Opening Doors for Older People Newsletter

Issue 4 - March 2008

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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 fourth edition of the Opening Doors for Older People project quarterly Newsletter.

As we approach the first anniversary of the project, the pace has increased for both the CORA Check and Support service; and the second strand of the project concerned with developing existing and new services for older people in Tameside.

You will see from other articles in the Newsletter that we are now concentrating on advertising to the local voluntary and community sectors, where we invite them to submit bids for funding from the Opening Doors for Older People project fund.

This project is about understanding the needs of older people locally, and using this information to influence and develop existing and new services, so it is important that we obtain views from as many people as possible. Throughout this edition, there are articles and details of events where older people and community groups can get involved.

• Message from Martin Garnett - POPPs Programme Director
• Message from Phil Spence - Older People’s Partnership Link Officer
• The CORA Check and Support Service
• Working with the BME Community
• Service User Involvement
• Spotlight on Services
• Recent Events
• Forthcoming Events
• Market Development
• Who Do I Need to Contact

Message from Martin Garnett - POPPs Programme Director

As Programme Director, I am pleased to report that 2007 saw some real achievements for the project, namely:

• Over 600 requests for the CORA Check and Support service
• To date 13% of the over 65’s from the Black and Minority Ethnic Community has requested a CORA visit
• 54 CORA Volunteers recruited to date, of which 13% are from the BME
  Community
• Highly successful outreach campaign in Hyde Clarendon Shopping Arcade,
  leading to the highest weekly request for service since the project began
• Approval obtained from the Older People’s Partnership of the Grant Funding
  Process

However, as the term that is commonly used in Tameside Council states “we are never satisfied”, and as the project moves forward so does our vision to develop existing and new services that are designed specifically to promote the health and well-being of older people within our communities.

We continue to work in partnership with a number of agencies and I would like to take this opportunity to formally welcome our newest partner, Help the Aged.

George Knight, the Regional Development Officer for Help the Aged, has welcomed the invitation made by the project to sit on the Tameside Older People’s Partnership Board, and more detail on the work and priorities of Help the Aged can be found on page 16 of the Newsletter. We look forward to a long and successful partnership.

Finally, as we now move into the second strand of the project as referred to by Ian earlier, I would like to emphasise again how important it is that people act on the information that is provided by the CORA Check and Support service. As a consequence of lower take up of services than first anticipated, the project has improved the CORA service by moving from just signposting people to services, to actually assisting people by referring them directly to services. Again more detail about this is contained in the Newsletter on page 6.

If you would like any information on any part of the project, you can contact a member of the team on 0161 370 1179 or Send us a Message

Message from Phil Spence - Older People’s Partnership Link Officer

You may remember that in the December edition of the Newsletter, I told you about the ongoing review of the Older People’s Quality of Life Strategy.

Well, the review has now taken place, and included extensive consultation with older people. The initial findings have been collated and were presented to the last meeting of the Tameside Older People’s Partnership on 8th January 2008.

In brief, the Older People’s Partnership agreed that the Strategy should focus on a number of themes:

1. Creating a positive culture for older people in Tameside
2. Information, communication, choice and control
3. Feeling safer in the community
4. Lifelong Housing
5. Healthy Lifestyle
6. Adequate Income
7. Getting Around
8. Learning and Development

The final Strategy will be published by the end of March 2008 and you will be able to access it at the following link www.tameside-strategic-partnership.org.uk  and click Older People.

Alternatively, if you would like a copy of the Strategy or any further information on this you can contact Phil Spence on 0161 342 2841 or you can Send Phil Spence a Message.

The Cora Check and Support Service

Message from Vicki Gee – Project Manager Opening Doors for Older People

Some Facts and Figures so far...

Since the Opening Doors for Older People project began in May 2007, we have had over 600 requests for service, and have carried out over 400 CORA Check and Support visits, as well as over forty 6-month follow up visits.

From the people that we have already visited, the top services that people have been signposted to are:

• Home and garden maintenance services
• Personal transport
• Falls prevention
• Talk therapies and counselling
• Healthcare, exercise and health classes
• Home energy-saving
• Home and community safety
• Befriending and buddy schemes
• Social activities

This information will feed into the second stage of the project, which is concerned with developing and enhancing services for older people. More about this is included later in the Newsletter.

