YOUR COMPLIMENTARY COPY
STRICTLY
SIGNING
WINTER 2022
True Colours
Fun for Free
Sobering Thought
MC
INSIDE... 3 WELCOME
16
AGEING DISGRACEFULLY
4 TRUE COLOURS
Will you be doing yoga at 80 like Margaret? An expert tells how your lifestyle can keep you young.
7 I ALMOST GAVE UP MY FUTURE
24
8 STRICTLY SPEAKING
SPICE UP YOUR LIFE
This healthy tagine reminds Dietitian Hannah Wyllie of holidays in Morocco.
12 WHAT MAKES A STALKER? 14 AGEING DISGRACEFULLY 16 NO TIME TO RETIRE 17 COME AND JOIN US
Bring a warm glow and the aroma of the medina to your kitchen.
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TRUE COLOURS
Veteran and triple amputee Andy Reid is bringing colour to the lives of young people. He shares his story.
18 SOBERING THOUGHT 20 HELP
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22 WHEN LIFE’S NOT PLAIN SAILING 23 ADMIRABLE ADMIRAL
SOBERING THOUGHT
24 SPICE UP YOUR LIFE 26 WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE TO TURN
Young people are fed up with hangovers and hangups. We hear about a generation turning their backs on booze.
28 WALKS OF LIFE 30 WINTER WELL 32 FUN FOR FREE
MC magazine team: Managing Editor: Steve Murphy. Editor: Jackie Rankin. Contributors: Sophie Brown, Jo Henwood. Editorial: Julie Crompton.
Photography: Joel Goodman, Steve Murphy, Freepik.com, Jelena Senicic on Unsplash Illustrations: Ella Byworth, Vecteezy.com. Design: Jo Hadfield.
You can contact us at: communications@merseycare.nhs.uk MerseyCareNHSFoundationTrust
32 ZERO HEROES MEET THE AMBASSADORS
@Mersey_Care
34 THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD
@MerseyCareNHSFT
35 MEET YOUR GOVERNOR
Cover shot BBC
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MEMBERSHIP AND GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION The GDPR is the General Data Protection Regulation, a European-wide law, which governs how organisations can collect, use and transfer personal data. It came into force on 25 May 2018 alongside the new Data Protection Act 2018. As a Foundation Trust, Mersey Care has a statutory requirement to develop and maintain a membership and it is necessary for us to process our members’ personal data to perform this task. Our members are drawn from the public, people who use our services or care for people who use our services and staff. We request and securely hold data on our members, which they provide when joining our membership. The data we hold on our members enables us to show that we are representative of the community we provide services for, to keep members updated through our quarterly MC magazine via email or post and to invite all members to the Annual General meeting. We also engage with all members advising when the election for governors will be taking place, giving members the opportunity to nominate themselves to become a governor and to vote in elections for the council of governors. Should you no longer wish to be a member of Mersey Care please email membership@merseycare.nhs.uk with your details or call 0151 471 2303 asking that your details be removed.
WELCOME T
here are two tribes when it comes to winter. The snuggle up and hunker down by the fire tribe, and the wrap up and get out there no matter the weather tribe. Which are you? Whatever your tribe (and you can be in both) winter creates an ambience like no other season. Nights may be long (the Danes seem to get by lighting a trillion candles and meeting up with friends) – but a winter day is a sight to behold.
Are you hoping to age disgracefully? If your plans for ageing are being active (and a bit rebellious) you’d better start planning now. Lifestyle it seems, is what allows us to throw caution to the wind. We talk to a doctor about ageing, and hear from a yoga teacher who, at 80, could teach us all a thing or two! Actress Rose Ayling-Ellis showed us how to dance – and more importantly how being deaf hasn’t stopped her living life to the full. We met an inspirational heath link worker who is making sure the deaf community on Merseyside do the same (page 8).
Actress Rose Ayling-Ellis and dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
In the Channel 4 drama Help Stephen Graham’s portrayal of a young man with Alzheimer’s disease was a stark reminder of the impact of early onset dementia. We meet a couple learning to live with a diagnosis and the nurse who lost her own dad and is proving a lifeline to her patients (page 20). More than 80,000 people were victims of stalking last year. We talk to a forensic psychologist who says the best way to protect the public is to work with the stalker. Read more on page 12. If you’re on a budget our guide to having fun for free will be a welcome read. And there’s plenty more about staying well in winter. Enjoy the issue and the season!
The MC Magazine Team.
We are in an ever changing situation. The information in this issue was correct at the time of going to press, but please consult nhs.uk or gov.uk for latest advice and information.
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SPECIAL FEATURE
4
Veteran Andy Reid is bringing colour into the lives of young people.
TRUE
COLOURS
Colour can affect our mood and evoke memories good and bad. Jackie Rankin meets a veteran bringing colour into the lives of young people, and talks to the experts designing hospital wards with recovery in mind.
S
oldier Andy Reid woke up after major trauma surgery to the glare of white all around him. “I’d just found out I was still alive, but seeing the bright lights, white walls, ceiling, sheets, I thought I was going towards that light people say happens when you’re facing death.” Andy, a corporal with 3rd battalion Yorkshire Regiment, was leading his men back from a routine excursion in Afghanistan in 2009 when he stood on an IED (improvised explosive device). He was loaded into a truck and taken back to base. It was only when he tried to get morphine from his pouch that he realised his arm was almost severed. His left hand was also badly damaged but worse was to come. Andy was put in an induced coma, stabilised and flown back to England. When he woke up from the coma his left leg had been amputated above the knee and his right leg below. Almost all his right arm was lost.
I felt lucky to be alive, but it’s harder to think positively in sterile surroundings. Through rehabilitation he yearned to be in natural surroundings.” I felt lucky to be alive, but it’s harder to think positively in sterile surroundings.” Since then Andy’s married his girlfriend Claire, become a father, and used his tremendous mental resilience and experiences to help others. Part of that ‘giving back’ was to develop his charitable trust, the Standing
Tall Foundation, for young people who have encountered adversity. He’s a strong advocate of therapeutic spaces as people recover from trauma or injury. When Crown Decorating Centres asked him to open a store in his home town of St Helens he saw an opportunity for his Foundation therapy rooms to be made even more cathartic for troubled youngsters. They’ve agreed to support him by providing materials.
I want them to be somewhere calming where they feel able to share their innermost feelings. “People come here to talk. We see young people who self harm. I want them to be somewhere calming where they feel able to share their innermost feelings. We don’t want rainbows, just calm colours and low lighting to create a peaceful calm space.” It’s typical of a man who doctors thought may not overcome his injuries. But Andy is goal driven. He never refuses a challenge, abseiling and skydiving to raise funds for charities. His Foundation launched just before lockdown. Funding was still in the pipeline, but the requests for help came, and were fulfilled. They included the hotel room for a veteran previously sleeping in his car, and two months rent paid on a house for a man about to be made homeless.
Andy’s friend John Tabern pays tribute to the man he says has more mental strength than anyone you’ll meet. “He never blamed anyone for what happened to him. He took responsibility for joining the army and testing himself in a war zone. There’s no bitterness. His drive and commitment to improving himself is second to none.” Andy has met HRHs Princes Charles, William and Harry and was awarded an MBE in 2019 for his charity work. He uses his position unashamedly, not for himself but the kids he supports. “I’ve known adversity. My family was in a car crash with a drunk driver. I broke my leg and my mum became an amputee. I missed a lot of schooling and as I grew up I made wrong decisions – I stole my mum’s car and crashed it, I was expelled and followed the wrong path for a while. “I understand these kids, I can relate to them. If I’d carried on down that path I’d probably have misused drugs and alcohol. The army was the best thing I could have done. I found it easier being on tour than doing 12 hour shifts in a factory or a building site. “I can use my experience to give them life skills. I tell them to set their own goals; the immediate goal might be to turn up on time at school with a pen, pencil, ruler and rubber. The mid term might be 100 per cent attendance and the long term goal something else. It doesn’t matter what the goal is – it’s achieving it that matters.”
MORE INFORMATION Standing Tall Foundation: standingtall.co.uk 5
photo: Andy Wardle photography.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO Interior Designer Lynn Lindley
FEEL?
