Scottish Government

AGENDA information for older people

Hugh Henry MSP, Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care

Introducing Hugh Henry

HUGH HENRY MSP for Paisley South, was appointed as Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care in November last year. Mr Henry, who was born in Glasgow in 1952, was involved in local government from 1984 to 1999 including a spell as leader of West Renfrewshire Council from 1995 to 1999. Speaking to Agenda, Mr Henry said:

'I am pleased to be involved with Scotland's older people. Older People have a significant role to play in Scottish society and have a wealth of experience. It is important that we harness that experience and provide opportunities for them to contribute and express their views locally and nationally. We are taking steps to address this and have recently established an Older People's Consultative Forum.

Through policies in areas such as transport, housing, social justice, volunteering, lifelong learning and health and community care - we want to help older people live healthy, independent lives. This newsletter is just one of a range of measures which we are putting in place to improve and spread information about issues which are of interest to older people. I very much look forward to meeting many of you at events later this year and listening to your views.'

PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFORMATION LINE

TRAVELINE PROVIDES information on all forms of public transport across Scotland, and information on travel to any destination in Great Britain. The line is open 08:00 to 20:00 7 days a week. For information telephone 0870 608 2608 (national rate).

Free personal care update

LOOK OUT for information in national and local press between April and June about the full implementation of free nursing and personal care in Scotland. This will take place from 1 July 2002 - three month's later than originally planned to allow local authorities and other providers to ensure that the right assessment and delivery mechanisms are in place. An information leaflet will be available soon. Further information is on the free personal care website www.scotland.gov.uk/health/freepersonalcare.

Older people's consultative forum

AS PART of our plans for involving older people in the work of the Scottish Executive, we have set up a new Older People's Consultative Forum. Chaired by Hugh Henry, its members comprise mainly older people representing national older people's organisations in Scotland. The Forum will provide a sounding board for Scottish Executive policy affecting older people and will be a source of advice to the Executive. It will complement and improve the Executive's existing methods of consultation and working with older people - not replace them. The first meeting took place on 12 February 2002 and items discussed included the introduction of the Scottish Secure Tenancy, Dental Services for Older People and Standards for Care Homes. The papers and a note of meetings will appear on the Scottish Executive Older People's website at www.scotland.gov.uk/olderpeople.

Add years to life with HEBS
by Fiona Borrowman, HEBS Programme Manager, Health in Later Life

GETTING OLDER holds no boundaries. You are officially middle aged when you are 50, yet at this age you could also be a mother or father of young children. So exactly what does getting old mean? Is it fair to categorise people in this way? After all, you are only as old as you feel.

Over recent decades people have been living much longer, but the greatest threats to life expectancy in Scotland still continue to be cancer, strokes and coronary heart disease. However, the news is not all bad. If you were to ask most people over the age of 50 if they were 'old', most would say an emphatic 'no', which is a great start. Even better news is that there are some great benefits to being in the so-called 'mature' years and they aren't just the old 'getting wiser' clichés. For example, did you know that for men over 40 and women who have been through the menopause, drinking one or two units of alcohol a day can help prevent coronary heart disease? The risk of a heart attack starts to fall as soon as you stop smoking and within five years is reduced to half of that of a smoker, even middle-aged or over. Eating healthily gives you energy and protects against all of the Big three while keeping physically active can help prevent a stroke, osteoporosis and depression.

The route to longevity is not just the progress of medical science but in how we live. We can help to shape our own health. The key to good health is down to the choices we make. Even if you haven't taken care of your health until now, it is never too late to start. Simple things will help; like taking an afternoon stroll with a friend. It's sociable, free, good for your health and can help you sleep better. So the advice from the Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) is that you are only as old as you feel. Look after yourself and make sure you are equipped to enjoy life. For more information about health education check out the HEBS website at www.hebs.scot.nhs.uk.

