Westminster PLUS Essential information for Westminster’s older residents
Issue 17 – November 2012
INSIDE Exclusive film preview Free tickets
Keep warm this winter
Support, advice and grants
Choose your own care Using your personal budget
PLUS Silver Sunday Activities and events
Welcome and news Welcome to the winter issue of Westminster Plus, packed with the latest news, advice and information for residents aged 60 plus. In October many of you joined us for the first ever Silver Sunday, a pilot of what we hope will become a national day to celebrate older people, overcome loneliness and highlight all the organisations and activities that are on your doorstep every day of the week. The celebrations were lead by the annual Tea Dance at Grosvenor House. Take a look at pages four and five to find out more. Keeping warm and well in your home is vital to your wellbeing. Rising fuel costs are a worry for many people, but there is a lot of help and support available to you. Turn to page six to find out more.
We’re very pleased to announce the opening of a new dementia care centre this November. Find out more on page 10. There are plenty of ways to keep fit and warm this winter. Take a look at just a selection of activities on offer at your Community Hubs on page 12. Find out about how personal budgets are helping people to choose their own care on page 14. It’s also the season to be thinking about protecting ourselves from colds and flu, so turn to page 18 for specialist advice from the NHS. We hope you stay warm, well and active this winter.
Get free tickets to an exclusive preview of the film ‘Quartet’ with Maggie Smith on 29th November. See page 7 for details. 2
Councillor The Lady Flight Westminster Older People’s Champion
Cabinet Support, 17th Floor, City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP cllrflight21@btinternet.com
Councillor Rachael Robathan
Cabinet Member for Adults Cabinet Support, 17th Floor, City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP rrobathan@westminster.gov.uk On the cover: Swimmers at Marshall Street Leisure Centre on Silver Sunday.
Welcome and news
Weekend of free activities at your leisure centre Don’t forget to visit your local leisure centre during the next ActiveWestminster Weekend on 1st and 2nd December for free activities including classes specifically for older people. It’s an ideal way to visit your leisure centre for the first time and find out what’s on offer. Visit www.westminster.gov.uk/activeweekend or call 020 7641 2012 for a full schedule and for more information.
Pick up an ActiveWestminster Guide Find out what’s on at your local sports centre with the new ActiveWestminster Guide to sport and leisure. Pick up a copy from your local leisure centre or library or visit www.westminster. gov.uk/sport
NEW online reading group Can’t get to a book group? Want to discuss books with other readers? Join the Text Tribe, a new online reading group. Join the group and share your thoughts. The first book being discussed is Mark Billingham’s ‘Sleepyhead’. New members are always welcome. Join at www.texttribe. wordpress.com.
Call the Senior Passport line on 020 7641 1444 for information on services for older people.
Temporary move for Age Concern Westminster New address (until July 2013): 26 Seymour Street, W1H 7JA Tel: 020 3004 5610
New home for Churchill Community Hub Churchill Community Hub has moved to Annex Hall, Churchill Gardens Road, Churchill Gardens Estate, SW1V 3AL. The nearest tube is Pimlico. Call 07530 734 489 or email jgrieve@openage.org.uk for more information. 3
Silver Sunday Hundreds of you took part in activities across the city to celebrate on 7th October 2012. Up to 28% of older people say they sometimes feel lonely. This October, we therefore launched Silver Sunday, a new day for older people full of events and activities as a chance to try something new and meet new people. The day was supported by Joanna Lumley and Michael Parkinson and we hope that it will become a national event in the future. Evelyn Thornhill, 83, from St. John’s Wood went to computer training at Greenside Community Centre, provided by Sesquis. Evelyn with tutor Christina
She says: “I’ve wanted to do a computer course for a while, so when I heard about Silver Sunday, I signed up. “Everything nowadays says to go online for further information so I wanted to learn how to do it. “I now feel far more confident to use the computers in my local library. It was a very useful day.”
