Advantagesummer2014

Advantage

Age Scotland’s quarterly magazine summer 2014

Awards Nominations are open p16

Referendum both views p14 Health screening save your life p12 Getting online computing tips p8

issue 40

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 14 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.

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 9313 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, It’s the summer and for some people that may mean holidays but this year it’s as busy as ever at Age Scotland. In this edition you’ll read about a number of projects we’re working on, including a new training arm to the Charity, our first National Conference and the launch of our 2014 Age Scotland Awards.

It is now five years since Help the Aged and Age Concern Scotland merged to form Age Scotland. I think it’s a period we can look back on with pride at what’s been achieved. Over this period our annual regional assemblies have provided a great opportunity for member groups to come together and learn from each other. But I feel now it’s time to all gather and share in what we’re hoping will be a very exciting National Conference in November (see page 24).

In my eyes the National Conference represents how we’re growing as a Charity, as does another development we’re sharing in this issue. I’m very excited to announce that, from July 1, Age Scotland will have a new training division when two organisations – the Scottish Pre-Retirement Council and the Tayside Pre-Retirement Council – become a part the Charity.

Training and education is a field I’ve envisaged the Charity becoming involved in for some time and I can

see it being the start of many exciting developments (read more in our interview on page 26).

A highlight of 2013 for me was our Age Scotland Awards at the Scottish Parliament. The number and quality of the entries was inspiring and, with entries now open for this year’s Awards, we’re looking forward to more of the same. In addition to the categories last year we’ve added a new category, Employer of the Year. With the workforce ageing we want to promote organisations which are making positive steps to support their older staff (see page 16 for how to nominate).

Finally, a big thank you to all those who responded to our annual Advantage survey. This is very important to us as we want to ensure we’re delivering the content that you and those you share the magazine with want to read. It’s incredibly pleasing to see how useful people find the information in the magazine and you’ve given us lots of ideas for future editions (see page 17).

Bye for now

Brian Sloan

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news

todotbiography | Delegates at the launch of Scotland’s ne w Action damore of au u c S r e h y Plan for eets Br m Active n a lo Agein Brian S g

Create your life story Age Scotland is linking up with autodotbiography, an online memory book service which allows people to create their own autobiographies.

Autodotbiography was set up by Bryher Scudamore, 63, formerly Editor of BBC’s That’s Life!: “I was inspired to set up a business for the first time in my life at the age of 60, by the untimely death of my mother, Peggy.

When she died, my mother took her memories with her and I was left with so many unanswered questions about her life and my own early years.

“I found some research done by the British Heart Foundation that said that millions of people deeply regretted not asking their parents and grandparents more about their lives, so I knew I was not alone.”

As a result, in 2011 Bryher launched ‘autodotbiography’, a unique online system which means anyone, no matter how good or bad at writing, can create a beautifully written, lavishly illustrated hardback book of their life story for their family. The system is designed to be easy to use and not too time consuming.

We will be bringing you more information about our link up with autodotbiography soon.

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An action plan for active ageing A national action plan for active and healthy ageing in Scotland has been launched by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.

Somewhere to go and something to do, an action plan for 2014-16, sets out a vision for all older people in Scotland to enjoy full and positive lives – happy and healthy at home or in a homely setting.

The actions are grouped around four themes: •

“I want to have fun and enjoy myself”

•

“I wish to remain connected to my friends”

•

“I wish to be able to contribute to society for as long as I want”

•

“Don’t talk about me without me, and respect my beliefs and values”

Dr Anne Hendry, National clinical lead for Integrated Care Joint Improvement Team, said: “Improving the health and wellbeing of older people is not just the responsibility of health and social care services. We all have a role to play – families, neighbours and communities, providers of services like housing, transport, leisure, community safety, education and arts, and also shops, banks and other commercial enterprises.”

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

news

Changes to NHS Continuing Heathcare Following an independent review of NHS Continuing Healthcare, from April 2015, the NHS will no longer pay the accommodation costs of people in care homes with specific health needs. Patients who continue to require ongoing care in hospital will receive it there, but when staying in hospital is no longer clinically necessary they will be discharged.

If they go into or return to a care home, they will be assessed for the costs in the normal way.

This change is not retrospective, so no-one will have existing support withdrawn. People who currently receive NHS continuing care, and those who are assessed before next April as requiring it, will get it as now. If people have been charged incorrectly, they will still be entitled to claim reimbursement from their local health board. New guidance implementing the change will be developed and consulted upon, and Age Scotland will be updating its information based on the proposed changes: this will be available on request from Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90.

New project to promote healthy eating A new project aimed at helping older people to eat well is to be piloted in Scotland later this summer Food Train, a charity providing vital support services to enable older people to live independently, has received funding from the Scottish Government and the Rank Foundation to carry out a two-year pilot called Meal Makers. The project will see older people matched with someone in their neighbourhood who can provide them with a home cooked meal.

Meal Makers is based on Casserole Club, in London, which involves matching local people cooking extra portions of home cooked food and sharing it with an older person living nearby who is less able to cook.

Food Train has worked with the Futuregov team who run Casserole Club to develop the Scottish version.

The project will be launched on a test basis with existing Food Train members later this summer, before opening up to the wider older population.

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Follow us on www.twitter.com/agescotland

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calendar

October 2014 1 Age Scotland Awards Ceremony Garden Lobby, Scottish Parliament, timing TBC Age Scotland’s annual awards celebrate the groups and individuals who have made a significant contribution to the lives of older people in Scotland, with a new category this year to recognise age-friendly employers. Find out more on page 16 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 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 well-being 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? With special guests confirmed to date including: Professor Ian Deary, Director of the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology Liz Lochhead the Scots Makar ( Scotland’s national poet) Carol Craig, Chief Executive of the Centre for Confidence and Well-being and author of The Tears that Made the Clyde: Well-being in Glasgow.

For further information see page 24.

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Email your events to advantage@agescotland.org.uk

inform

Keep up your strength with healthy eating Whatever your age it’s important to eat a healthy balanced diet and it is certainly never too late to change your diet for the better, explains Age Scotland Information Writer, Amber Scott who is developing a new factsheet that can help.

Over the last few months I have been researching the positive effects that eating healthily has on our bodies as we age. We’ve all been eating for many years therefore we know what’s good and bad for us on the whole. However, for many reasons it isn’t always possible to make the healthiest of choices, or have much of a choice at all.

The most important part of my research involved travelling across the country speaking to older people about what they want from healthy eating information.