Being active is ageless
by Richard Brickley, Chair of the Older People's sub-group on the Physical Activity Task Force

THERE IS ever increasing recognition that physical inactivity is the 'silent killer of our time'. People of all ages and abilities who are physically active gain considerable health benefits. Campaigns so often concentrate on young people and adults, yet physical activity is just as important for older people and can help maintain independent living and greatly enhance quality of life.

The World Health Organization recommends that all adults should aim to accumulate 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week. There are many older people who hit the target before others have tasted breakfast. Golf, gardening, walking, swimming and daily housework are just some of the activities that can contribute to the daily half hour. Some people opt to attend classes in activities as wide ranging as Tai-Chi and weight training or exercise with music and dancing. The variety of options and the potential to meet like-minded individuals are what make physical activity so appealing.

For older people who find it hard to get about but live independently, home-based exercise programmes are the way forward to maintain confidence, mobility and independence. The safe environment of residential care is an ideal location to encourage frail older people to maintain their functional independence. Standards for providing opportunities for residents to pursue physical activities are being included in the new standards for care homes.

More activity at all stages of our lives can make a major impact in the future health of our nation.

Older people and the Arts

Photograph courtesy of the Scottish Arts Council

by Sylvia Dow, Head of Education and Lifelong learning, The Scottish Arts Council

THE BYRE Theatre in St Andrews has started its HayDays programme of arts for seniors with the help of another Lottery award. The programme is already thriving _ with more than 100 older people taking over every space in the building one day a week to pursue anything from belly dancing to play reading.

There is a continuing and growing interest in the Arts by the 50+ age group. The Scottish Arts Council (SAC) has been increasingly involved in the development of more arts opportunities for older people. A recent Lottery award of 100,000 to the University of Strathclyde's Senior Studies Institute will spread their programme of hands-on arts activities and cultural visits to areas of Glasgow which have not been part of the programme.

At the heart of SAC's initiative is a series of 'active' research projects, investigating the meaning and purpose of arts to the lives of older people. The six action projects take place across Scotland, from Taigh Chearsabhagh in Harris (a project involving older people in contemporary crafts) to the Scottish Borders (involving older musicians in contemporary music delivered by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra).

Other projects involve digital art at Dundee Contemporary Arts; writing for publication (through Moniack Mhor writers' centre); an over 60s dance company set up by Scottish Ballet; and a participatory drama project at the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen.

As a result of the research, SAC hopes to have a clearer picture of the sector in order to develop a plan of action to help keep arts experiences a part of life for older people.

Further information is available from: Sylvia Dow at The Scottish Arts Council, 12 Manor Place, Edinburgh EH3 7DD.
Tel: 0131 226 6051 (national rate)

The Senior Studies Institute
by Lesley Hart, Director of Lifelong Learning, University of Strathclyde

Photograph courtesy of the Senior Studies Institute

SINCE 1991, the Senior Studies Institute (SSI) at the University of Strathclyde has met the learning needs and interests of many thousands of older people. Through its wide range of targeted courses, seminars and workshops it has attracted older people from all walks of life with an age range from late 40s to early 90s. There are even some examples of two generations from the one family coming to learn together! SSI students have also the option to join the Learning in Later Life Students Association which offers regular social events for its members as well as co-ordinating the activities of fifteen student-led clubs.

Integral to the ethos of the Institute is the aim to provide opportunities for older people to use their learning and life skills in a variety of community settings. Volunteering projects are developed and managed by the Institute and a work based project - 50+ Challenge - helps its clients prepare and reskill for employment and self-employment.

Just before Christmas the Senior Studies Institute celebrated its 10th anniversary. To mark the occasion, a short publication has been produced which presents the history and development of the SSI, charting the reasons for its growth and success and reflecting on the many benefits that learning in later life can bring to both individuals and society.

'The SSI Odyssey 1991-2001' is available (free) from the Senior Studies Institute, University of Strathclyde, Graham Hills Building, 40 George Street, Glasgow G1 1QE Tel: 0141 548 4828 (national rate) or email l.hart@strath.ac.uk. Further information is also available on the SSI website www.strath.ac.uk/Departments/LifelongLearning/seniorintro.htm.

