Highlighting services available for older people Highlighting Services Available For Older People StrictlIssue 6. March 2018 ySeniorsSOUTH AYRSHIRE StrictlIssue 4. December 2015 ySeniorsSOUTH AYRSHIRE life Building for Better Care Building the best care possible in South Ayrshire Men’s Shed LIVING LIFE A men’s shed, is not just somewhere TO THE to hide from the wife! full Forehill Te xtile Group Sewing in the Hut Foreword Issue 6. March 2018 Welcome to our 6th edition of Strictly Seniors. In this issue ontained within the pages of this magazine you will find a rich treasury of What is Occupational Therapy (OT)? Invigor8 Falls Prevention lasses 28 information that might support older people to remain active, engaged, District Nursing – 24 hour service 2 Christina Johnston’s story Chealthy and happy. A Day in the life of a Social Worker 3 Invigor8 Classes 29 The contents illustrate the fantastic and diverse range of support that’s Meet the Doctor 4 in place across South Ayrshire. Building for Better Care HARP – Healthy and Active Rehabilitation Programme 30 One of the themes currently highlighted in the Community Pharmacy can help “Victor” 5 Staying safe as we get older 31 media, are the effects of social isolation and Florence 6 Ayrways Choir loneliness, particularly on older people. Why should you have an eye examination? 7 This has become one of the priority themes for our Community VASA Conference Planning Partnership. Becoming lonely and isolated can be Carers Centre 8 FootcAyr as bad for your health as smoking! Christmas Companions Your guide to the new Carers Act 9 32 Strictly Seniors gives you so many ways to become Discovering Community Led Support 10 South Ayrshire Life involved, to volunteer, to remain purposeful and busy and to connect to others. I hope that you Linking healthcare Book & Bun café 33 11 and those you know make great Ayrshire Independent Living Network 12 Circles Network use of these activities, services Dementia friendly Gaiety 13 Meet Thomas 34 and projects. Girvan and South Carrick First Responders Luminate – Celebrate getting older The recent Participatory Budgeting Maybole Over 50s 14 events in South Ayrshire have 5 Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland 35 demonstrated the strong base of grass Biggart Hospital – A new vision 15 It’s good to walk! 36 roots voluntary groups across our area Opportunities in Retirement and the amazing, valuable work they Free computing classes from Adult Learning 16 S.I.S.G – Sensory Impaired Support Group Charity (Ayrshire) do – often without fuss or fanfare. Preventing social isolation Action on Hearing Loss Scotland Hear to Help (Ayrshire) 37 As Chair of the Integration Joint Keep safe 17 What’s new at Nursery Court Day Centre 38 Board I want to pay tribute to everybody that supports this work at My Home Life Helping vulnerable and older a local level, and make South 16 Power of Attorney campaign 18 adults live safely within the community Ayrshire such a caring and A Mens Shed, what is it, is it for me? 19 compassionate place in which to Red Cross – West of Scotland Discharge Support Service 39 live. The formal services that the Forehill Textile Group 20 South Ayrshire Dementia Support 40 Health and Social Care Partnership University of the Third Age provides can only go so far in Macular Society 21 Transforming care after treatment supporting people’s health and well- in Ayrshire and Arran 41 being and I’m pleased that they are Participatory Budgeting 22 supported by such a vibrant programme Beat doorstep crime 24 Locality Planning in South Ayrshire 42 of activity in every part of South Ayrshire. When you’re ill, know who to turn to 25 Have you got the bottle? Message In A Bottle 20 Demential friendly Troon 26 – South Ayrshire 44 Stewart Donnelly Focussing on compassion – Ian Stirling’s journey 27 Do you know when to visit your Chair of the Integration Joint Board South Ayrshire Health Don’t fall for it!! local Emergency Department? Back Cover and Social Care What is Occupational Therapy (OT)? An OT can identify strengths and difficulties OT is used if you are having difficulty with everyday tasks you may have in everyday life. ccupational therapists (OTs) changing the household environment If equipment is required the OT will • providing devices that make as well as using other techniques. What happens once I am activities easier and OT Assistants help people referred? provide it and ensure that you are Oof all ages to carry out everyday OTs in South Ayrshire Health and trained on how to use it. For example, after a hip replacement, activities which are essential for Social Care Partnership (HSCP) also A member of the occupational therapy If an adaptation is required the you may find it difficult to get in and have a statutory duty to assess the occupational therapy team member out of the bath. Grab rails could be everyday life. team will sometimes visit your