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CARRICK
OVER-50’S FORUM
NEWSLETTER
ISSUE 28 – MARCH 2013
SUPPORTING & CAMPAIGNING FOR THE OVER-50’S
The latest meeting of the Forum at the Merchant House Hotel in Truro held on Thursday 7th February also included an Extraordinary General Meeting to make minor changes to our Constitution. Times change and our needs change so roughly every 2 years we need to review the document. The amendments were approved.
The speakers were Angela Williams from Hearing Loss Cornwall and Mervyn Thomas from the Hearing Resource Centre. Angela reminded us that the Hearing Loss Centre was formerly the Deaf Association and the offices are situated in Walsingham Place in Truro. She is doing sterling work in increasing awareness of the particular needs and difficulties experienced within the community as a whole. When she said there were approximately 1 in 5 people with some degree of hearing loss, I am sure we could all relate to that as most of us in the room either have hearing loss or know someone who has. Telephone 01872 225868 email angela@hearinglosscornwall.org
Mervyn meanwhile had been setting out a massive array of “gadgets”. If he can’t find something to boost hearing, we were sure no-one could. He fielded many questions, demonstrated telephones, amplifiers, bells and more. He was keen to make everyone aware that giving demonstrations was a very small part of his work. He is never happier than when he does a home visit to try to resolve individual problems. It was noticeable that his visiting cards disappeared and I have no doubt he is going to be busy. We understand he has a waiting list of about 6 weeks. Telephone the Audiology Department 01872 253746 email Audiology.Secretary@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk
Judith Whiteley
Chairman
Change all around
There are changes all around us. LinK is being replaced with HealthWatch. There is a new Health and Wellbeing Board and goodbye to the Primary Care Trust to name but a few! We watch the media with growing amazement as the election season has begun for Cornwall Council elections.
Please make sure when you are deciding on which candidate you wish to see working for you, that your thoughts are not just on Party Politics but on the man or woman you know will have your best interests at heart.
A New Number for Health Advice
From 19th March there will be a new phone number to ring for health advice.
This number is 111.
Ring 111 if you do not feel very well.
Do not ring 111 if it is an emergency.
Nurses will talk to you about how poorly you feel and help you quickly.
If you need help about an illness you can ring 111 24 hours a day.
Stop Hate UK
Stop Hate UK has launched a new 24 hour helpline service, Stop Learning Disability Hate Crime, in England and Wales.
The new service is funded by the Ministry of Justice and Victim and Witness Fund.
It is still a shocking fact in this County, indeed all over the country, that people who have disabilities – not just Learning Disabilities, are targeted by totally unthinking and cruel people who seem to take pleasure in tormenting them both physically and mentally. It would be great if we all did our bit by not “walking by on the other side” but by taking positive action to stop this type of behaviour. So if you witness or know someone who is experiencing Learning Disability Hate Crime contact:
Stop Learning Disability Hate Crime helpline on 0808 802 1155
Calls are free from landlines and most mobiles, and lines are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
It’s Not Aspirin
Val Jewell is one of our Forum members, and has published an entertaining murder mystery novel entitled “It’s Not Aspirin”.
Action set in Cornwall, Venice and Spain.
Murder Mystery
Available for “Readers” on Amazon and Google £3.40
Paperback from Amazon/Authorhouse £8.95
Public Services
Ministers commissioned a report to look specifically at whether there are barriers to choice in the delivery of public services for those from a disadvantaged background.
“In publishing his review Boyle calls for more choice in public services”
There are 3 key points:-
First, that the bureaucratic barriers to choice remain powerful if you are less confident or articulate. Also if you want something slightly out of the ordinary then there is inequality of choice available to everyday people.
Second, people, especially the disadvantaged need information and advice on what choices are available to them, yet often this proves problematic. Some people do not easily have access to the internet and this makes it even harder to find out what choices are available. Many people prefer face to face advice.
Finally, what you find when you talk to people about choice in detail is that the kind of choices they THINK they are getting are often not what they ARE being offered. More flexibility is needed in the way services are delivered.
David Laws, Minister of State, has responded to the review by saying “we are committed to making sure people from all walks of life can benefit from the best public services, whether we’re talking about schools, hospitals or social care, and that means removing the barriers to stop many from our most disadvantaged communities from having a choice”.
David Boyle is a fellow of the New Economics Foundation and an author of many books on public services.