Led by this feedback, Age Scotland’s new factsheet, Healthy Eating – A Guide for Older people in Scotland, will aim to paint a clear picture of how to adopt and maintain a healthier lifestyle through the food that we eat. Whether you cook yourself, get some help or go to a local group to have your meals, our leaflet can provide tips that can help you, or someone you know, retain as much physical strength as possible and keep health complications at bay.

The best advice may come as no surprise – aim to eat a variety of foods in moderation, drink plenty of water and enjoy your food.

Eating a balanced diet can come hand in hand with enjoyment of food and doesn’t have to break the bank. Trying new things or revisiting meals you’ve not had in a while can help with appetite. If you are not eating enough, nor alternating the food that you eat, your body will start to lack the nutrients it needs to stay strong and fight illness. Even if you are unable to cook and consequently eat microwavable ready meals on a regular basis, varying the types of meals you eat can help your overall health. Check the labels

llness Eating a variety of foods helps fight i

and choose the option with the lowest salt content where possible.

By drinking plenty of fluids you can prevent drowsiness, light-headedness and muscle weakness which can all lead to preventable injuries caused by falls for example. Aim to drink at least two and a half pints of non-alcoholic fluids a day, preferably water or milk which are the healthiest choices.

As an accompaniment to the information (by popular request) a host of wholesome but healthy recipe ideas will also be included.

Find out more For further information and advice call Age Scotland on 0845 125 9732. A free copy of Healthy Eating – A Guide for Older people in Scotland will be available later this summer.

If you have access to the internet, NHS Inform also have a ‘Behind the Headlines’ section www.nhsinform.co.uk/Behind-The-Headlines where you can find out the facts behind recent claims and studies that circulate in the media.

Alternatively you can call them for health advice on 0800 22 44 88.

Call Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90

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inform

Let’s get digital Getting the internet to work for you can help make life easier, helping you stay in touch, explore your passions and even simplify and speed up daily tasks.

Age Scotland helped technology company EE organise two EE Techy Tea Party events in Glasgow and Edinburgh this year where more than 30 older people came to find out more about technology.

The aim of an EE Techy Tea Party is for volunteers from the digital communications company EE to spend around two hours with local people from their community. Guests bring the kit they want to learn more about and EE’s digital champions bring their know-how to help them gain the skills to make the most of the technology at their fingertips.

Last year the company held 70 EE Techy Tea Parties across the UK, with 565 digital champions helping to improve the digital skills of nearly 1000 people.

An impressive 89 per cent of guests told them they were more likely to use technology in the future.

Age Scotland guests at the events in Glasgow and Edinburgh were brimming with questions about texting, email set up, shopping online, downloading apps and social media.

Catriona Blythe from the Glasgow Techy Tea Party said: “I’m looking forward to being able to use Facebook through my phone more to speak to my son who is abroad.”

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Madeleine Knowles from EE shares some tips: Stay in touch Everyone leads such busy lives, so it can be difficult to keep in touch with those you care about.

Email (electronic mail) Set up your own email account for free at Google mail www.gmail.com or Hotmail www.hotmail.co.uk.

You can even set up email accounts on your smartphone, so you can retrieve emails on the move.

Social networking Set up a Facebook account so you can see what your friends and family are up to. www.facebook.com or install the Twitter app on your smartphone to ‘check in’ when you are out and about.

Save money and time There are lots of shopping sites online, google the ones you like and grab yourself a bargain. www.amazon.co.uk has everything from good books to bedding, or make your first sale on www.ebay.co.uk.

Find last minute holiday and entertainment deals at www.lastminute.com or try www.groupon.com.

The Vouchercloud app sees where you are and searches out great local high street deals for you.

Follow us on www.twitter.com/agescotland

inform

Compare prices on a whole range of things including insurance, travel, mobile phones and broadband at www.moneysupermarket.com.

Sort out your travel and check train times at www. nationalrail.co.uk or get discounts when you book online at www.thetrainline.com.

Get out and about fuss free with the Google maps app on your smartphone or try the next bus app to find out bus times in your area.

Be Entertained Do you have a favourite song that brings back memories or a TV show that you hate to miss?

Watch great BBC shows on www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer Go to www.google.com and type in what you are interested in, eg football, or try www.bbc.co.uk/ sport for the latest news on your team. Find chat rooms full of like-minded people: why not try www. sagazone.co.uk/forums.

4. Never respond to emails from people you don’t know. You won’t have won money from a competition you didn’t enter and a foreign prince won’t really be desperate to share his millions with you.

5. Don’t write passwords down and don’t share them with others.

6. Use different passwords for different online accounts.

7. Your bank will never ask you for password information. An email that seems to be from your bank, yet asks to confirm your personal details will be fake.

8. Always log out if you are using a public computer or others will see your information.

9. If there might be children using your computer you can set up parental controls to stop them accessing content that’s meant for adults, such as pornography, gambling and dating.

10. If you’re unsure – ask a friend about reputable websites.

Stay Informed The internet allows you to access information and news as it breaks. Check out today’s news on www.bbc.co.uk/news.

Read online: www.isubscribe.co.uk to see magazines that you can download.

Or download an audiobook: www.audible.co.uk or www.waterstones.com to feast your eyes on the latest novel or old classics.

Sharing information about yourself We all have a digital shadow, so remember everything you do can leave a trace, use trusted websites, act responsibly and treat others with respect.

For more information take a look at www.explore.ee.co.uk/digital-living or visit www.getsafeonline.org.uk.

Staying safe Technology has revolutionised our lives and there are things you can do to stay safe: 1. Trust your common sense - if you are not sure, don’t risk it.

2. Use anti-virus software and keep it up to date (usually annually) to stop rogue messaging and links affecting your computer.

3. Shopping online? Check for the padlock sign.

(This means the site is secure.)

Find out more EE will be hosting ‘EE National Techy Tea Party Day’ on Tuesday 9 September in all of its stores to further tackle digital exclusion across the UK. Visit www.ee.co.uk/ttpday to find out more.

Age UK produces an Internet Security guide which can be accessed online from the Age UK website at www.ageuk.org.uk or by calling Age Scotland on 0845 125 9732 to request a copy.

Visit www.facebook.com/AgeScotlandEdinburghCharityShops

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inform

Stay safe from abuse - talk to someone you trust Planning for the future and staying connected can help to keep you safe. You could: • Choose someone you trust to take responsibility for your finances, property, care and welfare matters if you lose mental capacity and set up a Power of Attorney.

bu advice on elder a se et gives e h s t c a N ew f

No-one wants to think about the risk of elder ebuse, but from calls to Silver Line Scotland we know that some older people are abused and need help to make themselves safe. Age Scotland’s information team have developed a new factsheet which gives an overview of elder abuse; it can be used by an older person, or someone who is concerned about an older person’s welfare, to identify what options they may have and who can help.