When choosing colours ask yourself ‘how do I want to feel’? says Lynn Lindley, interior designer for Mersey Care’s £53 million Rowan View medium secure hospital. Service users told us they wanted to feel safe, to go into a place that they can relate to as a good experience. They wanted their spaces to be the colours of nature. We worked closely with the architects and builders who were already on the job and with service users we came up with the concept of ‘seasons’. Once we had that we could create imagery. It was wonderful, we incorporated leaves that changed colour, and berries. “We wanted staff to feel good in their dedicated spaces too, so we chose a different colour and feel for those areas. It’s rewarding, you’re making a difference to someone’s life.” Paint companies are taking the guesswork out of matching colours. “Computer programs can now show how colours can be used together to create a mood and make the space do what you want it to do.”
LYNN’S TIPS FOR CREATING A VERSATILE SPACE “Start with an image, like a beach. Pick out colours within that image and decide how to use them. If you like to ring the changes, choose a neutral colour for walls, ceilings and floors and Colours is used to create therapeutic interiors at Rowan View medium secure hospital.
add stronger colours through a feature wall which can easily be changed, or soft furnishings.” • Lynn Lindley is Studio Associate Director and Interior Designer with IBI Group.
WHY DO WE PREFER CERTAIN COLOURS? It could be that we’ve evolved to prefer colours that our ancient ancestors associated with survival, safety and health says neuroscientist Christian Jarrett. Already by just a few months of age, babies are picky about colours, preferring to gaze at brighter colours like blue and red rather than duller ones such as brown. However, our life experiences and the culture we grow up in are also likely to play a large role in our colour preferences. There’s evidence, for example, that our emotional reactions to objects and symbols can sway our preferences – the colour of our favourite football team, for instance, or a favourite piece of clothing. • Dr Christian Jarrett is a cognitive neuroscientist, science writer and author. Read the full article in the BBC Science Focus: sciencefocus.co.uk
Hannah Slater is interior designer with Gilling Dod Architects.
COLOURS EVOKE
EMOTION Colours link directly into our emotions says Hannah Slater, interior designer for Mersey Care’s Leigh Moss Hospital and state of the art Low Secure Unit.
H
er advice to budding designers is to choose colours that replicate nature and you can’t go wrong.
“Warm shades of green, yellow and even light blues reinforce a feeling of restfulness and calm. Yellow sparks creativity so hints of a brighter shade will give a happy feel.” She advocates pale greys to reduce anxiety and even a soft white if you want a relaxing space. “Although white is used in sterile environments, a gentle off white can link to feelings of newness, perhaps the next chapter of your life,” Hannah is using a combination of lavender and green in designs for the interiors at Mersey Care’s new Low Secure Unit. “Even a pale purple symbolises richness and these are the colours of so many plants.”
HANNAH’S TOP TIP? “Light plays a massive role in making spaces look bigger. If you’re planning a dark feature wall be aware it will draw the wall towards you. Don’t be tempted to paint the opposite wall or it’ll feel like your room has shrunk!”
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I ALMOST
GAVE UP MY FUTURE
Sophie Brown was ready to leave after her first term of university. She urges students struggling like her to stay and seek help.
I
t’s hard to express how the start of university makes you feel. You’re excited for a new adventure, maybe moving away from home and being independent. But it can be overwhelming; it’s difficult to fully adjust to a new normal straight away. For me, from the outside nothing was wrong. I had friends, I enjoyed my course, and I had a sociable timetable. So why did I feel off? I’d put university on a pedestal. My teacher had told me how great it would be, yet it didn’t feel like that. I became easily distracted and lacked motivation. By the end of the first term, I began questioning everything – my decision to go to university, whether the course was right for me. I was overwhelmed. The turning point came just after Christmas, when I finally booked myself in with one of
the university career advisors, opened up about how I was feeling and let her know I was ready to quit. She told me how normal it was to feel this way, that she had these conversations with students every year. I immediately felt relieved. I wasn’t alone in this. She encouraged me to stick with it for the first year and to make a final decision then, once I’d had the full university experience. It was the best advice she could’ve given me. I walked out with an open mind, willing to give it a shot in the knowledge that others has been in the same situation. It wasn’t instant transformation. For a month or two I still wasn’t 100 per cent ok, but by the end of the academic year I’d settled in. I ended up having the time of my life at university and even completed a term abroad. I honestly don’t think that would have happened if I hadn’t reached out for
advice. In that moment I needed some reassurance to get me through. If there’s one thing I could say to you, it’s to seek advice from friends, family or professionals. Don’t be afraid to discuss how you’re feeling and reach out to university professionals. They’re there to support and guide you in any way they can. The thoughts and doubts you’re having will be more common than you think. Don’t suffer in silence.
NEED SUPPORT? U-COPE advice@liverpool.ac.uk 0151 795 1000 Student Health Line 0151 295 9900 The Samaritans samaritans.org 116 123 MIND mind.org.uk 0300 123 3393 YoungMinds youngminds.org.uk Text YM to 85258 Shout giveusashout.org Text 85258 Kooth kooth.com
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SPECIAL FEATURE
STRICTLY
SPEAKING EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis captured hearts and minds when she became the first deaf celebrity on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Since then applications for British Sign Language courses have soared by 3,000 per cent. MC reporter Jo Henwood met people from the deaf community to find out what they think of the ‘Rose’ phenomenon – and find out what it’s like to live with little or no hearing.
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Rose paid tribute to the deaf community by featuring a section in their Couple’s Choice dance where they danced in silence.
Shelagh Wishart’s passion for her job and the community she helps shines as brightly as any glitter ball. Health Link worker Shelagh Wishart
M
ersey Care health link worker Shelagh is a big Strictly fan, but this series is special, because so many more people are learning British Sign Language since Rose joined Giovanni in the annual glitzy dance challenge.
There is nothing that Shelagh won’t do to make a deaf person’s life easier. From helping people get practical aids like a flashing doorbell or a Typetalk telephone to advice on what to expect from a cervical screening test, she always goes the extra mile.
Maybe it’s because Shelagh’s father has become deafened that’s aroused her passion – or maybe it’s just that she sees beyond what others see as a disability.
“Deaf people miss out on important information because no one has taken the time to explain it. For instance I was asked the other day during a cook and taste session what ‘Five a Day’ (five fruit and vegetables each day) meant.”
Shelagh tells how she once stepped in to help a young deaf woman receive an award from Prince Charles for her work in setting up a hairdressing business. “I discovered that she wasn’t going to have an interpreter and I thought ‘I’m not having that! I’m not an official interpreter but I got the OK from a security guy, so I stepped in to sign for her.” Shelagh thought the heir to the throne was very deaf aware. “Prince Charles asked the lady if she could do anything with his own hair. She signed to me ‘tell him no, it’s a hopeless case’. I thought, ‘I can’t say that to the heir to the throne! I’ll be sent to the Tower!”
© BBC
Deaf people miss out on important information because no one has taken the time to explain it. Shelagh works closely with Merseyside Society for Deaf People (MSDP), where she organises health related talks and information events to give deaf people a better understanding of vital support such as health screenings,
SHELAGH
LOVES STRICTLY I love it when Craig Revel-Horwood signs his famous phrase Fab-u-lous. how to understand high blood pressure, or how to come to terms with diagnosis or manage diabetes. “Deaf people often don’t have access to computers or Smartphones”, says Shelagh. “It’s not right that they rely on a hearing person in their family to keep them up to date with health matters.” Back to Strictly, Shelagh is thrilled that the judges have learnt some sign language and loves it when judge Craig Revel-Horwood signs his famous phrase Fab-u-lous. Her best bit is the deaf method of applauding Rose and Giovanni by waving. “Watching the judges and the other contestants waving their hands to clap is wonderful,” she says.
Rose and Giovanni created a storm on the dance floor in Strictly 2021
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SUPERMARKETS AND STREETS
MAKE ME ANXIOUS When Lisa McKeown was 14 she had a bad bout of tonsilitis and an ear infection which caused her eardrum to perforate. At 20 and working, she was struggling to hear, especially when there was background noise. Doctors confirmed she had only 70 per cent hearing in her left ear. At 27 she wore a hearing aid and suffered continuous ear infections, vertigo and labyrinthitis. Last year an MRI scan revealed a condition called Chiari Malformation Type 1, which can put pressure on the brainstem and obstruct the flow of fluid. The mum of four is now on
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a waiting list to have a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) early next year. “When they tested me for the hearing aid I could finally hear a whisper. It was wonderful.” She says colleagues have adapted to her hearing restrictions, but communicating and socialising is still a challenge. “Being anywhere noisy – or on a busy street or supermarket – can be emotionally and physically draining. I find myself going out less and less.” She’s been shy about speaking about herself, but thinks Rose’s efforts on Strictly are amazing. “She’s a fantastic advocate for the deaf community, she’s helping people stand up and say I’m deaf.”
