A Better Life In Later Life
Better Government For Older People (Newcastle)
The Newcastle pilot is one of 28 sites through the country which form part of the Better Government for Older People programme. The two-year programme, which is led by the Cabinet Office was launched in June 1998. The aim of the programme is to: "improve public services for older people by better meeting their needs, listening to their views and encouraging and recognising their contribution." A report from the programme 'All our Futures' was launched in June 2000, and the government has agreed to respond the report's recommendations by December 2000. In Newcastle, the pilot has built on the work which started with the whole systems event in 1995 looking at the well-being of older people. The work is led by a multi-agency steering group, which includes older people, and reports to the Newcastle Health Partnership.
The following principles underpin the work of the pilot:
- Older people are involved at all stages and every level of the process
- Older people are valued as equals
- Older people are acknowledged as a resource and are integral to all action
- Action is developed from current good practice
- The process produced practical ideas which make a difference
The main work of the programme is:
- To encourage older people and different agencies to work together in the planning, development and delivery of services
- To open up opportunities for older people to remain active members of the community
Examples of the work which is being undertaken include:
Older People's Network - a newly formed network of older people's organisations which set out to find out 'what can we do together that we cannot do alone?'. The Network aims to bring together representatives from older people's organisations to form a resource of older people who can work in partnership with agencies (statutory, voluntary and private) to improve services for older people. Members of the Network are also a resource to each other, providing support and organising activities. A representative from the Newcastle Older People's Network is nominated the National Older People's Advisory Group (part of the Better Government for Older People programme). Members of the National Older People's Advisory Group have the opportunity to meet with government ministers to advise on issues of concern and to make recommendations on how to address them.
House for Life - Making your home work for you as you get older is not something may of us plan for. But if we want to continue living independent lives, our homes need to adapt and change too. In a very special collaboration between older people, Newcastle City Council, representatives from voluntary agencies, City Health Trust and University of Newcastle, the group ahs been working on an empty three-bedroomed council house in High Heaton to show how simple changes can make all the difference. Playing a key role in this project were 15 older people from all walks of life who took part in all the discussions, meetings and fact finding missions that would lead to the transformation of an empty house into a 'house for life'. The house is open as a show house from 18 September - 6 October.
Going Home from Hospital - building on work which started in 1997 to develop a 'common strategy' for the various agencies involved in the process of going home from hospital, an action research project was carried out to establish how and to what extent we were delivering person-centred care. Older people took an active part as researchers interviewing their peers and staff in hospital and community settings. One of the key recommendations was the need for joint training and the involvement of older people and carers in the training of care staff. In May 2000 an event was held to explore how to take this recommendation forward.
Drama in Training - with funding from the Tyne and Wear Health Action Zone a training package of short plays has been developed, aimed at care workers employed in domiciliary and nursing/residential care. The aim of the training is to make care staff and managers aware of how their attitudes impact on quality of care, and to address the ethical and emotional complexities of their work. Older people played an active part in contributing to the research and development of this work.
Older and Safer - older people have led the way by developing a programme of 'Older and Safer Days'. Although a fun day out, the days have a serious message with a quiz, entertainment by the older people's drama group 'Old Spice', and a variety of information stalls aimed at demonstrating to older people what they can do themselves to prevent accidents.
Time Money is a mechanism for putting the caring and sharing back into our society and rebuilding our communities. People who are unemployed, elderly and disabled are particularly disadvantaged by the formal economy and are often seen as needy and takers. Time Money enables them to be seen as givers too by valuing the time and skills they contribute to the community. Time Money members earn credits for doing tasks, an hour of time entitles the person to an hour of someone else's time. One of the first schemes in Newcastle is the Benwell Hour Bank in which older people are giving their time to support children in primary school.
