Opening Doors for Older People Newsletter

Issue 3 - December 2007

Download a copy of the Newsletter 1.35 MB

This newsletter has been produced by the Opening Doors for Older People project. We hope you find the newsletter interesting and informative.

Please feel free to feedback any comments about the newsletter to the project team at:

Ryecroft Hall, Manchester Road, Audenshaw, M34 5GJ
0161 370 1179 Send us a Message

Foreword from the Chair of the Older People's Partnership - Ian Munro

Welcome to the third edition of the Opening Doors for Older People project quarterly newsletter.

As usual, we have tried to include as much information as possible to keep you updated on the work of the Opening Doors for Older People project.

Again, I hope you find the newsletter useful and informative and please feel free to feedback any comments or suggestions to the editor.

We try to take on board people’s comments and to improve the publication wherever possible. In this edition you may notice the “watermark” that has appeared in the first two issues has disappeared. People with visual impairments told us this made the newsletter difficult to read, so please be assured we do act on your feedback.

Finally, thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter and let me wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

• Message from Martin Garnett - POPPS Programme Director
• Message from Phil Spence - Older People’s Partnership
• Outreach Work
• Market Development
• Drop In Sessions
• Older People Involvement
• Volunteer CORA Advisors
• Working With The BME Communities

Message from Martin Garnett - POPPS Programme Director

To reiterate the opening remarks of the Chair of the Older People’s Partnership, I would also like to give my best wishes to all our readers at this time of year.

I hope you are finding the newsletters an informative and interesting read. I particularly enjoyed reading the case studies contained in the last newsletter and I hope you found them as inspiring as I did!

We have again tried to include more real life case studies in this issue. As we have said before, this is the fundamental reason that the project exists and it is a delight to see real case studies of where the work of the project has made a real difference to the quality of an older person’s life.

Following on from the initial CORA Check and Support visit, it is important that the services offered are taken up. The uptake of services offered to date has been lower than originally anticipated. This is the only way that the Opening Doors for Older People project can achieve its aim of helping more older people to live longer, happier and healthier lives in their own homes and communities. The services are there on offer and if they are to benefit older people, it is essential that they are taken up.

Help is available for people who feel they would like some assistance in accessing these services and if this is the case and you would like or you know somebody who would like more information on accessing/contacting groups etc that have been identified as part of the Personalised Information Pack, then please contact a member of the team at Age Concern Tameside on 0161 308 5007.

Message from Phil Spence - Older People’s Partnership

Every year, all thematic partnerships that form the overall Tameside Strategic Partnerships are asked to review their priorities for the year ahead.

Following on from extensive consultation with older people, the Older People’s Quality of Life Strategy is currently being reviewed. In addition to this we are in the process of putting together a more robust action plan that will assist with the performance management of the Older People’s Quality of Life Strategy.

This is a key document and the Older People’s Partnership will continue to work to achieving the aims and objectives within the Strategy.

If you would like further information on this you can contact Phil Spence on 0161 342 2841 or you can Send Phil Spence a Message.

For further information on the work of the Older People’s Partnership and to view the existing Quality of Life Strategy please visit the Strategic Partnership’s Website at http://www.tameside-strategic-partnership.org.uk/ and click on Older People.

Outreach Work

6-Month Follow Up Visits for Users of the CORA Check and Support Service

How time flies! As well as it being Christmas time again, the Opening Doors for Older People project team has been busy arranging the 6-month follow up visit for our initial customers who contacted us requesting the CORA Check and Support service in May and June of this year.

The aim of the 6 month follow up visit is to see how our customers have been doing in the time since we last saw them, and to find out from them their views on the service they received from us. We also want to know how useful the personalised information pack has been for people, and whether or not they contacted the services that their CORA Advisor signposted them to.

If you received our service in May or June, you will soon be hearing from us if you haven’t done already!

In the meantime, we would encourage anyone who hasn’t accessed the services that they were signposted to, to do so, especially as the winter months are here. The Pensions Joint Service (Tel: 0161 342 5379) can help you check that you are receiving the correct Pension Credits and Benefits; the Energy Efficiency Advice Line (Tel: 0800 512012) can give you information on home energy and any grants that may be available to you; your local pharmacy can collect your prescription from your doctor and deliver your medication to your door; Anchor Staying Put Scheme (Tel: 0161 339 5656) may be able to assist in minor repairs to your home. Give them a ring today, and have a happy and safe Christmas time.

Volunteer Centre Tameside working with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to carry out Home Risk Assessments

Volunteer Centre Tameside is working in partnership with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to recruit and train a group of volunteers to undertake home fire safety checks. The scheme will be funded by Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service and managed by Volunteer Centre Tameside.

Volunteers will be recruited in the conventional way to volunteer perhaps one day a week, but a new twist will see the Volunteer Centre work with employers in a bid to encourage them to permit employees to volunteer during working hours for perhaps a day a year. David Sharples has recently been appointed volunteer coordinator.

For further information about this innovative and challenging project, please contact David on 0161 339 2345.

