Recent months have been busy for many of those in our ageing and carenting neighbourhood. Here are some of the highlights. ……
Ear Wax Removal Services – support the RNID campaign
This report from the national RNID charity describes the growing postcode lottery for professional ear wax removal services.
For many years, we could access wax removal at our GP surgery, but increasingly this service is no longer offered in primary care and the level of alternative treatment services varies across the country.
RNID research found that NHS ear wax removal services are not commissioned in 7 areas across England – Birmingham and Solihull, Dorset, North West London, South West London, Suffolk and North East Essex, Mid and South Essex, Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly. In these places, people with ear wax build up have no choice but to pay for private removal, which can cost up to £100.
RNID are campaigning to address these inequalities in access and encouraging those affected to email their local newspapers. Find out how you can help here.
Remember – never attempt to manage ear wax yourself. If done incorrectly, it can lead to infection, permanent hearing loss, ear canal or ear drum damage.
A report from ADASS: Intermediate Care – the reset
Back in November, working with think tank Impower, the Association of Directors of Adults Social Services ADASS, published a review of intermediate care services. The report emphasises how important these services can be in resolving crises and offering rehabilitation to help people stay well and connected at home as well as avoiding the need for hospital care
The report presents innovative case studies illustrating how people can be supported to stay
in their own homes with the right community support.
AGE UK report: One day at a time
In January, AGE UK reported their research into the health and care of those over 50 years.
This year they extended their polling to include people aged 50-59 and found lots of evidence to indicate members of this age group are struggling on multiple fronts.
The report describes the experiences of 15% who were caring for someone else. Many of those surveyed reported how caring had impacted on their own health and wellbeing.
“Many of the unpaid carers responding to our survey told us that they had no time for themselves, to meet up with others, or even to look after their own health. They felt isolated, trapped and anxious. Caring could be stressful, frustrating and relentless, leaving them mentally and physically drained. Other relationships were also affected.”
The Royal College of Surgeons – Expert advice on preparing for surgery
If you or someone you know is planning, or considering having, an operation, then you might be interested in this advice from the national body representing surgeons. It lists the sort of things you might want to think about in advance and covers topics such as anaesthetics, second opinions, survival rates and blood transfusions. There is also a patient guide and prompt sheet full of questions you might want to ask.
The International Longevity Centre: One hundred not out
In December, the International Longevity Centre UK published its plan to help society tackle the issues of ageing and longevity.
The report explores the scale of ageing and how that will affect society. Between 2000 and 2050, the number of people in the UK aged over 65 is expected to double, and the number aged over 85 to quadruple, while the ‘working age’ population (20 to 64) will only increase by 20.1%. By 2040 the total number of people over state pension age is projected to exceed 17 million.
This plan lists a number of ideas and solutions such as creating a new Duke
of Edinburgh award that’s open to all ages, encompassing fun, fitness, skills development and social action.
It also recognises the growing carenting challenge, with more of us spending time caring and being cared for, not just as children but as adults. The report notes that long-term underfunding means families and friends are left without support to care, while disabled people and people with long- term conditions are held back from the lives they want to lead.
The ILC suggest that one solution would be to align parental and adult care systems
by introducing a new entitlement to ‘adult care’ leave from employment (with options for both paid and unpaid leave) to cover care for ageing spouses, partners or parents.
Follow us on Linked In to stay informed
The ageing and carenting neighbourhood is vast and so we are grateful to all of the neighbours and carents who provide regular and relevant updates. We can also recommend this twitter account which curates high quality and relevant content.
To make life easier for you, we also post regular news updates like this on our Linked In Page – follow us here.