house needs of disabled people, including to gain an understanding of how will recommend this and explain the fitted in the bathroom to help. • Physical medical condition – their housing needs. your home environment either helps options available. If you have rheumatoid arthritis – for example, Rheumatoid arthritis OTs are generally accessed through or creates barriers for your everyday Occupational Therapy a condition that causes pain and • Learning disability a GP, Nurse or another health and living. They will usually observe swelling in the joints – you may Social Care professional. the activities with which you have Techniques find it hard to lift small objects. • Mental health condition – difficulty so that the exact nature of Special equipment, such as a for example, bi-polar disorder. If you do not want to go through the After identifying the difficulties you NHS or through your local Council, this is identified. have with everyday tasks, OT/OT wide-handled vegetable peeler, may An OT can identify strengths and you can contact an occupational The occupational therapist will Assistants can help by either: be recommended difficulties you may have in everyday therapist privately. make an informed assessment of • practicing the activity in People with a mental health condition life, such as dressing or getting to the problems you are encountering may find that they are having difficulty the shops, and will work out practical Increasingly South Ayrshire HSCP is manageable stages also exploring informal settings for and will then make appropriate with carrying out daily living tasks such solutions in partnership with you. recommendations for the solutions. • teaching a different way to as managing time effectively. An OT people to meet up with an OT. For complete the activity OTs enable you to identify goals example, OTs meet with people in the If you require equipment or adaptation can offer support by planning goals and that can help to maintain, regain, to assist you, your occupational • recommending changes that will teaching self-management skills. new South Ayrshire Life shop run by make the activity easier or improve your independence by VASA in Ayr. therapist/assistant will determine if introducing new equipment or you meet the eligibility criteria. A Day in the life of aStepping Social Worker Out With FootcAyr District Nursing – 24 hour service We have all heard of Social Workers but what do they actually do? Strictly Seniors asked Julie Mitchell, a Social Worker in Troon about the difference she and her colleagues make in our communities… District nurses play a key role in primary healthcare. We visit people in their own homes or in residential care homes to provide them with the care they need, we also support the patient’s family. Who contacts you for support? support individuals to move to care home settings when remaining in their own home is no longer safe or viable. I take many phone calls from adults looking for advice or Our district nursing service aims to: Our district nurses provide specialist nursing support or from other professionals who might be aware What happens during your home visits? skills, including: of adults who need support. The type of referrals I get is • Assess all of our patient’s needs and plan their care I carry out home visits each day to assess what support around these needs. This may lead, with patient’s • Wound prevention, assessment and management diverse, for example, someone with physical disabilities who is struggling to manage washing and dressing or a a person needs to meet their needs and improve their consent, to referrals to other health and social • Care after an operation person with mental ill health who is having delusions quality of life. I also meet with carers and families to help services, including voluntary agencies • Diabetic care or someone with dementia who is confused and not inform the assessment. I would help the carer to work out • We provide care which meets the identified needs • Stoma care managing to look after themselves. what support they need to keep caring and to make sure they are ok. • We enable, support and teach patients and carers • Support with prescribed products What can you do to help? to achieve independence and self-care by sharing • Nutritional advice Do you visit anywhere else? knowledge and skills and promoting health education • Advice on leading a healthy lifestyle I might give advice and information over the phone and tell them about voluntary sector projects and supports in I also visit people in the hospital to help them return • By caring for people in their own homes, we prevent • End of life/palliative care including home with extra support until they are fully recovered or unnecessary admission to hospital or Accident the towns where they live or arrange for a Social Worker care for terminally ill patients to visit for a full assessment.