You can take part in hundreds of events and activities all year round. Call your Community Hub (see page 12) for the latest information. 4
To register your interest in finding out more about next year’s Silver Sunday events email westminsterplus@ westminster.gov.uk
Robert Holt, was the oldest person to take part in a sponsored swim at Marshall Street Leisure Centre. He says: “Silver Sunday was great, but to tell the truth I only joined in with the swim as I got fed up waiting for my wife to finish her swim! Luckily I had my swimming trunks with me and so did 10 laps which didn’t tire me at all. “I learned to swim 85 years ago from my father and swim quite regularly. I like to keep active.”
Tea Dance
To watch a short video and see pictures from the event, visit www.westminster.gov.uk/ teadance
A thousand residents aged 60 plus joined us at Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel, for our annual Tea Dance. Dancing to the James Platt band, afternoon tea and a performance from the Sylvia Young Theatre School made it an afternoon to remember.
“It’s the atmosphere I love and the joy on people’s faces. It’s just so heart warming” Maureen Phillips, 81, St. John’s Wood
The Westminster and Dagenham Police Cadets danced with the guests after receiving dance lessons from Go Ballroom. The guest of honour was Jamie Brothwick, famous for his role in Eastenders as Jay Mitchell. He presented the prize to the oldest guest, Phyllis Pilkington aged 100, with a hamper of fine cheeses courtesy of Mootown.
“It’s a wonderful day out, something to really look forward to.” Greta Milla–Reid, St. John’s Wood
Keep on dancing Jamie Brothwick dancing with Councillor Lady Flight
The Abbey Centre run ballroom dance classes throughout the year. Mondays, 12.30-1.30pm, The Jubilee Hall, 35 Jubilee Market, Covent Garden, WC2E 8BF Cost: £2 Tel: 020 7222 0303
The free event is funded by sponsorship from Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel Urban Printing, The Telegraph Group and Serco. 5
Keep warm this winter Rising fuel costs and cold weather may mean you worry about keeping warm and well in the winter but there is a lot of help and support available. For information about services and support to help you reduce and manage your bills and general energy efficiency advice, contact the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 336 699.
Heating and insultation If you are a Housing Association tenant, you should contact your landlord to raise any concerns about the heating or insulation of your home. If the problem persists, call the council’s Residential Environmental Health Department on 020 7641 6161. If you rent your home from the council, contact your local estate office to raise any concerns about the heating or insulation of your home.
Grants If you own your home or are a private tenant, you may be eligible for a Decent Homes Grant from the council. The grant is for people on a low income for works such as heating and insulation and includes improvements such as providing new central heating. To find out if you are eligible for a grant or assistance call the Westminster Home Improvement Agency on 020 7641 8959.
The Westminster Handyperson Scheme is free to residents over 60, or those receiving disability allowances for minor jobs around the home. Call 020 7641 8959. 6
Phillipa Keymer, 63, from Marylebone, called the council for help when her boiler broke down. She says: “Because I receive council tax benefit, the council were able to help me apply for a Decent Homes Grant to cover the cost of replacing my boiler. They’re not cheap so I was very grateful. “They also helped me to draught proof the back door and fix the leaking tap in the kitchen. This was all done in one day which I find extraordinary.”
FREE cinema tickets Receive FREE tickets to an exclusive screening of Dustin Hoffman’s directional debut, Quartet. We have free tickets to give away courtesy of Momentum Pictures and Odeon Cinema. The screening will take place at the iconic Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square on Thursday 29th November at 10am. Quartet is a British comedy drama directed by Dustin Hoffman about a group of retired opera singers living in a retirement home for gifted musicians. The drama centres around an annual concert to celebrate Verdi’s birthday which is disrupted by the arrival of Jean, an eternal diva and the former wife of one of the residents. The film stars Maggie Smith, Pauline Collins and Billy Connolly.