Photograph courtesy of the Senior Studies Institute

Accessing the Internet

THE INTERNET plays an increasingly important role in day-to-day life. There are many places across Scotland where people can access the Internet. There are 300 learndirect Scotland centres across the country where people can develop their skills online. The majority of libraries already provide Internet access and the People's Network connecting all libraries in Scotland is rolling out this year.

The Scottish Executive will shortly be launching an initiative aimed at creating more than 1000 new public Internet access points. These access points will be located within businesses and organisations throughout Scotland. It will provide inexpensive, local facilities where people can go to get online. Access points could be located in shops, hairdressers, community centres, residential homes and day centres.

Later in the year a course to help improve web skills will be available through the access points. Look out for more information in future editions of Agenda or on the Executive website.

VOLUNTEERING RSVP
by Liz Hendry, National Development Manager, RSVP Scotland

RSVP IS NOT just a polite way of asking someone to reply to an invitation. It also stands for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme and is part of Community Service Volunteers (CSV). RSVP with a UK-wide strength of 8000 has been active in Scotland for the past four years. It recruits volunteers over 50 into a growing range of volunteering activities. Most are currently involved in primary schools, helping children with their reading, number work or other activities or in primary health care settings, helping with patient transport or befriending. A significant expansion of RSVP's work over three years has been funded by the Scottish Executive and there is now a National Development Manager and an Administrator based in Edinburgh as well as four development officers working in Speyside, South Lanarkshire, Dumbarton and Stirling. A new community fund post to promote work in schools and primary care has also recently been created.

New and growing areas of volunteer action include the environment, a project to promote the City of Edinburgh at major conferences, the Arts, an aromatherapy project and craftwork in a sheltered housing complex.

For more information on the possibilities available see the newsletter, 'RSVP in Scotland ', which can be obtained from the Edinburgh office. The new RSVP Scotland website www.csv-rsvpscotland.org.uk gives a comprehensive picture of what is happening around Scotland. Contact RSVP at Wellgate House, 200 Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1NQ; Tel: 0131 622 7766 (national rate) or email at: rsvpscotland@csv.org.uk.

'Encompass - the way ahead'
by Moria Alexander, Corporate Affairs Scotland, Women's Royal Voluntary Service

ENCOMPASS IS an exciting new initiative introduced to the Borders in February. It is a partnership, funded by the Scottish Executive, that brings together the skills and expertise of the WRVS (Women's Royal Voluntary Service), Age Concern Scotland and the Dark Horse Venture. The aim of the partnership is to help alleviate loneliness, isolation and boredom among housebound and older people.

Fiona McColl, project development manager for Encompass said:

'Many people may find themselves isolated, but would still like to be involved in everyday social and community life. Encompass aims to achieve this by offering them a range of activities from the comfort of their home or in a group. For example, helping with a befriending service, taking on a new craft or skill or even becoming a "cyberpal" to someone younger.'

WRVS, Age Concern Scotland and the Dark Horse Venture have a great deal of experience within this field and together can offer a quality service to support those wanting to get involved with the project.

With 'Encompass', people can discover their 'hidden talents' and look to the future with confidence and optimism.

If you would like to hear more about the project or volunteer call 0845 601 4678 (local rate) or visit the WRVS website at www.wrvs.org.uk.

ADDING LIFE TO YEARS

DR MAC ARMSTRONG, the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland has been Chairing an Expert Group on the healthcare of older people in Scotland. The 'Adding Life to Years' report was launched by Hugh Henry, Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, and Dr Armstrong on
31 January 2002.

The Chief Medical Officer would like to thank the hundreds of people who responded to the newspaper survey and to the MORI poll carried out as part of the group's work. Their views and experiences helped the Expert Group to reach its conclusions.

