NATIONAL FORUM ON AGEING
OLDER PEOPLE'S CONSULTATIVE FORUM (OPCF)
THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2007 , ROSEBERY HOUSE, EDINBURGH
Attendees:
David Manion Age Concern Scotland
Barbara Barnes Alzheimer's Scotland
Sylvia Murray CoSLA
Jean Elgar Dumfries and Galloway Local Authority
Liz Duncan Help the Aged
George Henderson National Pensioner's Convention Scotland
Diana Findlay Scottish Older People's Advisory Group
Phyllis Herriot Scottish Pensioners Forum
John Wilson Scottish Pensions Association
Irene Sweeney STUC
Martin Brickley West of Scotland Seniors Forum
Andrew Jackson Women's Royal Voluntary Service
John Storey (Chair) Scottish Government, Older People and Age Team
Neil Rennick Scottish Government, Older People and Age Team
Peter Reid Scottish Government, Older People and Age Team
Brian Nisbet Scottish Government, Older People and Age Team
1. WELCOMES AND INTRODUCTIONS
John Storey opened the meeting and welcomed everyone including Andrew Jackson, who has recently joined WRVS. John Wilson and Liz Duncan would be joining the meeting later, and apologies were received for Dr Gurudeo Saluja. John noted this was the second of 2 meetings agreed by members, and he anticipated that from the next meeting we would revert back to the normal Ministerial chair.
2. UPDATES ON BUSINESS
Updates from members of the Forum on work their organisations were currently taking forward were as follows:
- The West of Scotland Seniors Forum (WSSF) held a civic reception on 28 November to launch 'Are You Cold 2007/08', prepared in conjunction with Glasgow City Council and Greater Glasgow Health Board. Over 100,000 booklets will be distributed in the West of Scotland. WSSF were also due to launch the 'Research Report into the Needs and Numbers of Older Carers in Glasgow' on 30 November 2007.
- Free Central Heating was raised, members expressing concerns over the scheme and that many older people may be left without any central heating over the winter months. Age Concern Scotland had written to Ministers about this. In discussion it was noted that
- Ministers announced on 21 November that they were allocating an additional £7 million to speed up installations, and that priority will be given to eligible pensioners who are most in need and are without heating and hot water.
- Scottish Gas has seconded a member of staff to the sub-contractors to monitor progress on the installation of the new systems.
Actions -
David Manion to circulate the letter Age Concern Scotland had sent to the Minister.
Older People and Age Team to circulate the 21 November Press Release about additional funding [note -e-mailed to members later on 29 November].
· The chair highlighted the launch of a report on Moose in the House in the Scottish Parliament on 21 November, at an event which was well attended. The scheme uses volunteers to help older people living in care homes in Edinburgh to use computers and the internet. He also mentioned the report 'The Challenge of Dignity in Care' published by Help the Aged on 14 November.
· David Manion said that Age Concern Scotland has made a submission to the Sutherland Review on Free Personal and Nursing Care.
Action - David to supply paper for circulation to Forum members.
3. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING.
The minutes of the last meeting held on 27th September 2007 were agreed by members.
4. ALL OUR FUTURES UPDATES
4.1 National Forum on Ageing (Paper 3:2007)
Members considered Paper 3 about the National Forum for Ageing Implementation Group, together with the letter David Manion had circulated on 23 November. The chair outlined the paper, explaining that the OPCF would continue as the reference group and that the National Forum for Ageing Implementation Group would act as a delivery group tasked with progressing key actions within All Our Futures. Subgroups would be established to look at specific pieces of work that the Implementation Group took forward. During discussion the following points were raised.
· It was felt that 4 older people should sit on the National Forum for Ageing Implementation Group. Two of these would be OPCF members and the other 2 from older people's groups or sectors not currently represented on the Forum, such as from the Highlands or those engaging with carers and older people with disabilities.
· Two or more older people should sit on each subgroup that is established - the chair pointed out that in practice 7 OPCF members had offered to be involved with media issues.
· A meeting would be useful to establish reporting mechanisms to share information between groups.
· Themed discussion would be a helpful way of focussing the National Forum for Ageing Implementation Group on specific issues and would allow invites to be extended to relevant stakeholders.
The following points were agreed following discussions
- Proposals would be put to Ministers to increase the number of older people on the Implementation Group to 4 members: 2 of whom would be members of OPCF and 2 would be drawn from wider interests.
- Subgroup membership would include a minimum of two older people.
4.2 Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice.
The chair gave a brief update, explaining that work is proceeding and the Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice is based with Children in Scotland. A grant of £200,000 has been awarded to the Centre and will be used to establish it's Centre's website, where material will be available. A newsletter is currently being developed and will be published shortly. The Centre intends to hold roadshows across Scotland, including the islands, to publicise their work. It was noted that Elinor McKenzie, George Henderson and Martin Brickley have been co-opted onto the Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice Forum and the next meeting was scheduled for 17 December.
Action - Secretariat to circulate Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice newsletter once published [note - sent to members on 5 December].
4.3 Update on Ageism Campaign
Newhaven Agency have been asked to undertake work relating to the Ageism Campaign. The research element of the campaign is currently underway and focus groups are planned in the coming weeks. Newhaven Agency has e-mailed volunteers from the OPCF regarding the research work: Liz Duncan and Martin Brickley have scheduled meetings with Newhaven. The chair noted it is important those OPCF members involved give their views to the Newhaven team, to ensure a campaign takes the right slant and stance on ageism.
4.4 National Stakeholders Event
The chair floated a proposal to the Forum on the All Our Futures commitment to hold a national stakeholder event. He suggested that rather than having one national event, there could be 4 or 5 local events, which could perhaps have themed workshops for delegates, as well as representatives from the Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice to promote and update their work. Members supported the proposal. It was felt it would be better if the events were staggered, and took place in May and September/October.
5. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
- Concerns were raised about the effect of local authority cutbacks on services associated with sheltered housing. It was pointed out that this was a matter for local authorities, even more so in light of the recent concordat (14 November) between the Scottish Government and CoSLA. This emphasises that the Scottish Government will stand back from micro managing what local authorities do, and that local authorities will be expected to take responsibility for their own decisions.
- Issues were raised on concessionary travel for older people, where community transport was involved; it was pointed out that this issue would be raised at the next Ministerial meeting of the OPCF, as the Cabinet Secretary had requested an update on transport at the meeting on 14 August.
- Peter Reid will be leaving the Older People and Age Team in the New Year. Thanks were expressed to him for his input and commitment over the last 3 years.
6. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the OPCF will take place in the spring, chaired by the Minister (Shona Robison). The secretariat was asked to avoid the last Thursday of the month. There were a number of Items on the agenda from the last meeting on 14 August -
· provision of alarm services
· benefit uptake
· update on the National Transport Strategy.
Older People and Age Team
6 December 2007