Some people who are being abused are not able to act for themselves and rely on other people to help them – this could be because of communication difficulties, memory problems, or because the abuser has destroyed their confidence and cut them off from their friends and family.

The factsheet looks at steps to take to keep yourself safe. Abusers are known to exploit people who feel isolated or have found themselves detached from their community or other people. It can involve financial, verbal, physical, emotional, psychological or mental abuse or any combination of these.

Some forms of abuse can be hard to identify, such as neglect which gets worse over time, financial abuse of someone who is confused or verbal abuse which develops from banter to bullying.

• Think about who you want to sort out your estate after your death and make a will that meets the legal requirements to be valid • Keep your financial information safe - check your bank statement regularly and don’t let anyone have details such as your PIN number • Be alert to phone and internet scams which will try to get you to disclose your bank details • Make sure that people you trust know where you keep important possessions and documents • If you need help to live independently at home ask your local council for a community care assessment • If you are thinking of moving in with family, or they are thinking of moving in with you, you and your family should get separate advice about the pros, cons and financial implications.

• Don’t allow anyone into your home unless you know them, can confirm their identity or you have made an appointment for them to visit – you might want to arrange a visit at a time when someone you trust can be with you • Stay connected with friends and family by phone, letter, online and by doing things you enjoy together.

If you are being abused or you think someone else is being abused, you can speak to the adult protection team at your local council, or in an emergency call 999 for the police.

For more information or a copy of the Elder Abuse factsheet call Age Scotland on 0845 125 9732.

10 Call Silver Line Scotland on 0800 4 70 80 90

inform

National housing conference poses important questions Age Scotland’s inaugural housing conference was held in Glasgow in March and examined the contribution housing makes in supporting older people to live independently for as long as possible. Age Scotland’s Policy Officer, Greg McCracken, considers some implications.

Attendees were asked if their homes were fit for this purpose, and to think of any underlying repairs needing addressed or even whether their current home was really the best one for them.

In coming decades, the existing housing stock will play a central role in meeting the needs of our ageing population. Our members say staying in their own home is a top priority, which has the added benefit of being cheaper than the alternative of moving into a care home or emergency hospital appointments.

Homeowners should, therefore, consider whether they currently need, or may soon require, adaptations like grab rails or wet rooms. Alternatively, is the property comfortable, warm and affordable to heat or might the property benefit from investments in energy efficiency installations? Some people’s homes won’t be suitable for adaption due to complex needs, so moving home may be the best option.

While most older households are owner occupiers, many have little spare cash with which to pay for maintenance costs or adaptations which may help to reduce the likelihood of accidents in the home.

The Scottish Government’s emerging ‘Help to Adapt’ scheme aims to help older homeowners pay for adaptations by accessing the equity in their home.

Age Scotland’s Local Housing Panels helped inform the design of the scheme, which will offer a unique, personalised service by organising the technical, legal and building work around any adaptations.

If we are to realise our shared ambitions of enabling Scotland’s older people to live independently, enjoy a high quality of life and remain active and valued members of their communities, individuals must consider whether their home suits their needs.

This investment may come at a cost some are unwilling to compromise on at present – that is, the wish to leave an inheritance. The onus is, therefore, not only on older people to prioritise themselves, but also for their offspring to encourage their parents and grandparents to put their comfort and safety foremost.

That will genuinely be in all of our interests.

Age Scotland produces a number of factsheets on housing options. Call 0845 1259732 to find out more.

Call 0845 833 0200 to find local solicitors 11

inform

Keep up the health screening Health screening plays a vital role in discovering serious health conditions early, even before someone starts to feel unwell or experiences specific symptoms. Here we look at four conditions that people in Scotland are screened for - we would encourage our readers to take advantage of these where appropriate. Although we have chosen to feature these four screening programmes, there will be other tests available for your individual health which you should discuss with your GP.

Bowel cancer killer can be cured if caught early Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in Scotland, with almost 4,000 people being diagnosed each year and more than eight in 10 cases occurring in people aged 60 and over.

Despite the shocking statistics, the good news is that bowel cancer can be successfully treated in

more than 90% of cases if caught early. Everyone between the ages of 50 and 74 in Scotland is sent a bowel cancer screening kit every two years in the post. Taking part in screening is important because it can find bowel cancers when they are small, before they cause symptoms. The test is done in the privacy of your own home and involves collecting small samples of your bowel motion which you wipe on a special card.

Called the FOB test, it helps to detect tiny amounts of blood that you can’t normally see. Screening won’t tell you whether you have bowel cancer, but if you have blood in your bowel motion you will need further tests to find out the cause.

Mark Flannagan, Chief Executive of the charity Beating Bowel Cancer, says: “The test may sound a bit embarrassing or unpleasant, but it’s quick and easy. Even if you’re fit and healthy, please take a few minutes to do it – it could save your life. Don’t do what most people do and put it on the side thinking they’ll do it later. We urge all those who are invited to take part and return their kits. Any delay could be life-threatening.”

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inform

Painless ultrasound can detect aneurysms Most people with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) have no symptoms at all, with only a small proportion of people noticing a bulge in their stomach when they lie down, especially if they are slim built. Hence AAA screening, which involves a painless 10 minute ultrasound scan of the stomach, helps greatly to detect any problems.

If you are a man aged over 65, you are at a higher risk of this condition. As such, every 65 year old man should be invited to a free AAA Screening Service which is available in all parts of the UK. Early detection will enable appropriate treatment to be started, which may also include surgery to try and repair the aorta. Left untreated, the aneurysm could rupture, usually with serious consequences.

Smoking, having a high blood pressure, being overweight and not being physically active can all raise your risk of developing AAA – so it’s important to manage these risk factors well.

If you have any concerns about this, speak to your GP or see aaa.screening.nhs.uk.

Over 70?

Do you still need to consider breast screening?

The answer is yes: you’re still at risk. More than 80% of breast cancers are in women over the age of 50 and the risk continues to rise as you get older.

The breast screening programme in Scotland invites women for screening every three years from the age of 50 up to 70. But if you are over 70 you are still at risk of breast cancer. Although you will no longer get screening invitations you can still have breast screening every three years.

leaflet about the potential benefits and potential risks of breast screening. This leaflet is available online at www.healthscotland.com or call 0131 536 5500 to request a copy. Alternatively you can call the Breast Cancer Care Helpline on 0808 800 6000 if you’d like to talk it over with someone.

