The NHS and Care sectors must work hand in hand!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37409363 When you watch this video clip from the BBC's brilliant Alison Holt, it makes clear how much we need to lobby politicians about social care and health care. The two go hand in hand when it comes to elderly and adult social care. With this in mind, perhaps we could keep asking the politicians, keep hassling them, keep pointing this out, keep on keeping on. Because when we do, we encourage them to address the issue rather than run away from it.

The biscuit debate

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38223242 Are we starting to eat healthier? Or is this reported drop in traditional biscuit sales an indication that we are starting to eat other things? The sale of flavoured popcorn is up. There are brightly coloured doughnuts, different types of cake around and I have noticed the chocolate biscuit section in supermarkets is often more stocked and offer more choice than the traditional section. I for one, will continue to eat custard creams and jammie dodgers. Okay, they remind you of nostalgic times but at least I would rather eat a few of these instead of a greasy box of chicken wings with artificial content and chips made of something which resembled a potato many moons ago.

Elderly people's everyday provisions

A recent TV programme highlighted the costs of provisions for older people. From incontinence pads, through to sheets and protectors... it was shown. Many of us look through online sites wondering whether we're getting the right product either for elderly people or they are buying for themselves. Oftentimes, we don't have time figure out the pricing. Although businesses run for profit, the idea that some are charging way beyond the average price is ridiculous. They need to be held to account because these are usually necessities and not luxuries. AND we can avoid these companies in future. Vote with your feet and your keyboard. We are all for entrepreneurship but slicing premium profits from more needy customers is beyond the limit!

Social Care in the UK

In the UK's House of Commons, members of parliament debated the issue of social care. Not a new subject you might think but it means two things: 1. We, as a society need to think about helping to look after the disabled, sick and elderly. From care workers and care homes through to the brilliant unpaid carers, many of whom are older themselves. 2. We need to discuss how much this will cost. If you provide sufficient care - it can alleviate costs to local authorities, the NHS, the welfare system, housing. So why not think about it now rather than later? Politicians aren't doing this enough - and at their own peril. It isn't a glamorous subject which gives them big fanfare and media coverage. But it is real and it is here. And it needs to be debated and openly discussed. Write to your local politicians... Members of Parliament, councillors, mayors, lord mayors. Get them involved in the debate. Engage with your local Clinical Commissioning Groups in the NHS. They are the medical professionals who CHOOSE what to spend their budgets on and PAY FOR them in your area. They may be GPs or managers - it does not matter which. They make the decisions. What it ensures is that they make sure they listen to those of us who need certain things. In this case, social care for adults and children who need it. We are talking basic things like washing/bathing, toileting, changing clothes and medication if need be. Basic human elements which people should be able to have assistance with as a matter of good quality of life. There may be charities doing social care on their behalf too. A lot of these services are now paid for by individuals and sometimes local authorities. A proper strategy needs to come into place but certain policy makers have to push their heads above the parapet and take the risk. The risk of doing something profound. If you have a little time, write, email, engage in social media and try to get the debate going as well as moving. The sooner we all engage in this, the better it is for people now and in the future.

Daily food intake for the elderly

Although this is a U.S site, it's concise and to the point. https://nihseniorhealth.gov/eatingwellasyougetolder/limitsomefoods/01.html

Campaign to cut fuel allowances for elderly in UK?

It gets bandied around often..... elderly people get free bus passes and winter fuel allowance. There are others who are suffering. Whilst that may be true, there are a great number of pensioners who rely on these things to keep them going. Perhaps the politicians and think tanks who believe these ideas should be scrapped altogether could come up means testing so that people who for example have more than one car and do not need a bus pass could give that up. Or that winter fuel allowance not paid to pensioners earning more than a certain amount per year. If they can come up with schemes to means test things such as Council Tax reductions (the application is comprehensive, intrusive and as thick as children's picture book!), they can surely come up with a more effective way of helping the elderly people who really do need these lifelines.

Bisto - Invite an elderly person round for Sunday lunch

Google Bisto-campaign-to-help-lonely-elderly-people You might remember Rachel Riley from Countdown.... well she's getting involved in a campaign (by Bisto who make gravy granules) to invite an elderly person round to yours for Sunday lunch. There are so many lonely elderly people who could do with the company and the chance to talk to different people. Oh and get a lovely Sunday lunch too! It's a lovely idea and sits hand in glove with the Contact The Elderly tea parties which are promoted around the UK too. The more ideas like this that come about, the better things will be for older people.