Being anywhere noisy – or on a busy street or supermarket – can be emotionally and physically draining.
BE MORE DEAF AWARE SAYS DAWN Dawn Dignam, community support service manager at Merseyside Society for Deaf People was herself a dancer until she reached her teens.
S
he’s keen to champion the many talented deaf people who follow dance, comedy and even becoming a DJ.
“It’s hard if they can’t hear the beat, but deaf people are very visual – they learn by watching the teacher and copying what they do.” Dawn’s says hearing people can become more deaf aware by: • Making face to face, eye to eye contact • Speaking clearly and slowly • Being patient • Keep the wording simple
A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING
Keep Dancing! Dawn Dignam and Lyn Ealey get into the spirit.
By Jo Henwood Photo: Joel Goodman
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Lyn Ealey (above right) has been profoundly deaf since birth and a powerful advocate for the Deaf community. Watching her sign via her interpreter Paul on a video call is mesmerising.
he echoes Rose Ayling-Ellis in lamenting the lack of signing in society and on TV, especially at important broadcasts such as COVID briefings.
Her own concerns – like having to deal with the thought that the interpreter at her smear test could be a man – are a stark reminder of the type of challenges deaf people face.
She tells the tragic tale of five members of her community who died in hospital of COVID-19, unable to communicate with masked doctors and nurses and without interpreters to explain what was happening to them.
She says she no longer gets embarrassed, but she values Shelagh’s input to improve things.
“Why do we not have interpreters on TV? BSL is a very simple language. It took the deaf community a while to understand the terms around coronavirus and what it meant for them.” Lyn set up a coffee morning to encourage deaf people to socialise more. Activities include drumming session with a LIPA teacher, bingo and talks.
“The language in health leaflets and doctors’ letters often has medical jargon, which can’t be translated into sign language, so it’s helpful to have someone like Shelagh to explain conditions like diabetes or what to expect at appointments or procedures. Asked what else she’d like to add to her list of requests Lyn signs: “Boris Johnson. Get interpreters on the telly. Now.”
FIND OUT MORE The Merseyside Society for Deaf People offer courses in British Sign Language and Deaf Awareness. For more information visit msdp.org.uk or find them on Facebook or Twitter. Find out how Giovanni Pernice has adapted his teaching style to teach Rose to dance by reading Rebecca A Withey’s blog at limpingchickin.com. Deaf Active, based at the Joseph Lappin Centre in Old Swan, promotes inclusive youth and play services for deaf children and young people, CODA’s (Children of Deaf Adults), Hard of Hearing children and their hearing family members and friends throughout Merseyside. Find out more at deafactive.org
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Illustration: Ella Byworth
Julie Roberts (right) and Dr Liz Stephens run menopause support sessions for NHS staff.
WHAT MAKES A
by Jackie Rankin
STALKER? More than 80,000 cases of stalking were reported to police last year*. Some areas saw cases soar as lockdowns made it easier to target victims in their homes. Campaigners for Gracie’s Law, named after 23 year old Gracie Spinks, murdered by a stalker she’d reported to police, are calling for advocates within every police force to support victims.
I
n Cheshire, the focus is also on working with perpetrators. The guiding principle is that, if they can be helped to change their behaviour, the public will be better protected.
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Daniel Price-Jones (pictured top right page 13), is a forensic psychologist, working as part of Cheshire Constabulary’s Harm
It’s only by changing behaviour that we can reduce the risk. Reduction Unit, a unique partnership of police, probation, and health and victim advocacy services. They select candidates from emergency calls and the criminal justice service. The person is then offered intensive support from the health team - Dan, an occupational therapist and a mental health nurse. He couldn’t be clearer. This is not treatment or rehabilitation. It is about protecting the public. “It’s only by changing behaviour that we can reduce the risk. They may still go to prison or into mental health care, but that’s not always the answer.”
The team is trained in stalking risk profiling, the gold standard assessment tool. They only work with people they feel are ready to change. They have to get it right. Research by former police officer Dr Jane Monkton Smith looked at 350 murders of women by men. 94 per cent had stalking behaviours. Most cases won’t get to that point, says Dan. But half will end up in physical violence. And stalking always causes psychological harm to the victim, which can result in trauma, self harm or suicide.
In 350 murders of women by men 94 per cent had stalking behaviours.
EMPOWERING
J
VICTIMS
ohn and Kate* lived on the same estate and had been close friends, but when he tried to become more intimate she broke off the relationship.
Forensic psychologist Daniel Price-Jones.
WHAT DOES A STALKER LOOK LIKE? “They don’t fit the stereotype of a shadowy character loitering behind bushes”, says Dan. Neither do most stalkers have diagnosable mental health issues. What they all share is a psychological problem in how they relate to other people and a strong sense of entitlement. Dan explains: “They are driven by a goal – usually to forge a relationship. When that fails they feel entitled to inflict suffering on the person for not meeting their needs.” Assessing risk takes considerable skill. Dan gives an example. “If the stalker’s aim is to re-establish a relationship, the risk of violence is low, because they need the person to come back. But while the victims resists the risk is high. It’s a dilemma.” Where does stalking begin? “Perhaps someone experienced an upbringing that was cold and aloof, so they may invest heavily in adult relationships to meet their need to be valued, wanted and desirable” says Dan. “They’ll do everything in their power to control the relationship and fulfil their goal. When that doesn’t work they’ll manipulate and coerce the victim through fear to help them stay in control.” They don’t always know their victim. Headlines are made by people stalking celebrities and the unit has supported stars of sport, television and music worlds.
They’ll do everything in their power to control the relationship. Others want intimacy and companionship, but lack the social skills to form a relationship. “We can explain this sort of stalking as a naïve or clumsy courtship”, says Dan, however if you’re the victim it still causes distress”. There’s emerging evidence organisations and their staff can be stalked. “The person may feel they’d been treated unfairly and become aggrieved – or they may misinterpret an act of goodwill as a romantic overture”, says Dan. The unit was launched in 2015; the culmination of a shared vision by Dan and police colleagues to consolidate what had been an informal information sharing arrangement. Funding from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust helped them establish a service that has since been evaluated by University College London as highly effective. Dan is proud of their work. “People ask how we measure our success. If someone continues their life without further incident we’ve done our job. And that’s what happens in most cases. “We only work with people who we feel are ready to change their behaviour, or we can see the potential to change. They’re often vulnerable – they may be victims too, but our job is to protect the public and that’s what we’ll do.” Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS).
*
John became fixated, persistently loitered near her house and bombarded her with unwanted gifts, phone calls, emails and messages. Kate told local police she felt scared and intimidated. John had no criminal record or history but it was agreed that the events were a case of stalking and police put in place a restraining order. The team then set to work with Kate to help her feel safe, and with John to help him understand the recklessness of his behaviour, and find ways to reduce the risk of him doing the same thing to someone else. Kate feels empowered that her experience has been taken seriously by police, and says the involvement of the team has reassured her and reduced her distress. John’s coming to terms with interpersonal difficulties and how these contribute to his actions. He hasn’t tried to contact Kate since. *Names have been changed
GET HELP AND SUPPORT • Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. Contact your local police if it’s not an emergency • National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300. Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm (except Wednesday 1pm to 4pm) suzylamplugh.org • Paladin, the national stalking advocacy service: paladinservice.co.uk • Protection against Stalking: protectionagainststalking.org • Victim and Witness Information: victimandwitnessinformation.org.uk
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AGEING
DISGRACEFULLY!
‘When I am old I shall wear purple’ – so said Jenny Joseph in her irreverant poem about how old age allows us to shrug off social restraints.
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Interview: Jackie Rankin Photo: Joel Goodman
Mersey Care consultant community geriatrician Dr Karthik Kayan.
If you’re hoping to dance in the mud at festivals, skydive or skateboard – you’d better start planning for it now. We hear from a doctor about how ageing well starts in our youth.
A
ctress Dame Helen Mirren once told Vogue magazine that ‘it’s so much better to age disgracefully!” Dame Helen Mirren Ageing may not be sexy (unless you’re Helen Mirren) but it’s in the news. The UN has identified this as the decade of healthy ageing.
WHERE DO WE START?