If you decide to request breast screening, you can get details of your local breast screening unit by calling 08454 242424, or ask your GP or practice nurse.

Annual Eye Screening can save your sight Recent figures suggest that diabetes may no longer be the leading cause of sight loss among Canal Caledonian adults of working age and this, it seems, is down to successful ‘public health interventions’. For over a decade the NHS in Scotland has been delivering a National Screening Programme for Diabetic Retinopathy and the impact has been huge. The aim of the programme is that people with diabetes are offered annual eye screening to reduce the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. Almost 90% of those eligible are accessing the service.

All people with diabetes are at risk of developing retinopathy (damage to the retina or ‘seeing’ part of the eye). Those most at risk are people who have had diabetes for a long time and/or who have poorly controlled diabetes and high blood pressure.

Older people with Type 1 diabetes will fall in to the first category and even those with Type 2 may also have lived with it for some time. Attending regular screening for diabetic retinopathy is, therefore, essential for older people with diabetes.

You know better than anyone how your breasts look and feel normally so if you notice a change, speak to your GP as soon as possible.

Diabetes UK Scotland sees regular eye screening as one of 15 Healthcare Essentials for people with diabetes. These are the health checks you need to manage your diabetes effectively and can be accessed at: www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents

To help you decide whether to request screening or not, there’s an NHS Breast Screening Programme

For advice and support call our Diabetes UK Scotland Careline on 0345 123 2399.

Call Silver Line Scotland 0800 4 70 80 90 13

inform

How will YOU VOTE in the referendum? It’s your choice While Age Scotland is remaining impartial on the upcoming independence referendum we are clear that both sides need to ensure older people are informed and listened to. As part of this we asked both the Yes and the Better Together campaigns to put forward their arguments. Here are their responses.

Blair Jenkins, Chief Executive of Yes Scotland sets out his argument for a Yes vote

Scotland can be a successful independent country.

Scotland can be another successful independent country – both sides in the referendum debate agree on that. With our finances healthier than the UK’s to the tune of £1,600 per person over the last five years, it’s clear to see why. And we’re better able to afford pensions and welfare to support our older people – as spending on social protection takes up a smaller share of our national wealth and tax revenues than the UK as a whole.

Westminster isn’t working for Scotland’s older people So given Scotland’s undoubted wealth, the real question is why aren’t more of our people feeling the benefits of our resources? In energy-rich Scotland, blessed with oil and gas and renewables, more than a quarter of households are struggling to afford heating. Today, 140,000 Scottish pensioners are living in relative poverty.

From George Osborne’s “granny tax”, to Gordon Brown’s £100 billion raid on private pension funds and 75p State Pension increase, Westminster has repeatedly let us down.

Yes to a better Scotland In contrast, our Scottish Parliament has supported older people where it could, by introducing free nursing and personal care and the free bus pass.

Without the Scottish Parliament – and the ability to make our own choices here – these things would not have happened.

Independence means that we can build on these successes and do more to help older people – for example, by providing a stronger state pension.

The current Scottish Government has pledged to preserve the “triple-lock guarantee” to protect state pensions, ensuring their value increases with the cost of living, rising wages or 2.5% - whichever is highest.

Private and public-sector pensions will continue to be paid in the same way as they are now.

As a UK Government minister has accepted, Scotland will keep the pound – so pensions will still be paid in the same pounds and pence.

And we can continue to enjoy our favourite TV programmes on channels like the BBC while watching new ones targeted at Scottish audiences.

In September we can say Yes to a better Scotland – one which allows us to move on from Westminster’s poor record. Then, after independence in 2016 we elect a new government to take Scotland forward, be it Labour, SNP, Tory, Liberal or Green.

The choice will be ours – and we’ll have the power to build a fairer, more prosperous future.

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

inform

Jessica Murray from the West End of Glasgow explains why she will be voting No in the referendum

Pensions more secure as part of the UK On 18th September this year, like everyone else in Scotland, I will be asked to make a decision that affects not only our lives but those of future generations of Scots. That choice is between remaining as part of the UK with all the benefits that brings or stepping into the unknown with independence.

One of the biggest issues that concerns myself and my social circle is pensions. As someone that is retired, I worked all my life to get to the position I am now in where I am able to enjoy my retirement and being part of the United Kingdom means that I receive the UK state pension.

Everybody across the UK gets equal access to a pension and it’s one of the best examples of where we pool and share resources across the UK. It means that people receiving a pension in Glasgow have it paid by someone starting work in Manchester and vice versa. I benefit from the responsibility being shared across the broader shoulders of the UK meaning that all pensions get equal support in both the good times and the bad.

Scotland’s population aging at a faster rate than the UK population brings its own share of problems.

Within the next two decades the number of pensioners will increase from 1.1 million to 1.3 million. Being part of the UK spreads those increased costs across a population of 63 million and not just the 5 million in Scotland.

The UK State Pension system is one that works. It is tried and tested and is delivering for people right here, right now. The pensions of 1 million Scots are guaranteed by this benefits system.

Not only are the Nationalists asking us to step away from a pension system that is tried and tested but they have failed to tell us their alternative. They tell us that if we do separate from the rest of the United Kingdom that pensions would be more generous and paid earlier yet fail to explain how this would be funded.

The obvious risk to pensions from independence plans is far too great and the Nationalists haven’t provided answers to any of the concerns that independent experts have raised.

I believe that we can have the best of both worlds: a Scottish parliament that makes real decisions over the wellbeing of Scots, with the guarantee of more powers, backed up by the strength and security of the larger UK economy.

For insurance call 0845 833 0758 15

Get Involved Food Train Friends won the Services for Older People Award for its work offering befriending services to isolated older people in the Dumfries and Galloway area.

Nominations open for Age Scotland Awards 2014 Nominations are open for this year’s Age Scotland Awards. The Age Scotland Awards celebrate the groups and individuals who have made a significant contribution to the lives of older people in Scotland. In addition to last year’s categories, we’ve introduced a new award which will recognise Scotland’s most age-friendly employers.

The Awards ceremony will be held at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 1st October 2014 to coincide with celebrations for UN International Older People’s Day as well as the first day of Luminate, Scotland’s month long creative ageing festive.

Nominations are now open for the following awards: • The Jess Barrow Award for Campaigning and Influencing – sponsored by McCarthy & Stone • The Patrick Brookes Partnership Award – sponsored by Specsavers • Service for Older People Award • Member Group of the Year Award – sponsored by David Urquhart Travel

Citadel Arts Group won the Member Group of the Year category in recognition of its projects and activities that stimulate memory and creativity in older Edinburgh and Midlothian residents.