We have found that the majority of people requesting our service have heard about it through the following avenues:

• Leaflets and Freepost postcards
• Age Concern
• Community Groups
• Pensioners’ Parties
• Flu Clinics
• Outreach work in local Shopping Arcades

We will be undertaking more outreach activity in the future, in local shopping centres, supermarkets and convenience stores. Watch out for us at a place near you.

We are trying to reach as many older people as we can in the two years that our project is running, and we need your help to do this. If you know someone in your neighbourhood, or at your local community or faith group, who you think would benefit from a visit from one of our CORA Advisors, please ask them to contact us, or maybe even ask them if they would like you to contact us on their behalf.

You can contact either Age Concern Tameside on 0161 308 5007, email: cora@ageconcerntameside.com or you can contact a member of the project team at Ryecroft Hall on 0161 370 1179 or Send us a Message

Cora is Out and About in Tameside

Although the CORA Check and Support service is available right across Tameside, we have been concentrating activity, since May last year, in 3-month stints in individual towns, as follows:

• May - June 2007: Denton South
• July - September 2007: Smallshaw, Hattersley
• October - December 2007: Hyde, Longdendale
• January - March 2008: Stalybridge, Bottom Mossley, Stalybridge/Dukinfield
• April - June 2008: Top Mossley, Ashton, Dukinfield
• July - September 2008: Droylsden
• October - December 2008: Audenshaw
• January - March 2009: Denton

If you know of, or are involved in any community groups or activities and would like members of our team to attend to talk about the Opening Doors for Older People project, please contact a member of the team on 0161 370 1179 or Send us a Message

6-Month Follow Up Visits

As well as carrying out initial CORA Check and Support visits for new users, the CORA Advisors are now arranging and conducting the 6-month follow up visits.

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 whether or not they contacted the services that their CORA Advisor signposted them to.

To date, more than forty 6-month follow up visits have been arranged or carried out. If your visit is due round about now, please be assured that we will be in touch in the very near future to arrange to come to see you.

Feedback from the follow up visits has been very positive. Look out for more case studies in this edition of the Newsletter.

We don’t just point you to services anymore...we will help you get to them!

Currently, when people receive the Personalised Information Pack following their CORA Check and Support visit, they are signposted to a range of services that can help them remain independent, healthy and active at home.

People tell us that they would prefer us to help put them in touch with services, rather than just leave the information with them. Therefore, as part of our continual improvements to the CORA Check and Support service, we offer users the option of our CORA Co-ordinators at Age Concern Tameside making referrals on their behalf.

This means that more older people will be engaged with supportive services and agencies within the community. If you have had your CORA Check and Support visit already and feel that you would like assistance in accessing some of the services discussed with you, please contact us on 0161 308 5007 or e-mail cora@ageconcerntameside.com where someone will be happy to help you.

Working with the BME Community

The Volunteer Coordinator at Age Concern has been spending a lot of time working with the BME Communities within Ashton, including visits to Mosques, community centres and luncheon clubs.

To date, the Opening Doors for Older People project has been successful in reaching over 13% of all older people from the BME communities across Tameside.

We are constantly looking at ways to engage with our BME Communities and are currently in discussion with Tameside Elders’ Group on how we can support the work they do in the community.

Service User Involvement

CORA User Reference Group - 29th January 2008

 The second meeting of the CORA User Reference Group took place on Tuesday 29th January at Dukinfield Town Hall, and was well attended by 20 older people who have requested or received the Check and Support visit.

The purpose of the CORA User Reference Group is to gather information directly from users of the service to find out what their experience of CORA has been; to identify areas for improvement, and to identify potential areas for the development or enhancement of services for older people. Members of the group are encouraged to take part in the ongoing development of the Opening Doors for Older People project, through a presence on the project’s Programme Management Board; Funding Panel and The Older People’s Partnership. There is also the opprtunity to become involved with other groups such as the Really Important Questions Network (RIQ), Tameside Older People’s Advisory Group (TOPAG), Better Government for Older People (BGOP). If you would like to know more about these groups, contact details are contained on page 19.