In 20 years one in four adults in the UK will be over 65. Speaking to experts though, it’s clear that its lifestyle, rather than age, that can take its toll. To throw caution to the wind when we’re Dame Helen’s age we need to start planning now. Experts describe ageing as ‘an accumulation of changes over the life course that increases frailty’.
He acknowledges that modifying behaviour is more difficult after 70. And there’s always a story about the old man from the local, who drank whisky, smoked cigars and lived to 102! People say ‘having a few tots of whisky every night is the only pleasure I have’ but you’re more sedate, and you risk falls and fractures.”
Being old is inevitable, but becoming frail is avoidable. It’s now a recognised medical specialty, with services now being developed in communities to support those who need it.
If you’re reading this and are trying to motivate an elderly relative to stay well, you’ll know the challenges. What can families do to stop someone descending into frailty, if they stubbornly refuse to heed advice?
Mersey Care consultant community geriatrician Dr Karthik Kayan is helping develop integrated community frailty services across Liverpool. He explains the vicious cycle of frailty: “Frailty becomes more likely as we get older and have more things wrong with us. We become more dependent and are less likely to overcome an untoward scenario like a fall or an infection. If that happens we become even frailer – and so it goes on.”
1. Watch what you eat and drink 2. Look after your teeth 3. Stay active 4. Make the most of your doctor 5. Get a vitamin boost 6. Take care of your feet 7. Sort out your sleep Take the tests
9. Stay in touch 10. Give up smoking
“Any improvement at any age is good” he says. Modifying an aspect of even one part of your life, whether it’s looking after your heart, managing diabetes, reducing medication or cutting down on smoking or alcohol.
“What we do when we’re young affects us in later life, but changing lifestyle habits, and exercising from your 40s or 50s, or older, will still have an impact. Stopping smoking for instance, will have immediate benefits.”
What we do when we’re young affects us in later life.
8.
It’s a chilling thought – but it’s preventable. Dr Kayan says preparation and education should begin in childhood. But who wants to talk old age when you’re six, sixteen or even 60? And when is it too late?
For more go to: ageuk.org
“It can be frustrating, but we shouldn’t give up. They may not acknowledge your efforts, but you’ll know you’ve done your best and you don’t need to feel guilty.” Dr Kayan has first hand experience. “I talk regularly with my parents in India – it might be the same topic, that doesn’t matter. My mother has become addicted to the television and her tablet and has stopped going for walks. I always ask the same question
TOP 10 TIPS FOR AGEING BETTER
Keep in touch with people and get out as much as you can. I have a hectic social life and I talk to everyone in my block of flats – people are all very nice when you speak to them. Teresa Allen, aged 92.
– ‘have you walked today?’ I’ve accepted that I can only do so much, but I quietly keep on pushing.” He suggests engaging carers or health professionals or even grandchildren to influence the person; and he urges compassion. “Old age can bring huge life changes”, says Dr Kayan. The loss of friends, inability to travel, or even get into the garden, can lead to loneliness and apathy.” If you need specialist help, ask your GP to refer to a community medicine clinic for older people or for social prescribing – a prescription for social groups or activities. Dr Kayan has advice for carers. “Look after yourself too. And most importantly, take the advice you’re giving them so you can age well – or even disgracefully!” Read Margaret’s story page 16.
KING TONY REIGNS SUPREME AT 78 Veteran broadcaster Tony Blackburn was 59 when he was crowned King of the Jungle in the first series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here. At 78 he’s still working and has just picked up a Legends of Industry Award in Radio Broadcasting, from Variety, the Children’s Charity. After 57 years in the business Tony has no plans to retire.” I’d love to live by the sea but I’d have a home studio so I can carry on working “ What would he like to be remembered for? “Bringing joy to people through my shows.” Variety, the Children’s Charity Legends of Industry Awards honour and celebrate people who have achieved outstanding success in their chosen field of business and industry, whilst raising crucial funds to support sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people. Variety.org.uk,
15
NO TIME TO
RETIRE
Margaret Forshaw ran six yoga classes a week until lockdown closed her venues. Aged 80 and with 40 years of teaching behind her, she could have retired gracefully.
I sometimes wonder ‘what am I doing here’? but I never think ‘Am I too old to be doing this? “I didn’t know if I could do it and it often went horribly wrong – it still does! But I didn’t want to have any regrets just because something was outside my comfort zone.”
The voice of common sense said ‘it’s a good time to stop’”, said Margaret. ”But I like doing this so I started thinking of ways to carry on. The trouble was I’m hopeless with technology.” She tried emailing sessions, but by her own admission she’s no typist and putting them down on paper was a laborious task. The prospect of doing lessons online terrified her – but Margaret took a deep breath and announced to her students that classes would be via Zoom.
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It wasn’t plain sailing, but she battled against the adversity of dodgy links and awkward camera angles. “It was very stressful, especially as people had paid in advance, but I was immensely proud of myself, and surprised to find that people actually liked it. Now I’m showing other teachers how to use Zoom!” Her interest in yoga was inspired back in the 70s by TV’s Richard Hittleman. She and a friend found a local yoga class. The friend backed out, so Margaret went alone. When her teacher fell ill Margaret was asked to take the class. “I was petrified – the teacher was highly respected, all I could think was ‘they wanted him and they got me!”
As her reputation and her children grew Margaret felt it was time to do some ‘proper training’. After four years of study with the British Wheel of Yoga, she was gripped by myths, legends, physiology and anatomy. 40 years on and flexible as ever, Margaret is a role model for her classes of mainly mature folk. While others of her age are watching their horizons shrink Margaret is looking for ways to broaden hers. “I went paragliding in Turkey a few years ago – the rest of the group were less than half my age, but it was less scary than the drag show we went to afterwards! I sometimes wonder ‘what am I doing here’? but I never think ‘I’m too old to be doing this.’” What would her advice be to fellow octogenarians? “I’d never tell anyone what they should do, but if they asked I’d say ‘you never know what you can do till you give it a go.”
Find a yoga class near you with the British Wheel of Yoga: bwy.org.uk
RECRUITMENT FEATURE
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ll I ever wanted to do was become a children’s nurse! I started volunteering in my local hospital – my mum worked as a paediatric medical secretary so she helped me get interviews with the doctors – I was only nine and I volunteered for six more years. I had no idea what a school nurse did, but I was inspired by one nurse at Alder Hey and I thought ‘that’s what I want to do’. I was very lucky. I was sponsored by Mersey Care to do a post graduate diploma to become a specialist community public health nurse. I wasn’t even employed by the Trust at the time, but I think they saw that I’m passionate and genuinely love what I do, and that’s what they want here. I’m particularly passionate about safeguarding vulnerable children – in this job I do that every day. What you see and hear can be heart breaking – you want to bring vulnerable kids home and keep them safe, but helping children and families that need support and seeing the massive difference it can make to their lives makes it all worthwhile. I know where I’m going now; I want to continue my love for safeguarding and progress down that avenue. You don’t have to know when you start out – I didn’t. If I could go back and talk to my younger self I’d say ‘believe in yourself, be confident in yourself and your abilities and grab every opportunity’. • You can work for Mersey Care. Visit merseycare.nhs.uk
COME AND
JOIN US Rhianne Robinson Parsons, school nurse
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STAY WELL FEEL GREAT
A SOBERING
THOUGHT
Staggering home drunk after a night out has become distinctly out of vogue with younger people. Celebrities like Zac Efron and Jennifer Hudson have made it cool to abstain. There’s even a society for sober girls. MC magazine reporter Sophie Brown (right) asks can sober and sociable work?
W Zac Efron
Jennifer Hudson
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e’ve all been there. Waking up with a hangover from hell and an inability to do much other than binge watching telly and eat stodge. It’s pretty much the norm right? We get on with it. I’ve grown up with what I now know to be a misconception – that you can’t go out for a catch up with friends, or indeed make it through a Friday night – without alcohol.
Do we do it to fit in socially? To forget our problems? Or is it just a habit? I chose to cut back on my own intake after realising ‘Hangxiety’ was more real than I thought. It seems I’m not alone. A report by British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), revealed almost a quarter of 16 to 18 year olds never drink alcohol. The rest didn’t drink much. Women’s Health writer Morgan Fargo, in her ‘Mindful Drinking’ article, recalls how ‘a glass of wine with supper on Wednesday, a catch up drink on Thursday and a ‘thank god that week’s over’ fizz on Friday, had my nervous system shot’. She reflects on the impact of a 30 day alcohol detox. ‘My anxiety attacks had calmed down and I felt in control of how I interacted with the world’.