WIN
To claim your tickets visit www.showfilmfirst.com, and enter the code 477024. After entering your details, you can print off your ticket. If you are unable to access the internet, visit your local library or email westminsterplus @westminster.gov.uk including your full postal address including postcode. You can also call 020 7641 7810. Tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Tom Courtenay and Maggie Smith star in Quartet
Saga magazine subscription Saga magazine covers everything from home to health, people to places, games to gardening, money to technology and more. For your chance to win one of 10 free year-long Saga Magazine subscriptions, email westminsterplus@ westminster.gov.uk by 12th December. 7
Remaining independent Telecare equipment helps over 4,000 people to stay in their own homes.
Sultan Khan, 83, from Westbourne Park has dementia but lives in his own home with the support of his family and a care package that includes telecare. Telecare is equipment such as alarms that help people to live as independently as possible.
“Telecare is the eyes I don’t have on him.” Sultan’s son, Emir, says: “It is very important to him that he stays in his own home. It is the only thing he never forgets to reinforce in all our conversations. He recognises the place where he brought up his children and it has strong memories for him. Being a retired Naval Captain, his independence is very important and despite dementia some habits haven’t changed. 8
Sultan with his daughter
Remaining independent
We help 4,360 people to remain in their homes through telecare equipment. To find out more call adult social services on 020 7641 1175.
“Telecare is the eyes I don’t have on him, from the safer walking device that tells me where he is to the alarm on the front door that tells me when it has been left open too long. It’s security that if there was an incident such as falling down, he would be able to press a button for help. “The greatest problem is wandering off. On one occasion he went to buy a raincoat and managed to get to Oxford Street but then forgot why and where he was. A black cab driver saw him sitting at a bus stop at 4am and was able to bring him back home. Now with his safer walking device round his neck, I know where he is all the time. I can’t stop his need to wander, as it comes with the disease, but I know when he needs to be rescued allowing him the freedom to come and go when he wants to. “The day centre is a daily lifeline for him not to be lonely. Every morning without any nudging, he starts to get ready for the centre. He has friends there and an amazing support network from the staff. I keep in close contact with them and they will phone me to let me know of subtle changes. “He has around 16 hours of care per week. I know when carers come in and when he eats as everything is noted down by them. Working closely with social care is paramount and we come together to discuss issues. For example, they increased his care hours when he had a fall. “It’s all about getting the right support package that ticks what is important to him as his disease gets worse. The ability to accept that things will change goes a long way in making sure I have the type of support needed for Dad to live his life to its best potential.”
“It is very important to him that he stays in his own home. It is the only thing he never forgets to reinforce in all our conversations. He recognises the place where he brought up his children and it has strong memories for him.” Sultan’s son, Emir 9
New dementia centre An innovative new resource centre for people living with dementia opens in Westbourne Park this winter. Day care services at the centre will focus on daily activity sessions to help people to remain more independent. Activities include gardening, cookery lessons, Tai Chi, video computing, and interactive music sessions.
If you are finding it difficult to remember day-to-day things or know someone who does, ask your GP to refer you to the Westminster Memory Service or call 020 7612 1663.
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Other services include memory assessments, a dementia advisor, advice and information, a dementia nurse to support carers, an outreach service, Home Care Plus services and Admiral Nurses. The design of the building is based on advice from Stirling University’s specialist dementia design team and aims to make people feel at home rather than being in a clinical setting. The building has colour coded doors to indicate different areas, windows and fittings that maximise light and minimise shadows, and bathroom and kitchen fittings that are easy for people with memory loss to use.
For more information and to see a guide to living with dementia, visit www.westminster. gov.uk/memoryservice
People using the centre will be able to use their personal budget, as assessed by their care management team, for their care. This will enable them to choose their care such as trips out, hiring a carer or equipment to help them stay independent in their own homes.
For information on living with dementia call the Alzheimer’s Society National Dementia helpline on 0845 300 0336 or visit www.alzheimers.org.uk
Support will also be available for those who have been diagnosed more recently and their carers who are coming to terms with what the condition means and how it may affect them. For more information about the new dementia centre call Adult Social Services on 020 7641 1175.