These included:

• Older people do not wish to be treated differently from anyone else in the NHS.
• Older people's healthcare problems are the core business of NHSScotland.
• Although no evidence of ageism was found, there was great concern about it influencing healthcare.
• The attitudes of some healthcare workers need to be improved.
• Delayed discharges from hospital cause distress to older patients and their families and must be addressed.
• Many people are living longer so we must plan ahead to ensure that they receive the healthcare they need, when they need it.
• Eating and drinking sensibly, stopping smoking and taking enough exercise can improve health and wellbeing, regardless of age.

The Group's recommendations on how NHSScotland can deliver better care to this important group of patients will be taken forward by the Chief Medical Officer's Implementation Group. As Dr Armstrong said at the launch of the report, 'Our aim is to add life to years, not simply years to life'.

The 'Adding Life to Years' report can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/health/alty-00.asp.

AGE CONCERN SCOTLAND LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE

MORE PEOPLE will have more access to more information on issues affecting the older generation, thanks to the new Age Concern Scotland website - www.ageconcernscotland.org.uk which was launched in December. Age Concern also has a freephone information line on 0800 00 99 66 which provides a wide range of information on issues affecting older people and their carers.

New Standards for Care Homes

FROM 1 APRIL older people staying in care homes will have their quality of life and quality of care assessed and guaranteed against national standards. The responsibility for registering, inspecting and enforcing standards for care services will pass from local authorities and health boards to a new independent body called the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care. Some other care services will also be regulated for the first time.

The Care Commission and the national care standards are intended to raise standards of services and protect vulnerable people. All the standards are written for the person using the service and set out what they can expect from the service. People using services and their families will be able to complain to the Care Commission if they are not satisfied with the quality of service they receive. The Care Commission will publish the results of its inspections and make these publicly available. It will also monitor the quality and development of services and collect statistics and information about services provided across Scotland.

Services which are being regulated for the first time - including care at home - will not all be regulated from 1 April 2002. Instead they will have individually set dates for example, care at home services (previously known as home help or home care), are likely to be regulated from early 2003. Standards for the care at home service which is widely used by older people, were published in December 2001.

Limited copies of these and other national standards documents are available from Louise Piaskowski, Regulation of Care Project, Room 41, James Craig Walk, Edinburgh EH1 3BA or from The Stationery Office Bookshop, 71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9AZ. The national standards are also accessible on the Regulation of Care website atwww.scotland.gov.uk/government/rcp.

Summary versions of the standards will be available soon in a variety of formats, including tape, Braille, large print and in some cases pictures. There will also be versions in a number of different languages.

LOOKING FOR A DENTIST?

How do I find an NHS dentist?

• you can call the NHS Helpline free on 0800 22 44 88 between 8am and 10pm to find out information about dentists who treat people on the NHS in your area - the NHS Helpline also provides information about health issues and local health services;
• contact the dentist to find out if he or she will accept you as an NHS patient.

I am already registered with a dentist. How long does this last?

You are only registered on the NHS with your dentist for 15 months. If you attend regularly, your registration will be rolled on and will not lapse. But if you do not attend in the 15 months of your registration you will no longer be registered with that dentist. If your registration lapses, the dentist is not obliged to re-register you after the 15 months.

I am over 60 - do I have to pay?

Yes, you must pay the appropriate charge for dental treatment unless you qualify for an exemption.

How will I know if I have to pay?

If you are on a low income, you may be entitled to full or partial help with dental charges. Ask for an information booklet and application form for the NHS Low Income Scheme at main post offices or hospitals. GP surgeries and dentists, opticians and pharmacists may have copies, too. Or you can phone the Health Benefits Division on 0191 203 5555 (national rate) for information.