The benefits are endless. Brighter mood, deeper sleep, more energy, better concentration, clearer skin, and better long term health all make a good case for cutting down or going tee total. You’d also be in the company of film star Zac Efron and singer Jennifer Hudson, both of whom found abstinence better suited them. Leading the movement for women is Sober Girl Society, a community for sober/sober curious women. Back in 2018, with her mental health suffering from partying and resulting hangovers, 26 year old Millie Gooch (pictured above right), gave up alcohol. She started the society to bring together like minded women.
STAY WELL FEEL GREAT The benefits of cutting down are endless...
Millie Gooch
With more than 155,000 Instagram followers, Sober Girl Society encourages sobriety with motivational quotes and ideas, opening the floor for women to share personal stories. Events such as the ‘Virtual Wake Up Club’ attract a global audience. There’s even a Sober Girl Society Handbook a self help guide with a simple message at its core – you can be happier and more fulfilled when you ditch the drink and take back control of your life. Whether you choose to follow their Instagram @sobergirlsociety, dive into the handbook, join events, or sport a sober sisters badge, there’s a strong sense of being part of a network of support.
Almost a quarter of 16 to 18 year olds never drink alcohol. The rest didn’t drink much. For all those choosing the alcohol free path – I raise my glass (of slimline tonic) to you! • If you need professional addiction support, Mersey Care’s addiction services are here to help. merseycare.nhs.uk • Find national resources and helplines at NHS UK: nhs.uk
NEED SUPPORT? Help yourself – our self help guide ‘Alcohol and You’ can be read online, downloaded or watched as a video. merseycare.nhs.uk
ALCOHOL AND YOU Support for you
Find out more from Sophie Brown: @liverpoolfoodblog_ on Instagram or visit liverpoolfoodblogger.wordpress.com.
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© Channel 4
FEATURE
HELP
Actor Stephen Graham’s graphic and poignant portrayal of a young man with early onset Alzheimer’s gave us an insight into the condition. Around 42,000 people under 65 are living with dementia – some are just 20 years old. It can take up to four years to diagnose, with symptoms often attributed to stress, anxiety, depression or menopause. A specialist dementia nurse shares her own story – and tells how help is at hand.
By Jackie Rankin Stephen Graham played a care home resident with young onset Alzheimer’s disease in Channel 4’s drama Help.
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hannel 4’s proclaimed pandemic themed drama Help has been described as ‘one of the most evocative and harrowing depictions of recent history’.
Dementia nurse Cherylnn Harper (pictured right) knows better than most the shock and ensuing dilemma that a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s brings at any age, but especially for the young.
The two part series documents often distressing account of events in a fictional care home during the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. An equally powerful sub plot unveils a compassionate relationship between rookie care home worker Sarah (Jodie Comer) and Tony (Stephen Graham) a young man with Alzheimer’s disease (pictured above).
Several of her patients are in their 40s – one was just 20 years old when the diagnosis was delivered. Many are still working, paying mortgages and in disbelief at their situation.
Scenes show Tony’s constant swing from lucidity to confusion and back – and the need for carers understand the complexities of the condition. It’s a certain bet for a gong in 2022.
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She’s also ‘been there’ herself. Cheryl’s dad was well known Merseyside boxer Robbie Davies. “My dad had always been forgetful, but the signs became more obvious; he’d phone and tell me a tale, then call again ten minutes later with the same tale. “I couldn’t tell him my suspicions so I asked GP to raise the subject. They did a mini memory test and referred him to dementia services.
Dementia Nurse Cherlynn Harper as a child with her dad Robbie who developed Alzheimer’s at 63.
“I know how difficult it can be for carers to stay patient. I was balancing long days, shift patterns and family life with travelling to look after my dad. I was the nurse in the family so it was assumed I’d know what to do, but it’s different when it’s your dad.
I can help families understand what’s happening and offer ways of coping.
There can be long waits and endless tests to get a firm diagnosis, but it’s vital to be certain, especially with younger people. “His personality changed and that was hard to take. He’d say things he’d never had said before. I’d try to laugh it off but sometimes I’d get angry with him – I wish I hadn’t but dementia takes its toll on carers too. That’s why I always tell people to get as much help as they can.” She’s avidly learning so she can pass on latest information and bust myths. “There’s a perception that dementia is just memory loss, but there are so many types and symptoms. I can help families understand what’s happening and offer ways of coping.”
“It is a shock, but younger people are keen to get back to normal life. They know I’m here for them and that’s often enough. I’ll call or meet them during their lunchbreak, or chat on Zoom. I’ll arrange psychological therapy, or I might help them approach their employers to ask for adjustments so they can carry on working. “I offer practical ideas that can give someone independence – like having a clock that tells day and night and what day it is. Keep life as normal as you can and keep in touch with friends.”
She acknowledges there can be long waits and endless tests to get a firm diagnosis, but says it’s vital to be certain, especially with younger people.
She’s full of praise for the dementia service post diagnostic support groups. “They’re brilliant. You can talk to professionals but you’ll also meet service users and carers who can help you. It’s a lovely friendly atmosphere.”
“I have patients who are still in full time work; they have mortgages, bills to pay and jobs to hold down. We need to get it right.
The biggest question carers ask Cheryl is what the future might hold. “I really don’t
know - it’s different for everyone. What I do say to people is you can have a fulfilling life after your diagnosis. Let’s concentrate on the here and now, and if things change we’ll be here for you’”. Read Dave and Margaret’s story, page 22.
FIND OUT MORE For information about Mersey Care’s dementia services go to: merseycare.nhs.uk Find more help and support on page 20, or go to: NHS UK – nhs.uk Alzheimer’s Society – alzheimers.org.uk Dementia UK – dementiauk.org Age UK – ageuk.org.uk
Young Onset Dementia nurse Cherylnn Harper says there’s planty of help and support after a diagnosis of Alzheimers.
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Margaret and Dave were planning to cruise into retirement but dementia has changed the course of their future. They share their story with Jackie Rankin.
WHEN LIFE’S
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hen her fun loving husband became withdrawn Margaret Whittle put it down to being stuck in during lockdown.
“He’d had to stop working as a taxi driver”, said Margaret. “I noticed how he’d lose the drift of conversations and he was much more anxious than normal.” Dave looks at his wife and nods. “I could feel something was different. I felt sleepy. I’d step off kerbs without looking.” At times he stumbles over words, and then acknowledges his difficulties almost by way of apology. “My concentration has gone. I start to stay a sentence and it’s like the words fall off a cliff, gone forever.” Although his symptoms began two years ago Dave is just 62, so there were endless tests to conclude he has mixed dementia.* The news is still sinking in and they’re having to learn to adapt to their new situation. Margaret appears ready for the challenge. “We’ve had our ups and downs and we have our families and all the support from the dementia service”, she says.
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NOT PLAIN SAILING I could feel something was different. I felt sleepy. Dave is more contemplative. “I’m getting good advice. “I’ve started doing (mindfulness) colouring books and they’ve suggested I learn the green cross code so I can remind myself what to do when I cross the road. But it makes you feel like a kid. I just want to work at the same pace I used to.” Minutes later though, he’s chuckling as they recall how they met. As a sales rep for Littlewoods Pools, Dave was delivering scratch cards to the post office where Margaret, a mum alone with three little boys, was the postmistress. “We started chatting” she recalls. “Dave was a dad, going through a divorce and he seemed a bit low. I liked him and tried to let him know with a Valentine’s card – but he thought it was from a friend playing a prank! In the end I had to explain it was from me.”
*Mixed dementia is a condition in which a person has more than one type of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia is the most common type. Source: alzheimers.org.uk
Dave and Margaret enjoyed cruise holidays.
They share a chuckle at his naivety, “I was slow but I soon made up for it!” says Dave with a grin that lights up his face and makes Margaret smile. With four sons between them, the couple put their families first and only moved in together seven years ago, when the boys were grown up. Retirement plans included pursuing their love of travel. At one point Dave leaves the room and returns with photos from one of their Caribbean cruises. They make a handsome pair. One of his favourite pastimes was a pint in his local with a group of friends. Margaret understands that it can be hard to know what to say, but she’s saddened that they no longer keep in touch. Phone calls have dwindled too, as Dave sometimes struggles to understand what’s being said. “The days can be long when it’s just the two of us, but we’ve got our bungalow and our lovely garden”, says Margaret, with a smile. She appreciates visits from Cheryl and their occupational therapist Sarah. Dave’s joy comes from seeing his granddaughters. “I play silly games with them”, he says. “The magic’s still there.”