Free weekend of sport and leisure 1st – 2nd December 2012 Head to your local leisure centre on the 1st and 2nd December for a weekend of FREE and discounted activities. It’s an ideal time to try out a new activity or sport or visit your centre for the first time to find out what’s on offer. Call 020 7641 2012 for details of what’s on near you or visit westminster.gov.uk/activeweekend Some activities require booking and others you can just turn up to on the day. Supported by the ActiveWestminster Partnership.
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Winter events
Booking is required for some activities. Please call ahead to check details.
Keep active this winter and try out some of our free and low cost activities at your local Community Hub or leisure centre. Churchill Community Hub
Church Street (Penfold) Community Hub
Queen’s Park and Harrow Road Community Hub
Beginner’s tap dancing Mondays,11am-12 midday Churchill Gardens Youth Club, Annex Hall, Churchill Gardens Road, SW1V 3AL Cost: £1 Nearest tube: Pimlico
Drop-in session with health and wellbeing speakers Mondays, 3-4pm Ada Court, 10-16 Maida Vale, W9 1TD Cost: Free Nearest tube: Maida Vale
Card making Wednesdays, 10am-12 midday Portgate Hall, 19 Portgate Close, Lydford Estate, (on Ashmore Rd, 3rd right from Harrow Road End), W9 3DL Cost: £2 Nearest tube: Westbourne Park
Tel: 020 7976 6354
Art classes Wednesdays, 10am-12 midday and 12.15-2.15pm Thamesbank Centre, Peabody Avenue, Turpentine Lane, SW1V 4AR Cost: £2 per class Nearest tube: Pimlico/Victoria
Tel: 020 8762 3082
Healthy lunch and gardening Fridays, 11.30am (lunch)/ 2-4pm (gardening) Church Street Community Hub, 60 Penfold Street, NW8 8PJ Cost: lunch £2, gardening free Nearest tube: Edgware Road/Marylebone
Tel: 020 7266 2776
Zumba Wednesdays, 1-1.45 pm WECH Community Centre, Chantry Close, Elgin Avenue, Elgin Estate, W9 2HX Cost: £1 Nearest tube: Westbourne Park
Find out more at your Community Hub or pick up a copy of the ActiveWestminster Guide from your local leisure centre. Events at Community Hubs are provided on behalf of the council by Notting Hill Housing and Open Age. 12
Winter events
Westbourne Community Hub Tel: 020 8964 1900
Stretch and revive Mondays, 12 midday-1pm Warwick Community Centre, 300 Harrow Road, W2 5HG Cost: £1 Nearest tube: Royal Oak/ Warwick Avenue Jewellery making Tuesdays, 11am-1pm Hardy House, 64 Great Western Road (corner of Tavistock Road), W11 1AA Cost: £2 Nearest tube: Westbourne Park
Exercise Exercise class Mondays, 2.30-3.30pm/ Fridays, 3-4pm Victoria Medical Centre, 29 Upper Tachbrook Street, SW1V 1SN Nearest tube: Pimlico The free class is funded by the council and is available to all patients aged 60+ registered in Westminster. Tel: 020 7834 2298
Free or low cost computer classes On Silver Sunday, local IT training provider Sesquis put on a free IT course for older people in Westminster. Do you want to learn how to use email, get your shopping delivered to your door, find a new hobby or make new friends? Whatever your goal there are free or discounted computer courses aimed at beginners at your local library or community hub. You can even try out iPads, or learn about Facebook, Twitter and other new technology applications through Open Age.