Attendees discussed their experience of the service, and everyone felt that their visit had been a positive experience, and were appreciative of the information that they had received in their Personalised Information Pack. One lady told us that the visit was very pleasant and informal, and was more of a relaxed chat, rather than an interview – “we sat and exchanged recipes, as well as talking about my health and well-being. It was like a visit from my friend.”

However, it is clear from discussions with older people that Transport is a big issue - one discussion group at the CORA User Reference Group noted that “It’s no good us knowing where to go if we can’t get there!”.

At the meeting users also told us that they would like to see social groups and clubs advertised more widely. One group of users of a social club have recently been told that they need to increase their membership, or the club would have to cease – “If you don’t use it, you lose it”.

The CORA User Reference Group members also said that they would like to be able to access more affordable computer classes, and have the option of attending non-vocational courses such as cookery, during daytime hours. As well as helping people learn about computers and cooking, such classes also offer social interaction, but only if they are affordable and accessible to older people.

We are continually looking to expand the membership of the Group, so if you have not attended so far, and are interested in coming along to the next meeting on 30th April, at Ryecroft Hall, 10am til 2pm, contact details are contained on page 19.

If you were unable to get to the CORA User Reference Group meeting, but would like to tell us about your views and experience of the CORA Check and Support service, or would be interested in sitting on one of the other groups mentioned above, please contact a member of the Opening Doors for Older People project team on 0161 370 1179 or Send us a Message

Readers’ Page - What Do You Think?

For future editions of the Newsletter, we are considering including a page dedicated to Readers’ Views. This would include contributions from people who have used our service, their families and carers, as well as our partner agencies.

We would like to hear your views on this.

If the page does go ahead we would like to include articles such as:

• Your Top Tips for staying healthy in the winter/summer
• Your Top Tips for staying safe
• What the CORA Check and Support service has done for you
• Your experience of assistive technology

Please let us know what you think by contacting us on 0161 370 1179 or Send us a Message

Quality Of Life Survey

In order to check that the Opening Doors for Older People project is helping to improve the health and well-being of older people in Tameside, we will be carrying out a survey of some of our customers over the coming months.

If you receive one of our survey forms through the post, we would ask that you please do complete and return it, to help us to improve services for older people into the future. All responses will be treated in confidence, and will only be used by the Opening Doors for Older People project.

If you have any queries, please contact a member of the Opening Doors for Older People project team on 0161 370 1179 or Send us a Message

Spotlight on Services

What is Telecare/Telesupport? (fomerly known as Assistive Technology)

Telecare is a range of equipment designed to keep vulnerable or elderly people safe.

If you, or any member of your family is anxious about your safety at home, you may be interested in the Telecare equipment that is now available in Tameside. Telecare sensors and alarms can be installed in your home to alert the Community Response Service if something appears to be wrong.

The presence of fire, gas, flooding, carbon monoxide and hypothermia can all be detected by Telecare devices, which will then trigger a call to the Community Response Service, where someone can speak directly to the person at risk to help them, or to raise the alarm quickly if the Emergency Services are needed.

The sensors can switch on lights when a person gets out of bed to help prevent falls, and fall detectors can be worn so that assistance can be called if someone falls or fits.

There are also automatic pill dispensers to act as a reminder to take tablets and to ensure that the correct dosage is taken.

The Telecare system can provide alerts suitable for people with sensory impairments to warn them of hazards using strobe lights (if appropriate), flashing beacons, sounders and vibrating alerts.

An alarm button can be installed by the front door or bedside to allow someone to raise the alarm quickly if confronted by an intruder or bogus caller.

These are just some examples of the easy to install devices which you can access at the low cost of £4.70 per week. More examples are contained in the information leaflet enclosed with this Newsletter. If you would like to see some of the devices for yourself, you can visit the demonstration room at the offices at Frederick House, Hyde. Contact Joanne Struthers on 342 5100 to arrange a visit.

These devices may help bring peace of mind to yourself and your family, and they could help to keep you independent and safe at home.

If you are interested in learning more please telephone the Community Response Service on 0161 342 5100 or Send Community Response Service a Message

Recent Events

Last year saw the Opening Doors for Older People project attend a number of one-off events and special occasions for older people.