Clackmannanshire Older Adults Forum won the Patrick Brooks Award for Partnership Working.

In just one year Clackmannanshire Older Adults amplified the influence of its 16 member groups, making sure older people’s voices were heard on topics from housing to transport.

The Jess Barrow Award for campaigning and influencing was won by Tommy Whitelaw, who cared for his mother until her death in September 2012 and undertook a marathon walk across Scotland to raise awareness of the plight of carers.

Brian Sloan, Age Scotland Chief Executive, said: “Too often we hear negative messages about older people such as the “demographic time bomb” and listen to commentary which seemingly aims to pit different generations against each other. Age Scotland’s awards are our way of challenging these perceptions, by showing how older people embrace civic and social responsibilities and highlighting the depth of talent and experience amongst our older generation. If you haven’t already done so, please let us know who you would like to nominate. And remember if you know of an employer who has exemplary age friendly practices, please nominate them for our newest category of award.”

The Age Scotland Award winners last year were:

The closing date for nominations is Friday 29th August 2014. Winners will be notified by 17th September 2014. The winners will receive a trophy and certificate, as well as professional photographs to keep. Invitations to the awards ceremony will go out closer to the event.

May Wallace was awarded Volunteer of the Year. May, age 92 (pictured on the front cover) has volunteered with Westhill and Garlogie Day Centre in Aberdeenshire for 24 years in a variety of roles including exercise class leader.

You can download a copy of the nomination form online at www.agescotland.org.uk/awards. For further information call 0845 833 0200 or email awards@agescotland.org.uk.

• Volunteer of the Year – sponsored by Solicitors for Older People Scotland.

• Employer of the Year Award

We look forward to receiving your nominations.

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Get Involved Advantage

Age Scotland’s quarterly

magazine autumn 2013

Advantage

issue 37

Age Scotland’s quarterly

magazine spring

2013

issue 35

Luminate

Scotland’s creative ageing festival is back

Still waiting

Campaign for a better bus pass scheme: p12

p8: Top tax tips p8: Benefits changes know the score

p12: Special celebrations

p22: Our new Chief Executive interview ed

inside: Your Luminate programme

p26: How to promote your club

Results of Advantage readership survey Thank you to the many readers who responded to our annual Advantage Survey, giving us valuable and encouraging feedback on the magazine.

A total of 95 per cent of respondents said you would recommend Advantage, up three per cent on last year. And in response to us asking you how you rated the magazine as a source of information, 58 per cent of respondents said the magazine was often useful with nearly a third saying it was essential. Threequarters of respondents said they value inspirational stories either a lot or a bit.

The most common response to our question about the type of stories and information we include was that we were getting it about right but popular requests were for more information about travel, health, money, home and care and local issues.

Information on specialist groups and campaigning was also popular. It is great to hear how readers have used what they learn from Advantage to fire up their own campaigning groups and to inform their friends and relatives.

Advantage’s editorial team will use this feedback in our decisions for future editions. We’re grateful to those of you who took the time to complete the surveys but remember you can let us know what you think at any time through the contact details below: Email: advantage@agescotland.org.uk Telephone: 0845 833 9313 Write to: Advantage, Age Scotland, Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PR

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going local

achan Eryn Str

news from t he

Afore Ye Go

Age Scotland Grants fund a wee trip ‘doon the watter’ More than 150 older people from four member groups will be taking a trip “doon the watter” courtesy of Age Scotland grants. General Motor Senior Citizens Group, Kilsyth Joint Blind and Disabled Group, Fraser River Tower Residents and Kilsyth and District Elderly Explorers all accessed grants in order to support their summer day trips. Here’s hoping the sun shines!

On a more serious note, 10 delegates representing three member groups will be attending the National Pensioners Convention this June, after accessing support from our grants. Topics up for discussion this year include the Future of Pensions, the NHS, Loneliness, and the economics of an ageing population.

“Afore Ye Go” Age Scotland and East Renfrewshire Council recently teamed up to host the first “Afore Ye Go” event in the West. Almost 40 older people gathered in Eastwood House to hear speakers discuss the topical

Your local Age Scotland team Linda Anderson (Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire) 01355 279 929 Charlie Murphy (Glasgow, Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde) 0141 427 5145

West Netw ork Yes / N

west

o debat e

issues of Power of Attorney, Making a Will, Equity Release, Funeral Planning and Care Costs. Workshops provided participants with the opportunity to discuss more personal issues around death and dying. An interesting and informative day, as one delegate said: “Excellent work in raising awareness and getting people to talk about death - an opportunity which is not often available.”

Vote yes or no?

Yet again the recent West Network event proved extremely popular with more than 90 attendees, representing 34 member groups. Gathered in Renfield St Stephens, delegates heard from and put questions to Blair Jenkins from the Yes Scotland Campaign and Malcolm Cumming from the Better Together Campaign. Both delegates and speakers were kept on their toes by our Chair, Jean Taylor from the NHS Retirement Fellowship (Glasgow Branch).

(See pages 14-15 for more from both campaigns.)

Overseas voice There was an international flavour at the North East Older Adults Network in Glasgow in March.

More than 30 people heard presentations from Glasgow City Council on Welfare Reform and on Personalisation. Post lunch entertainment was provided by Eryn Strachan, a singer-songwriter from New Zealand, now based in Glasgow (pictured). One delegate commented - “a very pleasant and very instructive day”.

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 Presenti ng

Isle of Cumbr ae

Heather Baillie (Ayrshire) 01563 528 441

floral art

walk

ore the sh Blue Beard, bef

ave

What to do in a power cut

Falls Prevention

Our membership in the South continues to steadily grow and we now have 210 groups and 41 individuals across the South region. The recent joint network meeting held at the Lochside Hotel, New Cumnock had a record 70 members attending, representing 27 groups along with a few of our individual members from across the three Ayrshire local authority areas and Dumfries and Galloway.

Members received updates on the charity’s campaigns and new initiatives and participated in a discussion on SP Energy Network. This helped to raise awareness of what to do in the event of a power cut and how to ensure you receive the proper information and support during either an unplanned or planned power cut. For information, if you live in the South of Scotland and experience a power cut call SP Energy Networks on 0845 272 7999.

In March a network meeting of 18 members representing our Scottish Borders learnt about a new Falls Prevention initiative from Paul Richardson, Community Safety Officer from Scottish Borders Council.

Doon the Water In previous years the Age Scotland South regional team have organised a fun day over on the Isle of Cumbrae which has seen more than 100 members from groups and Age Scotland staff come together and raise funds for their groups by participating in a sponsored walk.