Beginner’s internet and email
Booking essential. Please call 020 8964 1900 Paddington Library Queen’s Park Library Mondays, 2.30–4.30pm Mondays, 11.30am-1.30pm Paddington Library, Queen’s Park Library, 666 45 Porchester Road, W2 5DU Harrow Road, W10 4NE Cost: £2 Cost: £2 Nearest tube: Royal Oak Nearest tube: Queen’s Park For more information, call libraries on 020 7641 1300 or call your local Community Hub. Swimming: fit at 50 Wednesdays, 12 midday– 1pm/Fridays, 12 midday-1pm Queen Mother Sports Centre, 223 Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V 1EL Cost: £1.55 or free with Westminster Concession Card for over 65s Nearest tube: Victoria
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Choose your own care A group of 12 people from Maida Vale decided to combine their personal budgets last year to set up a social group. They use their budget to pay for room hire, carers and activities at Leonora House in Maida Vale. Singer and songwriter Frankie Miller, 61, suffered a brain hemorrhage in 1994 and visits the group with the help of his wife Annette who helped to set it up. She says: “I looked around for a space where they could meet and when I got in touch with the people at Leonora House, I was able to negotiate the rent and the cost of the carers. “Everyone looks forward to coming and meeting up with friends. The space here is fantastic, there’s a big communal lounge and the group gets involved with things such as yoga, facials, games and music.
“Everyone looks forward to coming and meeting up with friends.” Frankie’s wife, Annette 14
Choose your own care
“The group gets involved with things such as yoga, facials, games and music.” “I’m heavily involved in Frankie’s care so whilst he’s here it gives me some time to myself. It also gives Frankie the chance to mix with other people.” Leonora House, managed by Octavia Housing on behalf of the council, runs an extra care housing scheme offering independent living to older people as an alternative to residential care homes. Martha Moran, care manager at Leonora House, says: “It’s ideal for them because they don’t need the same levels of care as our full-time residents, they can dip in and out and leave for the day having socialised and given friends and family who may care for them some time for themselves.”
Personal budgets A personal budget is money given to people with high care needs, to pay for social care support. You can choose whether to receive the money as a direct payment into your bank account, or have the council manage it for you.
Do you want a say in the future of care housing? Together with the NHS, we’re reviewing the future of care homes for older people. We need to change the type of care homes we provide because traditional residential homes no longer provide the type of care and facilities that people need. We also need to provide more nursing care home places and improve and update facilities. To find out more about our proposals pick up a consultation document from your local library, visit www.westminster.gov. uk/specialisthousing or call 020 7641 2631.
An assessment identifies the type of care you need and you can choose how to spend your personal budget in your care plan. For more information on personal budgets call adult social care on 020 7641 1175. The council offers help and support with your personal budget through Age Concern Westminster. Advice sessions are available at your Community Hub. Call 020 3004 5610.
The consultation closes on 3rd December.
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Travel support A guide to getting out and about.
You have told us the type of travel support you need including advice, information, equipment and financial support. We have listened and created a draft strategy outlining the way forward. We plan to improve travel support in three ways: • better information on what mobility support is available and how to get it • travel planning as part of assessing your care needs • a wider and more flexible range of transport to meet individual needs, making use of both community transport schemes with volunteer drivers and commercial transport providers.
Next steps Your comments will be used in a report recommending the way forward that will be submitted to councillors for implementation in 2013. We would like to thank all those who have sent us comments or attended meetings to discuss the strategy. Details will be in the spring issue of Westminster Plus and available through the Senior Passport Line on 020 7641 1444 from January 2013. Visit www.westminster/gov.uk/travelsupport to see the draft strategy. 16
You said: Some people are nervous about using public transport and would welcome someon e to accompany them. Sometimes Taxicards, Diala-Ride or patient transport ser vices don’t meet your need s. The weekly shopper service for people with severe mobility difficulties is valued by many people.
Travel support
There are many ways to get around, whether you’re going to medical appointments or taking part in events and activities.