On 11th December 2008 Councillors held the annual Christmas Party for older people at the Droylsden Football Club. The Party was well attended by over 100 older people and included activities such as karaoke, bingo and lunch.

The following day Hattersley’s older people were also celebrating their Christmas Party, again filled with lots of activities and fun. It was hosted by Tameside Citizens’ Advice Bureau and funded by the Opening Doors for Older People project, and over 150 older people attended the event. During the day they had the opportunity to ask questions and engage with a number of agencies in and around Hattersley area.

Representatives from the Opening Doors for Older People project attended both events and everyone was given a CORA questionnaire to complete. Impressively, more than 55 older people completed a Check and Support questionnaire, which was followed up by the delivery of the Personalised Information Pack.

Forthcoming Events

The Tameside “What’s On” Guide

Tameside’s “What’s On” Guide is produced every 2 months by Tameside Council and is available in a range of public places across the borough. It now contains a section on events that are taking place specifically for older people.

Keep an eye out for a copy near you in early April. Alternatively if you would like a copy sent to you in the post, please ring Tameside Council Marketing and Publicity office and speak to Anna Parker on 0161 342 3084 or Send Anna Parker a Message

Expand your Social Network at Tameside ‘Independence Day’ on Wednesday 12th March 2008

A networking event to revive your social life and meet the organisers of clubs and groups in Tameside will be held at Ashton Town Hall on Wednesday March 12th between 10 am and 4pm.

Tameside ‘Independence Day’ will celebrate the many leisure options, clubs, community groups, activities and courses on offer for adults in Tameside.

Many organisations will be there to connect with people looking to take up former hobbies and interests, find voluntary or paid work or simply looking to expand their social network as they approach retirement or other life changes.

There will be information stands about finances, housing, health, transport and caring for elderly parents, as well as a poetry workshop, and seminars covering Maintaining your Home to Stay Put, Managing your Finances in Retirement and Deaf Awareness.

For further details contact the Public Information Team on 0161 370 1179 or Send the Public Information Team a Message or email colin.kirby@t3sc.org or telephone 0161 339 4985.

Hope 08

Saturday 5th April 2008 will see the launch of Hope 08, a new and exciting Christian-based initiative. Hosted by St John’s Church, Dukinfield and part funded by the Opening Doors for Older People project, various faith and community groups will come together in an attempt to encourage churches to find new ways of working in partnership with statutory bodies and other agencies, to find ways of serving the local community.

There will be a range of presentations around existing church-based projects to stimulate ideas and discussion, along with speakers from Tameside Adult Services, the Primary Care Trust, Tameside 3rd Sector Coalition and the Opening Doors for Older People project.

The event will take place at St John’s Church, Vicarage Drive, Dukinfield, on Saturday April 5th, 9.30am to 3.30pm. For further information contact Theo Knight on 344 0269, or email theoknight@btinternet.com

Would you like to publicise an event?

If you are a community, faith or voluntary group and would like to use this
Newsletter Free of Charge to publicise an event that is taking place for older
people, contact a member of the Opening Doors for Older People project on
0161 370 1179 or Send us a Message

Drop in Sessions across the Borough

Staff from the Opening Doors for Older People project will be holding a number of drop in sessions across Tameside during the year.

These will be advertised in this Newsletter.

Up and coming drop-in sessions, where there is a CORA information stall, with staff and volunteers, where you can find out about th project are as follows:

• Mossley Co-Op 10am to 3pm on 17th March 2008
• The Arcade Ashton 10am to 3pm on 18th to 20th March 2008
• Hyde Clarenden Arcade 10am - 3pm on 14th - 16th April 2008

Computer Buddy Scheme

Have you ever wished you knew someone who could help you use your computer? Well now you do! Tameside Computer Buddies are volunteers who will show you how to set up an e-mail account, create a blog, find things on the internet or do anything in Microsoft Office. They’re friendly, knowledgeable and free.

Computer Buddies are available in all Tameside Libraries and at most times. Booking a computer buddy is simple. Just give us a call, let us know what times are good for you and we’ll call you back to confirm your one-to-one session. You can have up to 3 sessions and each one lasts around 90 minutes. Sessions can normally be arranged for the following week, but if you need to learn something very quickly, just let us know and we’ll try our best to help.