In previous years this has been held in June but to avoid the rain, which always seems appears when we hold this day, we are looking to change the date to later on in the Summer. More information will be made available when we have the date confirmed.

Active Ageing In the autumn months we are planning a couple of events for our South members to enjoy some activities which promote active ageing. With the focus on having fun there will be taster sessions on low impact group activities. The events will be held in Millport, North Ayrshire and Romano Bridge in the Scottish Borders. Members will receive written notice about these two events in due course.

Blue Beard shaves it off for Age Scotland George Bowles from Age Scotland member group Creighton Court Social Club in East Ayrshire recently grew his beard and then made the brave decision to dye it blue and walk round the streets of Kilmarnock raising funds for Age Scotland before shaving it off.

George raised a fantastic £238.50 as a thank you to Age Scotland’s Heather Baillie for the support she has given to the group.

Network meetings The next South Network meetings will be a joint Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway meeting on Monday 1 September, and Friday 5 September in the Scottish Borders, programme and venues TBC.

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going local Older people in South Kintyre will benefit from a Big Lottery Investing in Communities Award to Shopper-Aide in Campbeltown. Several years of planning for this much-needed shopping delivery, befriending and odd jobs service have finally paid off.

g on Lismore y Bus’ outin A ‘Grann

Spring Brings Good News to the North Spring brought the blossoming of exciting new projects for member groups in the north with Forget-Me-Not in Banchory officially opening its resource centre for people with dementia and their carers in March.

“This project has involved a lot of hard work,” said Development Officer, Suzy Gentle. “But at the launch I was struck by how fantastic the centre is and how it will enhance the already terrific service that Forget-Me-Not offer to the local community.”

Funding success stories Regional Trustee, Brenda Nicolson visited North Coast Connection in Tongue who are to be congratulated for their success in gaining funding from Community Spaces Scotland and the Climate Challenge Fund. These funds will allow them to go ahead with a major project to renovate and extend their centre. Additional grant funding from local sources and from Age Scotland will be used to improve access to the rejuvenated building.

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

Development Officer, Jo Cowan was also delighted to hear of funding success for three member groups benefiting from the Scottish Government Community Transport Vehicle Fund for replacement vehicles: These are Lismore Community Transport, Tagsa Uibhist Community Services and Voluntary Action Barra & Vatersay.

Visiting the Island of Lismore in April, Jo congratulated the committee, volunteers and users of the ‘Granny Bus’ at their get-together. “Hearing how much this service means to the older people who use it, both on the island and to get to Oban, highlights once again what a lifeline community transport is to our remote communities,” said Jo.

Networks & Focus Groups Two new areas held successful Age Scotland Network meetings. In the North East, Inverurie Network saw twenty five people representing fifteen groups attending and, over in the West, nineteen people from eleven groups met in Fort William. Discussions and networking were lively with enthusiasm for further meetings in both areas.

The Inverness get-together in February gave local groups a chance to meet several new health and social care workers in a ‘Who’s New & What They Do’ session.

A focus group for Transport Scotland was held in Forres in March - with members of a local group attending to discuss their use of the bus pass.

School pupils encouraged to challenge prejudice against older people Suzy Gentle took part in a new initiative to deliver workshops to encourage pupils to challenge prejudice, including discrimination against older people. Eight workshops were held over two days and involved pupils from eight schools in Aberdeenshire. The sessions went well and Age Scotland has been invited to be involved further with this work.

20 Join us on www.facebook.com/agescotland

going local Windfall brings new lease of life to Montrose Day Care When farmer Daniel Adam died in 2012, the Board of Directors at Montrose Day Care were astounded to discover that he had left them half a million pounds in his will.

Working out of the old church in Panmure Place, Montrose Day Care has been offering a range of services to older and vulnerable people from the town for the last 27 years.

Local Development Officer Douglas Macnaughtan said: “They have worked wonders on a tight budget to become a highly respected and valued service so it was a bit of surprise to turn up to discuss a small festive grant and find out instead about their plans to use their windfall to build a brand new centre.”

Douglas has worked with the Board over the last 18 months to plan their new centre which will be close to the local residential home at Dorward House.

“It is a welcome change for me to help with the development of such an important project for the older people of Montrose. Having the budget in place really makes all the difference. We can concentrate on how best to use these resources, without having to cut corners,” he added.

Planning permission has been granted and it is hoped that the thirty service users of Montrose will be well established in the new Centre by late summer 2015. The lessons learned from this development will help Age Scotland to support other groups around the country with similar projects.

Birthday celebrations in Polmont Age Concern’s Wednesday Club celebrated 20 years of delivering top quality services to older people in the Polmont area with a wonderful afternoon of tea, cake and entertainment.

Dorry McLaughlin, Age Scotland Regional Trustee, and Carole Anderson, Development Officer, joined around 50 others in the Parish Church Halls to listen to songs and stories from Age Concern Falkirk’s choir, the Arnotdale Singers.

The group is run by a team of dedicated volunteers and offers opportunities for older people to take part in a wide range of activities – from a cuppa and chat to outings to places of interest.

dent) Party. e-Presi Betty Glen (P resident) and Sandra Gow (Vic hday h Birt t 0 2 s ’ cut the cake at Polmont Wednesday Club

Men’s Shed success Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed has been successful in finding temporary premises and, with its constitution and policy documentation now in place, can concentrate on looking at how they might support men in the local community. The Shedders were given a donation of tools and some start-up funding. You can keep up with their progress on their website: www.carseofgowriemensshed.webs.com Members of Clackmannanshire Men’s Shed also had a success story to share – they now have an enthusiastic steering committee in place and are actively looking for suitable premises. Two potential sites have been identified as possible locations for their Shed and various meetings with landowners are in the pipeline.

For more information about the Men’s sheds network in your area please contact Carole Anderson on: 01577 864658

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

To find out about legacy gifts to Age Scotland call 0845 833 9358 21

inspire photo: Norman McBeath

Poets & storytellers help care home residents find their voice

oss | Poet Liz Lochhead idents in Perth and Kinr Irving and res a n r o L y b s on leave Poems

Poets, storytellers and musicians are being invited into care homes and sheltered housing to run monthly sessions with small groups of residents as part of Living Voices, a national pilot programme running in South Ayrshire, Perth and Kinross and Aberdeen, writes Emma Faragher of the Scottish Poetry Library.

Developed in partnership between the Scottish Poetry Library and the Scottish Storytelling Centre, the facilitators use a themed selection of poems, stories, songs and supporting material to prompt conversation, creativity and share life stories. Relatively simple interactions can have a huge impact, as poet Sheila Templeton observed after her first visit.