Home Fire Safety Checks are free to all residents in Tameside, to register for one please call 0800 555 815. Appointments will be made prior to the visit and the volunteer will accompany you around your home as they look at identifying potential fire risks and helping you to reduce these risks. Assistance will also be given to householders to develop an escape plan. As part of the service free 10 year smoke alarms will be provided along with other equipment that might reduce the risk of fire.

Simon Hopes, Fire Safety Manager at Tameside Borough Command said, “We would encourage anyone, young or old, to contact us and request a Home Fire Safety Check.

The majority of fatalities from home fires are due to people not having a working smoke alarm, or not having an escape plan. Please contact us and make yourself safe.”

Listen out for us on Tameside Radio (103.6 FM)

The Opening Doors for Older People project is currently in talks with Tameside Radio to advertise the service on the new local station.

If you haven’t already tuned into Tameside Radio, it’s on FM 103.6 and is a good way of keeping up to date with what is going on locally.

Listen out for our adverts in the not so distant future.

B.I.N.G.O. – It’s a Full House

As part of our continued approach to reaching as many people as possible, members of the Opening Doors for Older People project are currently visiting Bingo Halls across the Borough to discuss the possibility of advertising the service.

Look out for an update on this in a future edition of the newsletter.

Newton Councillors act as Postmen!

Ward Councillors for Newton Hyde, Cllrs Peter Robinson and Helen Bowden, grabbed their postbags and went delivering in Newton. At the end of November the Councillors visited and spoke to approximately 200 older people living in their Ward about the project and gave them the CORA postcards to complete and return to Age Concern Tameside.

At the same time, they also distributed the ‘Message in a Bottle’, which is a scheme sponsored by West Tameside Lions Club, and information on Home Fire Risk Assessments offered by Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service.

Cllr Oldham told us “The information we gave out to older people in Newton was very well received. As an older person myself, I know how important it is to be able to keep active, and to be able to access services that can support us when we might need a little bit of extra help. I would urge all the older people living in Newton to contact Age Concern Tameside on 0161 308 5007, and request a visit from a CORA Advisor. Even if you only find out about three or four services that you didn’t know about previously, you are better informed about how to stay healthy, active and independent in the future”.

If you would like to know more about the work of West Tameside Lions Club, or the Message in a Bottle, contact Mike McParland on 0161 308 4604

Tameside Libraries Support Older People

Tameside Library Service has just produced a new leaflet aimed specifically at older people.

Services available at the 13 libraries across Tameside include:

Best selling books and the latest titles; Talking books on CD and Cassette; Large print books; Magazines on tape; Free internet and email; Large print computer keyboards, trackball mice and computer screen magnifiers; Computer classes, from absolute beginners to internet, email and word-processing; Free one-to-one computer sessions with trained volunteers; Readers’ Groups at Libraries throughout Tameside; Library clubs for over 60s with speakers and quizzes; Information on social groups & What’s on in Tameside; Family and local history resources; A free Home Library Service for people unable to come to a Library.

Librarian Judith Hall said “The Library Service is delighted to support the Opening Doors for Older People project, and would encourage older people in Tameside to take a fresh look at what their local library has on offer. Come along and make new friends, you can be assured of a warm and friendly welcome, and whatever your interest, we have something for everyone!”

Contact Tameside Libraries Information Service on 0161 342 2031 (Minicom: 0161 342 2044) to find out where your nearest library is, or get the answer to any other library enquiry.

Market Development

Working in Partnership

The second part of the Opening Doors for Older People project is to look at what services older people want in and around Tameside, and where identified, begin to invest, develop or expand these services further to help meet the needs of the older people.

Mark Simpson the Project Manager for “Market Development” is leading on this part of the project and is continually looking at the possible gaps in current services and activities for older people.

Through speaking and listening to older people, the CORA User Reference Group, and by using the information collected by the Check and Support visits, Mark is now gathering a better picture of what older people want now and for the future.

From this, the Opening Doors for Older People project will be opening its doors to the community and voluntary groups, as well as social care and health services, to funding opportunities to help provide better services for older people.

Funding will start to become available in early spring 2008 through set rounds – we will keep you updated and posted on all new and exciting services developed or expanded in Tameside for older people.

To support this Mark will be going out meeting with as many voluntary and community groups and organisations to help communicate the opportunities available. For example the project has spoken to Tameside African Families Welfare Association (TAFWA), Khush Amdid, Libraries, Miles of Smiles and many more. If you would like Mark to visit your group please contact him on the number below. In addition, to ensure the whole third sector is heard, the Opening Doors for Older People project is working closely with T3SC, St Peters Partnership and Regeneration Areas.

Key partners will be involved in the planning of the bidding process. This will ensure that monies provided will be fair open and transparent. If you are a community or voluntary group and would like to know more about funding opportunities, please contact Mark Simpson on 0161 370 1179 or Send a Message to Mark Simpson.

Drop In Sessions

Flu Clinics – Drop-In Sessions

Each year, the PCT holds Drop-In Flu Clinics where older people are invited to attend to receive their annual flu jab.

At these clinics, members of the Opening Doors for Older People project were invited to hold talks with people and to offer the CORA Check and Support service to those older people that were interested. 10 people decided to take us up on the offer and have now received their Personalised Information Pack containing details of services that they may benefit from accessing.