For further information or to book a Computer Buddy, please contact Donna Denston on 0161 342 2565 or Send Donna Denston a Message

Market Development - Promoting Independence for Older People

What’s been happening so far...

As promised in the last issue we will keep you updated on the news and work around market development.

Following approval by Tameside Older People’s Partnership of the funding process for the Opening Doors for Older People fund in January 2008, the fund is now available to all new and existing community and voluntary groups.

Stuart Eyres, Chair of TOPAG (Tameside Older People’s Advisory Group) and member of the Tameside Older People’s Partnership, has told us “I am really impressed with the amount of time and effort that has been put into both the planning and provision of this work”.

Various groups, including representatives from the local authority, voluntary organisations and older people, have also teamed up with the project and will regularly meet up throughout the year, to help ensure the application process is as clear and simple as possible.

Deena Kearney, Economic Development Officer for Tameside MBC, has commented that “This is the first time I have seen an application form and process that requires the least amount of cost and effort for people who don’t have time to complete the reams and reams of paperwork usually requested”.

The availability of the fund is being published in various media, including local newspapers, the Voluntary and Community Sector’s T3SC Newsletter, the Tameside Citizen newspaper, which is delivered to 90,000 homes within the borough, and the Opening Doors for Older People project website.

Mark Simpson, Project Manager for the Opening Doors for Older People project, is working with a number of groups and organisations, with the aim of providing services that will shape the community and promote the health, well-being and independence of older people.

One venture the Opening Doors for Older People project is working on, alongside Age Concern Tameside, The Primary Care Trust, Tameside Sports Development and the Volunteer Centre Tameside, is a new project that focuses on falls prevention and health and exercise classes.

The project includes the provision of falls awareness and confidence re-building classes for people who have fallen or are prone to falls; the provision of a home falls assessment service and a home foot care scheme.

In addition, the project is extending the availability of gentle exercise classes and newly mapped urban walks throughout Tameside.

The Opening Doors for Older People project is also linking with libraries, looking into developing innovative and alternate reading services such as bibliotherapy which is a different and exciting style of group reading.

This project is also looking at the possibility of extending internet and computer learning through new computer courses, one to one home learning and the piloting of laptop loans.

Finally, the Opening Doors for Older People project will be offering learning skills and possible job opportunities for both volunteers and older people in health education. We therefore want to hear from individuals who are interested in receiving free training, that leads to a recognised qualification in Health Studies. Contact details on page 19.

Working with Help the Aged

We are pleased to announce that the Opening Doors for Older People project and Help the Aged have jointly set up a new fund available for community and voluntary groups who wish to apply for funding for small grants up to £300. The most important thing is that at least 75% of those benefiting from an award must be older people.

Help the Aged is an international charity working with older people. Their priorities include combating poverty, reducing isolation, encouraging inclusion, defeating ageism, speaking up for old age, challenging poor care standards and promoting quality in care. The vision of Help the Aged is to ensure that older people are highly valued, have lives that are richer and voices that are heard. George Knight is the Regional Development Officer for Help the Aged and he will be working alongside Mark Simpson, the Project Manager Opening Doors for Older People project, to help deliver this newly developed fund. George told us, “This is an exciting time for the Opening Doors for Older People project and Help the Aged, and I am looking forward to working with the project and Tameside’s older people over the coming years”.

To discuss any matters relating to Help the Aged contact George on 01457 868985, or email: George.Knight@helptheaged.org.uk.

An Opportunity for Older People to Tell Us What they Want!

As part of our aim to involve and listen to older people, the Opening Doors for Older People project would like to offer people the opprtunity to tell us what other services, activities and events they would like to see more of across Tameside and in their local community.

Some areas of particular interest that older people said they want are;

• Home and garden maintenance services
• Personal transport
• Falls prevention
• Talk therapies and counselling
• Healthcare, exercise and health classes
• Home energy saving
• Home and community safety
• Befriending and buddy schemes
• Social activities

To tell us what you want to see more of, please contact us using the details at the top of the page.

Who do I need to contact?

 If you require any further advice or information on any aspect of the Opening Doors for Older People project please contact us using the details at the top of the page.