“I had hoped that the group would enjoy the session, but I was completely unprepared for the sheer engagement and delight, the difference made by spending an hour listening to poems, stories and singing together,” said Sheila.

Artists work with volunteers and care staff to run sessions and wherever possible they work with the same group of residents every month. This means they can build close relationships with the groups, working with them to develop session plans that suit their needs, nurturing and exploring individual interests, histories and creativity.

Living Voices is supported by The Paul Hamlyn Foundation, The Baring Foundation, Creative Scotland and The Gannochy Trust. It is exploring the benefit of literary arts in care contexts and developing a simple yet effective model for professional artists to

facilitate regular activities in care homes. The pilot will be completed in summer 2014 when evaluation findings will be published. Fundraising for a second phase of delivery is currently ongoing.

Emerging evaluation is showing that Living Voices stimulates memory, eases loneliness, sparks conversation and supports improved social engagement. One staff member commented on the transformation in a resident, saying: “The change in her was dramatic. She started joining in all our arts activities, quizzes, sing songs; all because she found her voice at Living Voices. It was magical.”

In January, National Poet Liz Lochhead took part in a Living Voices session in a South Ayrshire care home.

She was impressed by the residents’ response to the Burns poems she performed, “Creative solutions should be called upon – and I have to believe that poetry must be a useful tool. Living Voices uses poems full of recall, reminiscence, rhythm, rhyme, pieces spilling over with immediate, sensuous detail.

The scheme has proved its effectiveness.”

Living Voices can create a space where residents and staff can engage in new ways, through poetry and story, and as individual people, not ‘carer’ and ‘cared for’. Staff find benefit in strengthened relationships with residents, supporting the delivery of effective person-centred care. As one of our facilitators, storyteller Claire Hewitt, says: “To be given that time together in the sessions to share, weave our tales together, laugh, inspire and remember is precious.” www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/learn/carers.

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

inspire

Dance initiative to pas-de-basque around Scotland More than 250 organisations are coming together to provide thousands of opportunities for people to take part in and enjoy a huge range of dance activities throughout Scotland this summer as part of the Get Scotland Dancing initiative, writes Brian Maycock of Creative Scotland.

Highlights include large scale public ceilidhs in West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh; The Briggait, Glasgow, and The Music Hall, Aberdeen on Saturday 21 June at 7.30pm as part of a 24 hour Commonwealth Ceilidh that will also span the world.

The dancing begins in New Zealand then traces a line around the globe with dances in different countries, and culminates in Hawaii in this exciting event which is led by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

Anyone can join in with the Commonwealth Ceilidh, whether they are new to dance or a life-long dancer.

More than 80 venues across Scotland are offering free taster dance classes in a wide range of dance styles for all ages and abilities through the Get Dancin’ initiative. Everyone is welcome.

Classes include; Ballet, Modern, Tap at The Gail Neish Dance Studios Kirkcaldy; Salsa, Zumba, Contemporary, Jazz at Dynamic Dance Co Central Scotland, Highland, Ballet, Modern and Tap at Lawrence Dance Academy Aberdeenshire, Ballet, Ceilidh, Highland, Scottish Country Dance at Saut Burgh Highland Dancers Dysart; Contemporary and Street at Beacon Arts Centre Inverclyde.

Dance to interrupt, surprise and inspire will pop up this summer across the country with a series of Dance Trails in unusual locations including parks, town squares, shopping centres and online.

There’s also the chance to dance-along to classic movies including Grease and Dirty Dancing at special outdoor screenings in Stirling, Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow and Greenock.

Mass dances at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena, Aberdeen Sports Village and Dundee’s Tay Square are just three of an anticipated 2000 locations across the world where people will dance a new piece choreographed

by Scottish Ballet for The Big Dance Pledge.

To complete the bill, around 400 dancers will perform at YDance’s first ever Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival this July in Glasgow with an exciting range of shows.

His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen sees the world premiere in July of a new dance performance, The Four Seasons, and Scotland’s first international inclusive dance festival Gathered Together 2014 takes place in August Get Scotland Dancing, which aims to inspire more people to get active and participate in dance, is supported through National Lottery funding.

Activity in 2014 is part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme.

Find out more at www.getscotlanddancing.org or telephone 0131 523 0093

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Clubs’ Corner

First Scotlandwide conference spotlights wellbeing on Perth C

cert Hall

Age Scotland members and guest organisations from across Scotland are warmly invited to take part in the Charity’s inaugural National Conference at the Perth Concert Hall on Wednesday 19 November.

to our society and discuss what makes for a good personal quality of life. We expect the outcomes from our conference discussions will be of interest to a range of service providers, policy makers and planners of services.”

With the help of a number of high profile guest speakers, including the National poet for Scotland, Liz Lochhead, and Carol Craig, Chief Executive of the Centre for Confidence and Wellbeing, the conference will discuss what makes later life worth being. It will look at how we ensure that the considerable resource people in later life offer is recognised and valued by society and what needs to be done to ensure that the greatest numbers of people in Scotland enjoy and can make the most out of later life.

This is Age Scotland’s first national members’ conference. It replaces the four annual regional assemblies and builds on the ongoing popular programme of members’ networking events held in communities across Scotland on a variety of topics.

Entitled ‘Later Life in Scotland: Tae Mak it Worth Bein’, the conference aims to bring together around 300 people representing older people’s organisations from across Scotland to explore the theme of wellbeing in later life.

Elizabeth Bryan community development coordinator and conference organiser says, “As in many other parts of the world Scotland’s people look forward to a longer life expectancy than ever before but repeated studies have identified major challenges around this demographic change. Our national conference will bring together older people from communities across Scotland to share their experiences of later life in Scotland, celebrate the considerable contribution that older people make

“Age Scotland celebrates its fifth birthday this year following the merger in 2009 of two leading older people’s charities, Age Concern and Help the Aged, so we thought this was a good way to celebrate. We hope that members will enjoy talking with members of other groups from different parts of the country, networking and sharing ideas, knowledge and resources,” added Elizabeth.

The conference is free to Age Scotland members and takes place in Perth Concert Hall, Scotland’s newest concert hall. The concert hall opened in 2005 and has a stunning auditorium and large glass-fronted foyer which will be ideal for members to gather, make connections, chat and visit a selection of information stalls. Age Scotland will provide support with travel to Perth to enable members to attend.

The full conference programme is currently being planned and will be available in late summer and mailed to all Age Scotland members in September but meantime please Save the Date in your diary!

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soap box

What becomes of the carer?