ADMIRABLE
ADMIRAL MC magazine’s Jo Henwood sees first hand the bond between dementia carers and their nurses.
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‘cheeky chap’ is how May Robb describes her late husband Dave. The couple met when May accidentally dialled a wrong number from work and Dave picked up. Married in 1990 they enjoyed holidaying together in their static caravan in Lincolnshire. Dave was diagnosed with dementia when he was 72 and May became his carer.
Dave Robb
“It was difficult,” she said. “Dave would get angry and he told me he wanted to die. He said he didn’t want to be a burden to me.” Dave was under Halton’s Later Life and Memory Services (LLAMS) and it was through LLAMS that May was first introduced to Cheryl Ogier, an Admiral Nurse. Admiral Nurses specialise in dementia care and balance the needs of the person living with dementia with the needs of the carer.
My job is to ease the burden of the carer and empower them to look after their loved one as best they can.
May and Admiral nurse Cheryl.
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Cheryl said: “My job is to ease the burden of the carer and empower them to look after their loved one as best they can.” The support Cheryl offered May and Dave ranged from practical – liaising with Dave’s GP, putting a care package in place and monitoring May’s physical health – to the emotional. Cheryl said: “From the outset it was clear that May and I should meet outside the home. Dave thought people were talking about him and he was suspicious if May even spoke to someone on the telephone.” Cheryl was able to help May understand dementia better and to come to terms with the adjustment and the loss. “People describe looking after someone with dementia as losing a bit of someone every day,” said Cheryl. She was also able to give May strategies to alleviate pinch points in her day.
Looking after someone with dementia is no easy task. “Dave became aggressive and he would often start an argument,” explains May.
DEMENTIA? Dementia is the significant loss of intellectual abilities, such as memory capacity, that is severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning. Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia are just two types of dementia. Some of the psychological and behavioural side effects of dementia can include: • Disorientation • Communication difficulties • Disinhibited behaviour • Loss of self worth • Confusion • Psychosis • Visual or auditory hallucinations • Mania. Dementia can lead to changes in behaviour which can include: • Agitation • Anxiety • Aggression • Disrupted sleep pattern • Paranoia.
Cheryl told May that while it is natural for humans to argue back it was best for her to leave the room to alleviate the situation.
WHY
May said: “I would get up and walk out of the door – I would only get to the end of my avenue and then turn back. By the time I got back home Dave would say: ‘Hello love, where have you been?’”
Admiral Nurses are named after the man whose family founded Dementia UK. Joseph Levy, otherwise known as ‘Admiral Joe’ because of his love of sailing, had vascular dementia and his family set up the charity to help others coping with the life limiting and debilitating condition.
Looking after someone with dementia is no easy task and the toll it has taken on May’s physical and mental health is evident. Dave passed away at home, his final wish, in 2019 but Cheryl continued to see May as part of the Admiral Nurse bereavement service. May is no longer on Cheryl’s books but the bond between the two is clear. When May turned 80 earlier this year she was delighted and touched when Cheryl turned up at her doorstep with a card and a gift. “Cheryl was always there for me,” said May. “I don’t know where I’d have been without her.”
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WHAT IS
ADMIRAL?
TO FIND OUT MORE about the Admiral Nurse service in Knowsley telephone 0151 244 4369 Halton telephone 01928 753 162 Email: admiralnurseservice@merseycare.nhs.uk FOR GENERAL INFORMATION contact Admiral Nurses Direct Tel: 0800 888 6678 Email: direct@dementiauk.org
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ommunity dietitian Hannah Wyllie enjoys cooking recipes that fill her kitchen with the smell of spices and warmth. “This recipe reminds me of my holidays in Morocco. It only takes 20 minutes to prepare, the flavours are delicious and it provides your five portions of fruit and veg, as well as protein through the chick peas. It’s so vibrant and brightens up any winter’s day! “
SPICE UP YOUR LIFE MOROCCAN VEGETABLE TAGINE 4 tablespoons of olive oil 300g cauliflower, broken into small florets 1 aubergine cut into 2cm chunks 1 large onion, cut into wedges 1 sweet potato cut into 2cm chunks 1 red pepper, seeded and cut into 2cm chunks 1 leek, slice into rings and discard the root 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon of ground cumin 1 teaspoon of turmeric 1x 3cm piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated 1x 400g can of chopped tomatoes 400g of chickpeas, drained and rinsed 400mls vegetable stock 3 cloves of garlic, chopped finely 1 tablespoon of harissa paste 3 tablespoons of raisins 2 tablespoons of pine nuts Salt and ground black pepper SERVES: 4
TIME: 1 HOUR 25 MINS
METHOD • Heat oven to 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6 • Pour the oil into a large metal baking dish with high sides (if you do not have a big one, you may need to use two). Add the cauliflower, aubergine, onion, sweet potato, red pepper and leek and toss to cover with the oil. Spread out the vegetable pieces so they lie in a single layer. Place in the preheated oven and roast for 15 minutes. • Mix together in a bowl the coriander, cumin, turmeric and a big pinch of salt, then sprinkle over the hot vegetables. Toss again to coat and return to the oven for a further 15 minutes. • Remove the tray from the oven and add the ginger, tomatoes, chickpeas, stock, garlic, harissa paste, raisins and lots of black pepper. Return to the oven and cook for 30 minutes, checking the liquid levels occasionally, and adding a little hot water if required.
• Finally, scatter the pine nuts over the top and return to the oven for five minutes, or until toasted and golden, checking every couple of minutes, as the nuts can easily burn. • Serve with warm crusty bread or couscous.
Recipe adapted from ‘LEON Happy One-Pot Cooking’ Cookbook by Rebecca Seal & John Vincent
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STAY WELL FEEL GREAT
Illustration: Ella Byworth
WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE TO TURN
O
n Merseyside the Pathways Advice Service at The Life Rooms is a free service that can provide you with practical support around these social issues.
“We call it social prescribing” says Andy Litchfield, who manages a team of advisors across The Life Rooms sites in Liverpool. “People can be referred by a health professional, but they can also refer themselves just by getting in touch.
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If you feel anxious you may go to your GP. But what if your anxiety stems from not knowing where the money is coming from to pay your next fuel bill, living in poor housing, or feeling isolated and lonely? By Jo Henwood
“A pathways advisor will talk to you and try to find out what may be contributing to your situation. It could be debt, housing or you may feel alone and isolated. We work in partnership with you and a range of NHS, local government, and voluntary and community organisations” That help covers a host of topics, from paying bills and claiming benefits, to finding training or a new job. Or it could be simply helping someone make new friends, take up a new hobby, or become more socially active.
Callers are increasingly concerned about rising fuel and food bills.
NEED HELP WITH DIY?
Senior Pathways Advisor Andy Litchfield is part of a team at The Life Rooms, helping people to find the help they need.
Callers are increasingly concerned about rising fuel and food bills. Said Andy: “Services such as National Energy Action can offer grants and emergency fuel credit.” Food bills are another source of concern for families, with enquiries rising since the pandemic began. Andy and his team can advise the best ways to access foodbanks. They’re experts in working out what type of support is needed. Andy explains: “We will refer people to any organisation or pathway that we think can help them. It might be a specialist in a particular area; but we also run a whole programme of in house learning at our Life Rooms to help people improve mood and self esteem. “You’d be able to meet people in the same situation and there’s a lot of mutual support. You may not think a drama or music course could help, but people say they do!”
We can link you to the organisation that can best help you get the support you need to resolve your issues.
The homelessness charity Shelter has joined forces with DIY giant B&Q. They’ll provide skills advisers who can teach you DIY skills such as painting, wallpapering and home maintenance. Visit: Shelter.org.uk or contact Shelter Merseyside on 0344 515 1900 for more information.
OTHER WAYS TO GET HELP BBC ActionLine has a list of organisations offering information and support for hardship, debt and homelessness.Visit bbc.co.uk/actionline. Citizens Advice Bureau (citizensadvice.org.uk) can help with benefits, work, debt, money and housing. You can ring to make an appointment at your local CAB, or if you have access to a computer there is plenty of information online. If you are struggling with money, there is a guide to help you reduce your living costs with tips on: • getting a discount on your council tax
Senior Advisor Lydia Hayes says pathways advisors are constantly seeking out new services or partners to offer clients.