Benefits are changing
From April the Government is changing the national welfare benefits system. Some of the welfare reforms changes will come into effect in Cornwall from April 2013; others will be introduced gradually between 2013 and 2017.
The first changes which come into effect in Cornwall on 1 April 2013 are the
• New Council Tax Support scheme
• The New Housing Benefit Under Occupancy rule
There is a booklet “Benefits are changing” which is available in the One Stop Shops and from the Customer and Benefit Contact Centre.
Telephone 0300 1234 121 or email benefits@cornwall.gov.uk or Citizens Advice Bureau telephone 08444 111 444.
Campaign to End Loneliness
The Campaign started working in Cornwall in May last year with the objective of initiating a flagship “Loneliness Harms Health” campaign and to lobby the new local Health and Wellbeing Board to recognise the negative health implications of loneliness in older age.
It started working with the local older people’s Forums, many local charities and with the statutory sector and achieved its goal by ensuring the Health and Wellbeing Board included loneliness as one of its twelve guiding principles.
As part of this campaign, in October 2012, the Campaign to End Loneliness in Cornwall held a Fair in the Princess Pavilion to celebrate the organisations and services available in Cornwall to support older people to keep connected. At that time people were encouraged to complete a survey on a series of questions about loneliness. The results of the survey were limited as not many people completed it but the results were interesting and have been sent to Cornwall Council in the hope that this will encourage them to undertake more extensive research into the issue of loneliness in older age in the future.
This leads on to one of the main causes of isolation and loneliness, the subject of transport links.
Social exclusion as a result of poor transport links
“It is well documented that older people often face isolation and social exclusion. Many older people are disconnected from their community, have little contact with family or friends and have difficulties in accessing social, cultural and leisure activities as well as basic public services.” AgeUK
Much of this can be attributed to the quality of local bus transport which seems to vary from area to area. Some operators do a reasonable job but others run buses which are often late, dirty and smelly, according to their users. Also the insidious removal from the timetable of the odd bus does not give confidence to the users.
Good bus transport empowers older people to remain full and involved members of the community and without this, especially in rural areas, a lack of adequate transport may prevent older people from accessing public services and activities.
If you have a story to tell, please let us know.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting also includes the Annual General Meeting. At this meeting there will need to be an election for the Committee. If you feel you would like to be a committee member, please don’t hesitate to put your name forward. If you would like more details, let me know by telephone or email.
Unfortunately, membership costs will now need to be £6.00 for the year. We are going to hold the lunch at last year’s cost of £5.00.
My Favourite Things
To commemorate her birthday, actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP. One of the musical numbers she performed was 'My Favorite Things' from the legendary movie 'Sound Of Music'. Below are the lyrics she used.
(Sing It!) - If you sing it, its especially hysterical!!!
Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.
When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.
Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.
When the joints ache, When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.
Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores.
Upcoming Meetings
BI-MONTHLY FORUM MEETINGS
The bi-monthly meetings all take place on a THURSDAY from 12.00 noon until 3.00pm.
NEXT MEETING WILL BE:
11TH APRIL - Merchants Manor (formerly Green Lawns Hotel), Falmouth.
GUEST SPEAKER:
Graham Brack, Pharmaceutical Adviser at Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT, Director at TMS Pharmacy Ltd, Assistant Lecturer in Pharmacology at University of Plymouth.
Transport can be arranged for those who really need it, but you will be asked to make a nominal contribution of £4.00 for your door to door service.
Please let Judith know if you are coming and require lunch.
DATES FOR 2013
11TH APRIL
(Inc. AGM) Greenlawns Hotel, Falmouth
6TH JUNE Merchant House Hotel, Truro
8TH AUGUST Greenlawns Hotel, Falmouth
4TH OCTOBER Merchant House Hotel, Truro
5TH DECEMBER Greenlawns Hotel, Falmouth
PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS:
cornwall.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=27127
NEW FORUM MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME
CONTACT THE FORUM
JUDITH WHITELEY (CHAIRMAN)
EMAIL: jwhiteley@cornwall.gov.uk
TELEPHONE: 01326 374279
WRITE TO:
Carrick Over-50’s Forum
17 Church Road,
Mylor Bridge
TR11 5NL
DAVID WHEELER (TREASURER)
TELEPHONE: 01326 315305
Disclaimer: the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor or Carrick Over-50’s Forum
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