Finding the Time to Care
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from Age Concern Manchester ® your local independent charity www.silverservice.org.uk Issue 28 Finding the time to care Clare Pelham, chief executive of Leonard Cheshire Disability amendment to the Care Bill which would make it clear that local The government’s social care White Clare Pelham has kicked off a national debate about the quality of home authorities would have to consider a person’s wellbeing when Paper last year proposed an end to care by criticising those who arrange short, fifteen minute, arranging their care.” the “crude contracting” of home care by the minute, but through visits by home care workers. She says, “It is disgraceful. But local authority Adult Services directors have defended at the spread of good practice rather than through changes to the law. None of us would want family and friends to receive ‘care’ least some 15-minute home care visits arguing against a ban visits as short as 15 minutes. It is vital that Parliament backs on them. The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services our call to end the indignity of rushed care.” released figures which showed that just 8% of the councils who We must all do better It is now ten years since the Silver Service newspaper published The charity is calling for an amendment to make care visits at commissioned home care in 15-minute visits used them for life expectancy figures for England and Wales, saying “We least 30 minutes long. bathing and washing; by contrast 88% used them for administering medication and 80% for checking up on the safety of individuals. must do better” and quoting the late Alf Morris, Lord Morris of Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb has agreed saying use President Sandie Keene said: “It is totally wrong to believe that all Manchester: “Mancunians live in a place of sharp contrasts. The of such short visits was “unfair”, both on the disabled and carers. tasks need more than 15 minutes to carry out; and frankly naïve City Centre is one of the most exciting places in the world but He said: “It’s unrealistic to think 15 minutes is enough time to to believe that simply by abolishing 15-minute slots a magic wand some of Manchester’s inner city neighbourhoods are amongst help people who are older or who have a disability to do everyday will have been waved, and improvements automatically achieved the most deprived in the country.” things like wash, dress and get out of bbed.ed. We are proposing an in our care services.” Those words still ring true. The latest figures for England from the Office of National Statistics show Manchester right at the bottom for both overall life expectancy and for healthy life expectancy (see below). The low healthy life expectancy for men is a Margaret Gill was born on particular shock – just 55 years on average. For those whose slogan has always been “party ´til you drop” this is particularly 24th October 1913 in bad news that must encourage us all to get out more, enjoying Alexander St, Collyhurst. a healthy lifestyle, and supporting others to do the same. She was a keen cyclist from a very early Females, Life Expectancy and Healthy Life Expecancy at birth: England 2009-11 age and she met George, her husband- to-be on a local bike ride. In Collyhurst in the early 1930s, money was very scarce and George had managed to ‘cobble’ a bicycle together out of bits and pieces of broken bikes so they could ride together. They married in 1936 at Albert Memorial Church in Collyhurst, but they couldn’t afford their own house straightaway, so went to live with George’s mother for a few months. In 1937 they moved into a rented house on Bispham Street, Newton Heath, a small dark 2 up 2 down that was infested with cockroaches. Her rent was 7s 4d weekly. On Christmas Eve she went into labour and having no other 1 Excludes residents of communal establishments except NHS housing and students in halls of residence where inclusion takes place at their parents' address. way of getting to the hospital, Margaret walked from her home in Newton Heath to North Manchester General Hospital in Crumpsall. Males, Life Expectancy and Healthy Life Expectancy at birth: England 2009-11 Baby Eileen was born very shortly after she got there! Then, in March 1940, Margaret and George finally managed to obtain a council house - in the Garden City of Wythenshawe on Meliden Crescent Margaret’s son Graham, 70, said his mum, where she still lives today. In 1940, her rent was 12s 9d per week. with eight grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, has never ceased to amaze Margaret loved being outdoors, bicycle riding or rambling in the Lake District and in Wales him with her zest for life. “She is still very with friends. She was a member of her local dance group at St Andrews, Wythenshawe, independent, with lots of get up and go.” until she was 95. She was also very active in her local community, being secretary of her local scout group, a member of the Mothers Union and even forming her own branch Margaret’s favourite meal is Tripe; she still eats of the ‘Ladies Guild’ in the 1970’s with her friends, ending up with over 100 members. a hefty portion once a week covered in vinegar! Margaret also fundraised for The Children’s Society for over 25 years and received a special award for her efforts. 1 Excludes residents of communal establishments except NHS housing and students in halls of residence where inclusion takes place at their parents' addr Margaret riding away from George sadly passed away in 1974, only 64 years ess. Alexander Street old. But Margaret needed to keep herself busy, so she started working at John Lewis in Cheadle at the age of 61, retiring 6 years later. She is now a regular attender at Age Concern Manchester’s Crossacres Resource Centre. Home Care from Age Concern Manchester The farm that made way for Crossacres Age Concern Manchester’s home care workers are trained to make all Resource Centre the difference to bathing, washing, dressing, cooking, shopping, cleaning, laundry, companionship, pension collection, managing medication, offering real life examples of what works well for them - and what incontinence care and much more. Visits Read my lips! doesn’t! ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’ Michael adds. last at least half an hour and if needed People can’t see deafness or a hearing disability, its care is available around the clock, 365 Free weekly lessons are being offered in the City Centre by the invisible and that can be frustrating. Liz Quartey 62, days a year. knows people think of her as rude and ignorant when she doesn’t Manchester Centre for Deaf Studies. We ensure whenever possible that the engage in conversation with them. ‘It’s not that I’m not listening, If you or anybody you know is interested in lip reading same trained and checked care staff it’s that I can’t hear you’, she has to say. classes please call 0161 796 1621 visit each time so that you get to know Liz who has struggled with her hearing ever since she suffered or email [email protected] them and they understand your needs. a stroke ten years ago and now wears a hearing aid in one ear Care arrangements are flexible to has been having lip-reading lessons for the last eight years. She cope with changing circumstances and describes the classes as an essential part of her life and will continue different budgets. to attend for as long as she can. “The classes are really supportive • For North and Central Manchester ring Pam Bryan on and I can learn in comfort. You can be yourself and let your guard 0161 205 3851, email: [email protected] down because you are amongst people who understand’. Liz’s lip reading teacher is Michael Zuniga. With his 15 year’s experience • For South Manchester it is Debbie Meek he knows lip reading is a valuable life skill for people who are deaf on 0161 437 0717 email: [email protected] or hard of hearing; a vital communication tool that helps tackle We specialise in providing intensive support at the end of someone’s life. isolation and feelings of loneliness and, sometimes, depression. A great day out In the classes there is a definite feeling of camaraderie amongst Personal support you can rely on the students where they help one another by swapping tips and See inside To donate go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving and enter Age Concern Manchester The Manchester Ship Canal The excitement of a day out on the Manchester Ship Canal really begins when passengers see the queue on the quayside in Salford docks waiting to board a Merseyside Ferry. But the original excitement began in 11 November 1887 when the first spade-full of earth was dug in order to bring the sea 36 miles into Manchester. The ship canal took six years to complete at a cost of just over £15 million. It is still the longest river navigation canal and remains the world’s eighth-longest ship canal, only slightly shorter than the Panama Canal. In 1909 the canal’s depth was increased to 28 Fourth time feet so that the largest ships that had come At 69, and in spite of living in Shipton-on-Stour, Violet Eaves is becoming a bit of a ship through the Suez Canal (thereby saving almost canal enthusiast.