• switching to a cheaper deal for your gas and electricity
“At our drop in sessions we see lots of people who just need information to point them in the right direction. Whether it’s a leaflet, a phone number, or more direct help, our aim is to give them the tools to succeed.”
• switching to a cheaper broadband, TV, or phone deal
• getting a water meter fitted
• getting cheaper travel • paying for your prescriptions in advance.
MARTIN LEWIS, THE MONEY SAVING EXPERT
The Life Rooms Walton Evered Avenue, L9 2AF Tel: 0151 478 6556 The Life Rooms Bootle 68 Merton Rd, Bootle L20 7AT Tel: 0151 330 6461 The Life Rooms Southport 23-25 Scarisbrick Ave, Southport PR8 1NW Tel: 01704 383 198 E-mail: pathways.advisor@merseycare.nhs.uk For more information go to: liferooms.org
Financial journalist and broadcaster Martin Lewis has regular slots on TV and radio, offering advice on how to save money, find the best deals and even get free stuff. On his website, moneysavingexpert.com there is a section for income and budgeting with helpful tips on how to stop spending, manage debt, and your mental health, and where else to go when debt becomes a real problem. You can also sign up for a weekly newsletter by email.
No debt problems are unsolvable. It might not be easy or quick to resolve, but there’s always a route.
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STAY WELL FEEL GREAT
WALKS OF LIFE
MC magazine reporter Jackie Rankin and photographer Joel Goodman put their best foot forward to discover the joys of canal walking.
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t’s a dreary Monday morning – mustering the energy for a walk doesn’t come easy. At Bootle Life Rooms walk leader Kevin Corcoran from the Canal and River Trust welcomes his group. Regulars mingle with newcomers.
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As the room fills, there’s a growing sense of anticipation for what lies ahead. Kevin leads the way to the local railway station. Train tickets paid for by the Trust, are handed out. Fifteen minutes later we’re heading
down steps onto the Leeds Liverpool canal not far from Aintree Racecourse. It’s a complete contrast to the busy A59 above; trees full of winter berries, calm still water and the company of passing waterfowl. There are 11 walkers in our group, led by Kevin and fellow walk leader John Goodman. Some have been involved since the programme was launched back in March 2020. They’d hardly stepped out of the door when lockdown forced them to become virtual.
Walking group members enjoying a Monday morning stroll along the Leeds Liverpool canal.
Members would do the walk during their permitted outdoor activity time, then meet on Zoom to discuss the sights and sounds they’d experienced. Others are joining the walk for the first time. Dave, a quietly spoken chap, was planning to come along with his neighbour, who wasn’t able to make it. A little nervous to begin with, he’s soon in conversation with Anne, a regular since she retired from the Civil Service.
A leisurely pace means walkers can chat, take in the scenery and spot wildlife.
Dave has experienced anxiety and depression in the past and says getting out of his flat and talking to people is as important as staying active. “It’s not easy to meet people. I feel we’ve lost the basics of keeping in touch and life is so fast paced now. I like the idea that it’s not a hard walk, you don’t have to be an athlete to join in – and it gets you out on days like this.”
You don’t have to be an athlete to join in. Anne and husband Tony, also newly retired, are enjoying incorporating the weekly canal walks into their routine. “Knowing it’s on makes you go, even on rainy days – though I got soaked the first time. I bought a new waterproof and now I’m ready for anything!” laughs Anne.
FIND OUT MORE • Sign up for the Canal & River Trust e newsletter canalrivertrust.org.uk/newsletter • Become a fan on www.facebook.com/groups/ communityrootssefton • Follow on twitter.com/canalrivertrust instagram.com/canalrivertrust
She goes out of her way to talk to new folk, or those who find conversation more difficult. “I’ll chat about anything, for me it’s about feeling welcomed and part of something”. An hour later we’re heading back to Bootle Life Rooms for a hot drink. No-one needs to rush anywhere, there’s time for more chat. That’s the essence of this venture between Life Rooms and the Canal and Waterways Trust. Sefton Community Roots Engagement Coordinator Sam Marine explains: “It’s so much more than a walk; it’s a chance to connect with nature and with each
other. Bootle is an urban area, but once you’re on the canal with all the wild life and natural surroundings it’s a different world. People regularly say ‘I had no idea this was in my backyard.’ Doing a 40 minute gentle walk on a Monday can change your whole week; it gives you a different outlook.” Kevin Corcoran agrees. He and John Goodman adapt a walk to suit the needs and ability of the people who come along.“Every walk is different; it’s as much a learning experience for us.”
I FEEL LUCKY Maureen is 77 and has been involved with the walking programme from the outset. She lives with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder sustained eight years ago. She says groups like the walking group can be life changing. “I’m a resilient person, but my trauma wiped out my life. I just needed someone to listen without judging. When I first came to Life Rooms I’d fall apart, but now I’m enjoying life and I feel lucky. During lockdown Maureen would complete set walks then write a blog for her family as a way of staying in touch. She’s at the back of the group chatting to John Goodman. ”I’m quite a shy person, but I’m interested in people. But you don’t have to talk; you can just enjoy the nature. Being by water is a very calming experience. You get the feeling ‘we’re all in this together’.”
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STAY WELL FEEL GREAT
Be prepared and stay safe. HELP YOURSELF For colds and flu rest, keep warm, drink plenty of fluids and take painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin. For norovirus (vomiting and diarrhoea) rest and drink plenty of fluids. Stay off work or school for 48 hours after the symptoms finish. If you can, stay away from other people especially those in hospital or care homes.
ASK YOUR PHARMACIST Pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example they will give advice and over the counter medicines, and will tell you if you need to see a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional.
CALL YOUR GP To prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) there have been changes to GP appointments. But it’s still important to get help from a GP if you need it. Contact your GP surgery by visiting their website, using the NHS App or by calling them.
YOUR BUDGET
WHO ARE YOU GONNA CALL? Call NHS111 for non emergency medical help, information or reassurance. It’s available 24/7 and they’ll know the best service for you. They can also book you in at your local walk-in-centre if needed. There’s also an online version at www.111.nhs.uk
MEDICINE CABINET
You don’t have to break the bank. You can stock your medicine cabinet with self-care essentials for around £10*
PAINKILLERS: Aspirin 49p Ibuprofen 59p Paracetamol 49p Junior paracetamol £1.99 Antihistamines for allergies £1.99 Diarrhoea relief £1.15
For life threatening emergencies – when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk – call 999.
Constipation relief £1.49 Throat lozenges 36p Antacid £1.99 *
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Prices are for illustration only and may vary between retailers.
DON’T SLIP UP Trips and falls are often down to rugs, dim lighting and wet floors. Use non slip mats, mop up spills and maker sure spaces are well lit. NHS UK: nhs.uk
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY
FIRST AID FIRST British Red Cross research found almost half of parents took their children to A&E with a fever or fall, because they were worried and didn’t know what to do.
FEVER If your child’s temperature reads above 37°C, your child has a fever. They may have flushed skin and be sweating. Reduce their temperature: remove excess clothing and give a drink. You can also give the recommended dose of paracetamol syrup. If a child’s temperature is above 39° – or above 38° for a baby less than six months old – seek medical advice.
BUMP ON THE HEAD When children bump their head, they may be in pain and get a headache. There may also be a lump and they may look pale. Get the child to rest and put something cold on the injury for 20 minutes to reduce swelling and pain. This could be frozen vegetables or a bag of ice wrapped in a tea towel. Call 999 if the child gets drowsy, repeatedly vomits or their condition gets worse. This could be a sign of serious injury. If you can’t call get someone else to do it. Learn more about first aid for babies and children at: www.redcross.org.uk
RAINBOW OF VEG
“Eat the rainbow of veg especially this winter, get your Flu and Covid boosters if you’re entitled to them.” BBC Breakfast’s Dr Fari Ahmed
GET SOME SLEEP “Good quality sleep has long term impacts on our physical health, improves our mental wellbeing, and helps to support the immune system.”
ZZ
Z
ZZ
Z
This Morning’s Dr Ranj Singh
STAY ENERGISED Shopping for big occasions? Prepping for a winter holiday? Working long hours to have some time off? When the season gets extra busy follow these tips to stay energised says community dietician Hannah Wyllie: • It may be cold and dark both ends of the day, but a walk will lift your mood and fresh air boosts energy levels • Keep nourished and enjoy everything in moderation • Stay hydrated – even in winter it’s important to replenish fluids, especially after exercise • Ditch the phone before bed. Half an hour of screen free time will improve your sleep cycle. Grab a book or listen to relaxing music – you’ll be surprised what a difference it makes.