HELP THE AGED - SPEAKING UP FOR OUR AGE

SPEAKING UP For Our Age (SUFOA) is a national programme by Help the Aged to give older people the opportunity to make their voices heard on the things that matter to them. The programme focuses on older people's forums as an effective way of influencing policies and services. Forums and other groups are encouraged to play a full role in representing the views of older people. The SUFOA programme has now been running for three years and a number of groups and forums have received grants for activities including start up and

administrative costs, local conferences, office equipment and publishing their own newsletter. Having received Lottery funding, Help the Aged now have four SUFOA field officers covering Britain. For further information contact Tara Anderson, Speaking Up For Our Age Field Officer/Scotland, Tel: 01592 713 733, Fax: 01592 713 154 (national rate) or email tara.anderson@hta.org.uk.

Help the Aged's Seniorline on freephone 0808 800 6565 gives practical support to help older people live independent lives, such as free advice leaflets and a welfare rights advice line.

SOUTH LANARKSHIRE OLDER PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY

SOUTH LANARKSHIRE was one of the Scottish pilot projects in the Better Government for Older People Programme (BGOP). The launch of the Older People's Assembly marked the culmination of the project's efforts to establish a forum that would bring together a number of the organisations that had participated in the pilot project including representatives of older people. On St Andrew's Day 2001, new Deputy Health and Community Care Minister, Mary Mulligan MSP, gave the key-note speech at the launch of the Older People's Assembly which provides a forum for dialogue and discussion on policy matters that affect people over 50. Membership includes representatives from a number of organisations including the local authority, NHS, police, Benefits Agency, Inland Revenue, Age Concern Scotland and older people. To confirm their commitment to the partnership a charter has been signed by all partners involved.

For more information about the South Lanarkshire Older People's Assembly contact Pat Scrutton, Project Manager on 01698 422483 (national rate).

WORKING WITH OLDER PEOPLE - LOOKING FOR A GRANT?

by Judith MacLellan, Director, the Lintel Trust

THE LINTEL TRUST is a registered charity which gives grants to voluntary organisations throughout Scotland for projects which help to reduce the inequalities faced by people in their housing and related community provision. The Trust's priorities are projects which assist disabled, homeless and older people, as well as minority ethnic groups and refugees.

The Trust is currently inviting applications to its specific fund for projects working with older people. Examples of relevant projects could include; assisting older people to live independently in their homes, providing community support, care & repair projects, etc. For further information and _ or an application form, contact the Lintel Trust on 0131 473 6240 (national rate) or email jmaclellan@sfha.co.uk or write to the Trust at 38 York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3HU.

NEXT ISSUE

THE NEXT issue will be out during September - October 2002. Any articles you would like considered for publication should be with us by 20 August 2002.

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY ELDERLY FORUM

THE DUMRIES and Galloway Elderly Forum has recently moved into their own Town Centre-based premises at 24 Academy Street, Dumfries DG1 1BY. The Forum has also designed and launched its own websitewww.elderlyforum.org.uk

COMMENTS

WE WOULD welcome your comments and any information you would like to share with older people across Scotland. Write, fax, telephone or email to:

Jim Richardson
The Scottish Executive
Older People's Unit
Room 1N:01
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

Tel on 0131 244 2712 (national rate)
Fax on 0131 244 2022
email at olderpeople@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Alternative formats are available on request from 0131 244 2712 (national rate). We can supply versions in Braille, audio tape and large print format and in Gaelic, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Gudjhurati, Arabic and Cantonese.

PERTH AND KINROSS AND NORTH TAYSIDE ELDERLY FORUM

A NEW Elderly Forum has been established covering Perth and Kinross and North Tayside. For further information contact the Secretary, Jim Ferguson on 01738 632206 (national rate).

THANKS TO Sheena Booth Middleton from Aberdeen for the poem:

Change your patter
Make life matter
You can do
What you want to
Show you care
Get out there!

The Scottish Executive seeks to ensure that the information published in Agenda is up to date and accurate at time of publication. However, the information does not constitute legal or professional advice and the Scottish Executive cannot accept any liability for actions arising from its use. The Scottish Executive cannot be held responsible for the contents of any articles submitted by external organisations.