Hospital and medical appointments Westminster Health Link (Westway Community Transport) Free daily trips to the main hospitals and GP surgeries. Door-to-door service and fully accessible vehicles. Try to call at least four days in advance. Areas covered: W9, W10, W11, W2, NW1 and NW8 Visit: www.westwayct. org.uk Tel: 020 8968 4056
Door-to-door services
Shopping
Dial-a-Ride A free door-to-door service for people over 75 who are disabled and unable to use public transport. Visit: www.tfl.gov.uk/ gettingaround/3222.aspx Tel: 0845 999 1 999
Westminster Shopper Service Free transport for people with severe mobility difficulties. The service takes you from your home to a local supermarket. An escort is on the bus who will assist with carrying your shopping. Available Monday to Thursday from 10am to 12 midday. Tel: 020 7641 2009
Green CT Cars (Westway Community Transport) Private taxi service offering accessible vehicles and help to get into the car. You can check the cost of your journey in advance. Visit: www.greenctcars. org.uk Tel: 020 8969 8886
George Coleman, 84, from Pimlico found out about the Shopper Service during a stay in hospital. He says, “It’s a marvellous service. I’d be cooped up in my flat without it. It takes me all the way over to Nine Elms for my weekly grocery shopping, which I can’t do with my mobility scooter. The driver is great, and gives me a hand with taking the shopping to my front door. It’s an excellent service, much appreciated by older people. We would be lost without it.”
New Community Transport service From January you can use a new Community Transport service to provide subsidised transport. The new service will help you to get out and about and take part in community groups. More information on how to use the service will be provided in the next issue of Westminster Plus.
“It’s a marvellous service. I’d be cooped up in my flat without it.” 17
Get the jab, get flu safe If you are over 65, it is vital to get a flu jab particularly at this time of year. Flu is highly infectious and spreads rapidly through coughs and sneezes.
What to do if you get flu You should see a doctor if you have flu-like symptoms and you: • are 65 or over • have a long-term medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney or neurological disease • have a weakened immune system. If you are otherwise fit and healthy, there is usually no need to see a doctor if you have flu-like symptoms. The best remedy is to rest at home, keep warm and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. You can take paracetamol or ibuprofen, to lower a high temperature and relieve aches. 18
The types of virus in circulation change every year as does the vaccine, so it is important that you have the jab this winter, even if you had it last year. Flu is not just a bad cold. It can increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia, or can make existing conditions worse. In the worst cases, the flu can result in a stay in hospital, and it can even be a killer. If you are aged 65 or over you should have already been invited by your GP surgery to get your free flu jab. If you have not received an invite or not made an appointment simply contact your GP to arrange a convenient appointment and get your jab.
New number for urgent medical assistance If you need medical help fast but it’s not a lifethreatening situation, you can call the NHS 111 number. When you call 111, a trained adviser will ask you questions to find out what’s wrong, give you medical advice and direct you to someone who can help you, like an out-of-hours doctor or a community nurse.
We’re listening We want your feedback on the services you receive
Integrity
Independence
• Age Concern Westminster
• Volunteer Centre Westminster.
Dignity, compassion, respect We will: • Respect your beliefs and personal preferences • Ensure that you are treated with dignity.
The level of service you receive from the council is important to us, whether you receive social care or use our other services such as leisure centres, libraries or Community Hubs. I have therefore launched a new charter that states our promises to you from ourselves and our partners who provide services on our behalf. Organisations who have so far signed up to the charter include: • Octavia Housing (providers of our outreach and befriending service)
Westminster Charter for Adult Social Care
Councillor Rachael Robathan Cabinet Member for Adults
Your feedback We want to hear your feedback on the services we provide and also hear about what is important to you. We will be visiting hubs and other venues this winter and details will be available at www.westminster.gov.uk/charter If you have any comments on the service you receive, please call our feedback line on 0800 587 0072.
We will: • Help you to regain skills to do as much as you can for yourself • Outline your support entitlement and how it is assessed • Help you to manage any personal budget you receive or give you the freedom to manage it yourself • Support your right to live free from any form of abuse.
Information We will: • Provide clear guidance and information on services available • Make it easy for you to let us know your feedback, respond promptly and use this information to improve the service you receive. 19
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