ is the clear message coming from older people across Scotland, as a new UK wide campaign was launched last month defending the need for universal pensioner benefits.

The Hands Off campaign, which has already been backed by some of the most influential older people’s organisations in the UK, aims to safeguard benefits such as the winter fuel payment, bus pass, free prescriptions and TV licences after the 2015 general election.

Following comments made by the main political parties at Westminster indicating these benefits may be under threat, this campaign will emphasise their importance in achieving a decent standard of living for millions of pensioners across the UK, whilst also highlighting the costs and barriers associated with means-testing such benefits.

I would encourage people of all ages to sign the online e-petition and to email their local MP via the campaign website at www.handsoff.org.uk. If the e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in the House of Commons.

Clearly, a debate would raise the profile of this issue with the current coalition government and amongst other UK political parties who may be in power following the 2015 general election.

The real reason why pensioners need additional benefits such as the winter fuel allowance and the free bus pass is because our state pension is so poor.

Yet despite this, every year older people add an extra £40bn to the economy in taxes, volunteering and unpaid caring. Universal benefits help to keep people active, independent, warm in their homes, healthy and involved in their communities. Universal benefits need to be defended not only for today’s pensioners, but for the pensioners of tomorrow as well.

During the last year, pensioners have felt under constant attack. The myth that older people have escaped any austerity measures is totally groundless, and we will

fight to ensure there are no further cuts or meanstesting of vital benefits such as the winter fuel payment, bus pass, free prescriptions or TV licences. We call on every individual, regardless of age, to support us in our campaign to ensure these benefits are maintained for pensioners now and in the years to come.

We must make our voice heard now! Millionaire pensioners have been used as justification for further cuts or means-testing, but this campaign represents the views of real pensioners who are already struggling to make ends meet.

The Hands Off campaign is being officially backed by the Scottish Seniors Alliance, the National Pensioners’ Convention, Age Sector Platform in Northern Ireland and the Welsh Senate of Older People.

For more information on the campaign, and to sign the e-petition, please visit www.handsoff.org.uk.

Soap Box columns do not necessarily reflect Age Scotland’s views or policies. To submit an article call Advantage on 0845 833 0200 or email advantage@agescotland.org.uk.

Silver Line Scotland: 0800 4 70 80 90 25

interview Alan Miller

Let’s be a beacon for Human Rights In December the Scottish Human Rights Commission published Scotland’s first National Action Plan for Human Rights.

Doug Anthoney asked Professor Alan Miller, the Commission’s full-time Chair, what difference it will make to Scotland’s older people.

“As human beings we are entitled to be everything we can be, to live a life of human dignity, and to enjoy an enabling environment,” says Professor Alan Miller. “A lot of the things we take for granted are human rights.”

Twice elected by the Scottish Parliament to Chair the Scottish Human Rights Commission, he has been taking an overview of human rights across the country since 2007. “I’ve seen progress on human rights as devolution has matured,” says Alan. “The ground here is more fertile than in England, where there’s much heated rhetoric in Westminster, and in parts of the media, against human rights. Politicians

26 Call Silver Line Scotland 0800 4 70 80 90

and decision-makers in Scotland are generally open to developing their understanding of what human rights mean, and should better mean, for how we provide services such as health and care.”

But we can do better. “The direction of travel in Scotland is good, with policies such as Self-Directed Support and the Dementia Charter of Rights. These are well intentioned, but our research shows that people have yet to benefit from them to the extent that they should.” Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP) aims to close this gap between aspiration and practice. “We brought people and organisations together across society and representing various levels of decision-making.

We’ve sparked a lot of interest internationally simply by getting them around the table and achieving consensus, but the plan is just a starting line. We now need to take the necessary steps to fully embed human rights in Scotland, and be held to account for our success or failure to do so.”

The Commission’s research identifies working cultures in public services as sometimes being a stumbling block to the application of human rights, and ‘better culture’ is one of the three outcomes SNAP aims to achieve. Alan offers a very personal

interview

ople e p e k a m o We need t table for n more accou, but also more ts human righ nd more able to confident ariately. Very often act appropcommon sense.” it’s simply example of what needs to change. “My mum was in intensive care in hospital. She wasn’t comfortable and quite restless, and one night fell out of bed. I asked if they could put up bars at the sides of the bed to protect her and, while sympathetic, the nurse was worried about breaching hospital policy and unwilling to act without permission from higher up.

I was told this might take a day or more to request.

It didn’t seem to have occurred to the hospital that the right to life, and their duty of protection, might come first in such situations.

“I was also asked by a consultant how invasive procedures with regard to my mum could be. I suggested that they ask her directly, as she was perfectly capable of telling them her preferences.”

For Alan these examples highlight the work that needs to be done to improve the human rights understanding of people working in public services.

“We need to make people more accountable for human rights, but also more confident and more able to act appropriately. Very often it’s simply common sense.”

Poor terms and conditions for some service delivery staff can be an issue as, “people who feel their own human rights aren’t entirely respected are perhaps less able to appreciate those of others”. Investment in workforce development is, Alan believes, a part of the solution, but how will this be possible as public service budgets become ever tighter?

“There are examples from overseas that prove you can strengthen the application of human rights even when money is scarce,” says Alan. “It’s a matter of allocating the maximum available resources to

where the needs are greatest.” Under SNAP an Innovation Forum will be held on ‘How to Uphold Human Rights in times of Austerity’. “We have an opportunity in Scotland to build human rights ‘proofing’ into agreement of budgets, at both national and local levels. If we take it, we would be leading the way internationally.” To show the difference this could make, Alan offers an example close to home of failure to human rights proof policy. “A box was ticked during preparations for Westminster’s Welfare Reform Bill to say there would be no human rights implications, but we know now that it’s resulting in much hardship and the erosion of basic rights for many people.”

Age Scotland worked with the Commission to produce ‘Care About Rights’, a human rights awareness programme for people working in older people’s care and support services. “Care About Rights was extremely successful, with the evaluation showing that participants had doubled their confidence for applying human rights day-to-day,” says Alan. “SNAP is arguably Care About Rights writ large. An action group led by NHS Health Scotland and the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (The Alliance) is now looking at how we integrate human rights into the way care is delivered.” SNAP also aims to put human rights ‘at the heart of health and care integration.’ “I am pleased that human rights has been added to the face of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) Bill. This will help everyone with ensuring that a human rights based approach is taken so as to achieve the outcome of a personcentred health and social care system.”

At the moment SNAP itself is just a paper document, so five years from now what would convince Alan that it has lived up to its promise?

“If the kind of people who tell us now that their human rights are denied come forward and say that it has made a difference to their lives, then I’ll know that it has worked.”

You can download the Scottish National Action Plan for Human Rights at www. scottishhumanrights.com/actionplan.

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