As a carer, losing the one you have been caring for can bring the double pain of bereavement and redundancy. Here, guest columnist Christine Rae opens up about her experiences.

Why am I writing this piece about caring? The reason is simple - because when I became an accidental carer for my Mum I couldn’t find the information I needed to do the task effectively.

With hindsight I suspect it was available, but just not in one place, and the conversations I had with others in similar situations seemed to bear this out. This article illustrates my experience and it acknowledges my gratitude for all the help I got from those people who rescued me from the mire time and again.

To me there are two types of carer - visible and invisible. The visible ones are easily recognised they generally wear a uniform and have had some specific training to equip them for their caring role. Invisible carers, on the other hand, have in most cases had no training at all, relying on a combination of love, basic instinct, resourcefulness and sheer good luck to enable them to look after their loved one and are recognized only by their relationship to the person they care for.

I’d hear people saying things like, ‘Caring is a steep learning curve.’ ‘It’s a strain sometimes, but what’s the alternative?’ ‘A warped sense of humour helps!’

‘One day I’ll remember all the laughter we shared, then I’ll feel sad and guilty.’ ‘Mustn’t complain.’ ‘I love him but I get so tired.’ ‘Where’s the five minutes I promised myself?’ ‘It’s very isolating.’

And what becomes of the carer after their loved one dies? There is the immediate pain and grief, the keeping up appearances in public, the eventual rebuilding of some kind of lifestyle, and superficially at least, they look as if they are managing, coping, doing OK. It is the same problem again. They have loved and cared for their relative, in many cases for years, and have suddenly been deprived of that ability. They are suffering the double pain of

Rae tine s i r h C

bereavement and of redundancy and, as a result of this loss of purpose and focus, they need help and support to rebuild their sense of self-worth once more.

I found that the most important thing was admitting to myself that I was feeling vulnerable and letting other people help me. Don’t feel guilty about accepting it, they wouldn’t offer if they didn’t want to become part of your life. Let your guard down, open yourself up and let the world back in. It won’t flood in, it will only come in as quickly as you need it to, and one day the person doing the helping and supporting will be you again, the no longer redundant carer.

own, d d r a u g r Let you f up and el open yoursback in.” ld let the wor 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

owlis Angela F

Help at a Crossroads: Pre-retirement councils give charity a new training arm From July 1, two organisations – the Scottish Pre-Retirement Council (SPRC) and the Tayside Pre-Retirement Council (TPRC) – will become part of Age Scotland, forming a new training arm to the Charity. Age Scotland Communications and Marketing Manager Katrina Coutts spoke to Angela Fowlis, Director of the SPRC, about the history of pre-retirement training in Scotland and her excitement at joining Age Scotland.

“Retirement is a crossroads in your life and people need help with it,” is how Angela explains the transition from work to retirement. “We give help with the next stage of your life and it’s a big issue, particularly given how long people are living now.

We’re seeing people at 60 who have a good chance of being alive at 90. That’s an awful long time to be killing time with no purpose.’’

While planning for a significant period of time in retirement is the big issue today, Angela explains it’s in contrast to the reasons why the Scottish Pre-Retirement Council was originally set up back in 1950s Glasgow.

Originally known as the Glasgow Council for Preparation for and Occupational Activities on Retirement, the organisation came about following a report into the condition of retired people in the Glasgow area.

“In Glasgow in the 1950s, men who had worked in the shipyards and in heavy industry who had hard physical lives and then retired were just not living that long. When they retired that was seen as the end of everything but there’s a whole emotional side of giving up work which nobody had previously looked at,” explains Angela, who has been with the SPRC since 2000 and will be managing the new training arm of Age Scotland.

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

interview

is a t n e m e r i t Re life r u o y n i s d crossroa ed help with it.” ne and people

including financial advice, wills and legal matters, active ageing and volunteering opportunities.

The aims of the organisation when it was set up were:

“Very often people will say they feel they’ve come too late to the course. We explain to Human Resource Managers that the right time is two, three, or even four years before retirement so the employees have time to plan – that’s particularly important for the financial side of things.”

a) To study the problems of the older worker; b) To seek ways and means by which men and women might be prepared for retirement; and c) To promote for retired persons opportunities for social contact and service, crafts, hobbies and the best uses of leisure time.

Much of this ethos remains the same today, and it’s for similar reasons that the Tayside Pre-Retirement Council was launched in Dundee in 1981. But, as Angela explains, the structure of the courses offered has changed over the years.

“Originally, the Glasgow courses were run over seven days, and they were just for men. It wasn’t until the early 1980s that they were opened up to women, and even then for some time the men’s and women’s courses were done separately.

“With better pensions back then finances were covered, but it wasn’t the main focus, which was more on keeping active and in the early days in Glasgow the men attending the courses were encouraged to join craft and hobby centres. These were places where men could go to keep using their skills and do something positive – it echoes with the emerging Men’s Sheds movement we’re seeing in Scotland now.

But today, as many final salary pension schemes are coming to an end we’re seeing far more interest shown by individuals coming along to the courses in financial planning issues such as pensions and estate planning. That’s not all retirement planning is about, but it is a big consideration for people.”

Today’s courses are typically one or two days long and people are mainly enrolled by their employer.

An SPRC volunteer, who are often individuals who went on the course themselves before retiring, chairs the day and sessions cover a range of topics

With the scrapping of the mandatory retirement age, people now have more choice over when to retire, which in turn can make it more difficult for employers to judge when a ‘pre-retirement’ course is appropriate for staff.

Having worked for more than a decade in preretirement training, Angela explains there’s no such thing as an average retirement, it’s all about choices. Whether that’s choosing to spend your time in front of the TV, or, as one couple on a course were planning, cycling across America on a tandem.

But whatever the plan, something Angela does push home is not to let others assign your time for you because you’re initially worried you won’t have enough to do.

“People will approach you, because for years you’ve been saying you’ve not had time to go on such and such a committee, and so on. Some people are so anxious that they’ll have nothing to do they take on too much too soon.

“So I advise people to be careful what you take on as you hear so many people saying that they’re busier than ever and, when you get signed up to things it can be hard to step back. It’s the same with caring for grandchildren. Some people say they want to do this but only in a small way and then I meet them later and by then they’ve taken on too much child care and they’re often exhausted with the extent of it all.’’

By becoming part of Age Scotland, Angela hopes to grow retirement training but also look to diversify into other areas of age-related training. “It’s going to be very exciting to be part of something bigger and bringing together the knowledge and expertise from across Age Scotland, the SPRC and TPRC should give us great scope.”

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