Davaar Medical Centre – Drop-In Session

Members of the Opening Doors for Older People project team attended the Medical Centre on 21st November.

An over 65’s clinic is held each week and patients at the centre were invited to receive their Free CORA Check and Support service on the day.

Grosvenor Medical Centre – Future Drop-In Sessions

Arrangements are currently being made, to hold a number of Drop-In sessions at Grosvenor Medical Centre in Stalybridge.

In the meantime, the practice is displaying cards, posters and newsletters, promoting the service.

If you would like further information on when these Drop-in Sessions are likely to be, or alternatively any information on any of the sessions publicised, please contact Age Concern Tameside on 0161 308 5007 or e-mail cora@ageconcerntameside.com.

Older People Involvement

Really Important Questions Conference

The “Really Important Questions” RIQ Network held its 8th Annual Conference on 31st October 2007 at Dukinfield Town Hall.

The conference was well attended by over 120 older people from across Tameside. During the day they had the opportunity to ask questions and to engage with senior managers and officers from the Council, the Health Trusts, the voluntary sector and other key providers of services.

The event was supported by Councillor John Taylor who opened the proceedings and Janet Callender, the Chief Executive of Tameside Council addressed the conference. Steven Pleasant, Assistant Chief Executive, Erika Wenzel, Executive Director for Neighbourhood and Community Services and Stephanie Butterworth, Director of Adult Services also gave reports during the day.

Guy Robertson from the Department of Health delivered the keynote speech and explained how POPPs Schemes around the country have a significant effect in supporting older people and improving services for them.

Comments from older people during the day and from evaluation forms received after the conference indicate that the event is an increasingly popular way for older people to engage with social care, community and health issues in Tameside. There were many new faces at this year’s conference, several of whom have since asked to join the RIQ network and participate in activities during the year.

If you would like further information on the work of the RIQ Network, please contact Penda Garnett on 0161 370 1179 or Send Penda Garnett a Message.

Opening Doors for Older People CORA User Reference Group

As part of our aim to continually improve the CORA Check and Support service, we have set up a CORA User Reference Group. The Group is made up of people who have used the Check and Support service, CORA Advisors, and interested professionals.

The first meeting of the group took place in November, where we considered the role of the Reference Group, and how we could look at making service improvements. A second meeting will take place on Tuesday 29th January, 10.00am until 2.00pm, at Dukinfield Town Hall. Lunch will be provided. If you are interested in attending the next meeting, please complete the enclosed booking form and return it in the envelope provided. No stamp is needed. If you need assistance with transport, please ensure that you indicate this on your booking form.

If you have any queries relating to the CORA User Reference Group meeting, please contact the Opening Doors for Older People project team on 0161 370 1179 or Send a Message to POPPs.

The success of this project is largely reliant on the recruitment and retention of our Volunteer CORA Advisors.

To date, we have registered over 50 Volunteers which is a great achievement. However, we are never complacent and we are constantly looking at new ways of recruiting more. If you are aged over 50 years and have a few hours a week to spare, and would like to give something back to your local community, becoming a Volunteer CORA Advisor may just be the thing for you.

Read on to find out what it’s really like to be a Volunteer CORA Advisor for the Opening Doors for Older People project and if you think this sounds of interest to you, please contact Age Concern Tameside on 0161 308 5007 or e-mail cora@ageconcerntameside.com where someone will be more than happy to discuss it with you.

Volunteer CORA Advisors

Volunteer CORA Advisor Case Study

One of our new Volunteer CORA Advisors – PB has, in his own words, described his experience of working within the Opening Doors for Older People project.

“As a complete newcomer to this area of work I have been impressed by the visits I have already made. All the people I have visited have been bright and cheerful, and I must admit I have been very much humbled by my experiences so far.

Sometimes older people can end up being placed into residential care homes when existing community services could help them to remain at home longer, living happy, healthy lives. Pretty tragic times, and that is why the work of the Opening Doors for Older People project is playing an ever important role in visiting and checking on the needs of these very important citizens.

I personally have been dealing with people of all ages for the past 30 years in my own field of Tourism, with age groups from 30 to 90 years. My experiences with another CORA Advisor have made me realise that there are so many older people out there, who will benefit from caring volunteers making contact with them. With the ever increasing ageing population, this work will become a vital role in the years ahead.

To do this work, you need to be a genuine, caring person and patience, trust and listening skills are vital. Up to date and accurate information is also essential.

Regular monthly meetings with the Opening Doors for Older People project staff, to discuss any new ideas to improve our services, are also helpful.”

Working with the BME Communities

Publicity Material for BME Communities

We are in the process of having our CORA postcards translated into the 3 main community languages – Bangla, Urdu and Gujerati. These should be available in the New Year. If you or any community or social group that you are involved in would like a batch of postcards, please contact the Opening Doors for Older People project team on 0161 370 1179 or Send a Message to POPPs.

For any further information on the work of the project with the BME communities, please contact Alan Gatland at Age Concern Tameside on 308 5007 or e-mail gatlanda@ageconcerntameside.com.