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STAY WELL FEEL GREAT
FUN FOR FREE (ALMOST)
MC magazine’s Sophie Brown says you don’t have to break the bank to have fun. • Bake off – instead of an extravagant meal meet friends for pastry and coffee and a walk. Perfect for this is Rough Hand Made, a boutique bakery in Liverpool’s Albert Dock: roughhandmade.co.uk • Museums – With more museums and galleries than any other UK city outside the capital Liverpool is a freebie hunter’s delight. Tate Liverpool, home to a unique collection of artworks, is set back on the Royal Albert Dock away from the hustle bustle. Tate.org.uk • Nature walks – the natural environment is calming and costs nothing. Merseyside and Cheshire have glorious beaches, woodland and parks. The AllTrails app helps you follow routes – wrap up and step into nature
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The Tate, Liverpool
Crosby Beach
• Silver Screens – ditch expensive theme parks and support your local cinema. Smaller community screens are often cheaper and there are often offers and screenings for people with autism or dementia. (In some cinemas NHS staff can save up to 40 per cent with healthservicediscounts.com). Buy your popcorn before you go! • Sunset – park up at Crosby beach or Everton Park. Soak up the views, listen to the waves or switch up the mood music. Take your own sundowner, or at Crosby’s Burbo Bank grab a coffee and a crepe or brownie from the Honest Coffee Shop.
ZERO SUICIDE FEATURE
ZERO HEROES
MEET YOUR AMBASSADORS
OUR AMBASSADORS
When lawyer-turned-author Helen Garlick first became a Zero Suicide Alliance ambassador, little did she know that she would soon be taking to the airwaves.
T
he author of No Place to Lie (MC magazine Summer 2021) Helen’s book about her brother David’s suicide and the effect it had on her whole family, has received a five star rating on Amazon. One reviewer described it as a ‘moving story of pain and healing’. Helen is now hosting the ZSA’s Life Matters podcast and her first show looks at mental health and suicide around people of mixed race heritage. Ashley Byrne speaks to Adam Graham from Lancashire who’s set up a new peer support group after his brother took his own life and Freddy Chick visits ‘Dudes and Dogs’ in Bristol – a group of men whose four legged companions really are their best friends. Being an ambassador for the ZSA involves raising funds and awareness and on the podcast broadcaster Dan Westwood reveals why he’s supporting the alliance. Ambassadors Vicky Myers (DS Swain in Coronation Street), Kaitlyn Akinpelumi (The School for Good and Evil, NETFLIX 2022) and former Gladiator Suzie Cox can be seen in action on the ZSA Big Quiz, which is also available online.
All episodes of the Life Matters podcast are available on the ZSA website (zerosuicidealliance.com/life-matters) or via your normal podcast provider.
HOT OFF THE PRESS The ZSA free suicide awareness training, already accessed by more than 1.8 million people, has been endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing. The three training modules have been developed using the experience of those who have lived with suicide or have clinical expertise.
Suzie Cox, Dan Westwood, Vicky Myers and Kaitlyn Akinpelumi.
THE MODULES Gateway (5 to 10 minutes) an introduction Step Up (5 to 10 minutes) information on social isolation Suicide Awareness Training (under 30 minutes) provides the skills and confidence to approach someone with suicidal thoughts.
Life matters podcasts available at zerosuicidealliance.com/ life-matters
FOR MORE INFORMATION visit zerosuicidealliance.com/training
SPEND AND SMILE If you shop on Amazon, an easy way to support the ZSA is via AmazonSmile, which donates 0.5 per cent of the net purchase price (excluding VAT, returns and shipping fees) of eligible purchases to the charitable organisation of your choice. To support the ZSA choose Mersey Care NHS Trust as your charity and AmazonSmile does the rest.
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SPOTLIGHT ON... CAREER AMBASSADORS
I loved being there when people needed help.
By Jackie Rankin
Mersey Carer career ambassador and accountant Gayle Wells (pictured with son Lewis) supports young people to choose careers.
Photos: Joel Goodman
THE LONG AND
WINDING ROAD
Careers ambassador Gayle Wells tells young people why the path to a dream role may not be straight, but the twists and turns are part of the journey.
M
y own experience has told me that a career doesn’t always follow a direct path, but with guidance you can find the right one for you. I was never great at maths – I thought accountants were men in grey suits. I was very aware of the public sector from a young age and I admired my teachers’ ability to inspire young people. I wanted to be like them, so I studied English with Education. By the time I graduated I’d realised teaching wasn’t for me. I felt lost. After graduating I worked as a carer. I loved being there when people needed help, but seeing people in challenging situations was hard. We visited a lady who became distraught when we tried to clear the hundreds of toilet rolls and butter tubs she’d hoarded. She was holding on to them in case someone needed them, so I rang some local schools. They were delighted and she was happy to let the loo rolls go!
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The turning point in my career came when the care home owner asked me to do office work and accounts. I started night school doing basic accountancy qualifications. I was still struggling to see how I’d use them until the local health authority advertised for accountants at my level. I was unwell when I went for the interview, but amazingly I got the job! One of my most rewarding posts has been as a Value Maker, helping demystify finance for non-finance and clinical staff. I support on programmes to help us understand each others’ perspective so we can work together better. I may be an accountant, but when I talk to young people I say I’m someone who finds ways to get the best out of people. I hope telling them my career story might inspire them, and my own kids, to know there are many ways to reach their goal.
TO FIND OUT MORE about career ambassadors contact Lesley Cradduck: lesley.cradduck@merseycare.nhs.uk
GOVERNOR PROFILE
SUE MARTIN
Public governor
As a young person in the 60s I had lots of different jobs. While I was living and working as crew on a horse drawn barge, I met a mental welfare officer and thought ‘this might be the career for me’.
I
decided I’d best get myself some qualifications; that was when I discovered I had dyspraxia. It explained why I’d always struggled at school.
I’ve always found a way to get things done – I’d be ok on a desert island! Yet again I had to learn to do things differently, but I managed to develop skills and gain qualifications, culminating in a PhD in human evolutionary biology. I think neurodiversity is something to be proud of. My husband was studying when we became parents, so I was the breadwinner. At one point we had four children all at different
COME AND
schools – I was glad to see the back of that morning run. Together we have born, fostered, step and adopted children – we have the full set! I’m lucky that my home is my happy place. I love spending time in the charity shop I set up near where I live. It’s like a little community. I’ve been involved in supporting the mental health of local people for 40 years. I was very surprised and thrilled to receive an MBE for my services! It’s good to see that we now understand the impact of trauma in therapy and the need to be compassionate towards yourself.
JOIN US
Photo: Joel Goodman
I’ve always wanted to speak up for people who don’t have a voice. What do I hope to achieve as a governor? Throughout my life I’ve always wanted to speak up for people who don’t have a voice. I feel ordinary people sometimes don’t get a say. My mum and dad were lovely people, who taught me that you should pass on your luck and your skills. My dad used to say ‘You’re as good as anybody and better than nobody.’ His words have stayed with me ever since. To learn more about our Council of Governors, go to merseycare.nhs.uk
Our 2022 elections will begin soon to fill eight seats on the Council of Governors. If you would like to find out what a governor role involves this information can be found on our website: merseycare.nhs.uk/council-of-governors
Find out more about our membership and governors at: merseycare.nhs.uk. Tel: 0151 471 2303 or 0151 473 2778 Email: membership@merseycare.nhs.uk Write to: Alison Bacon, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, V7 Building, Kings Business Park, Prescot, Liverpool L34 1PJ
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GET VACCINATED GET BOOSTED GET PROTECTED Find out more at nhs.uk/wintervaccinations Contact details Got some news you’d like to share? Contact us at the following address.
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, V7 Building, Kings Business Park, Prescot, Merseyside L34 1PJ Telephone: 0151 473 0303 Email: communications@merseycare.nhs.uk
MC MAGAZINE is published by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and produced by the communications team, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, V7 Building, Kings Business Park, Prescot, Merseyside L34 1PJ T: 0151 473 0303 E: communications@merseycare.nhs.uk W: merseycare.nhs.uk. MC MAGAZINE is available in other formats on request.
