September has always had that “back to school” feeling about it. New notebooks, new timetables, sharpened pencils… and the realisation that perhaps we could all do with learning something new!
So, this month, we’re embracing the “back to school” spirit and bringing you a few resources that could help you refresh your knowledge, develop your skills and support the older people you work with.
Know your rights – a useful guide from the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
For those in Wales, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has produced a valuable collection of information guides designed to help older people understand their rights and access the support they need.
The guides cover areas including healthcare, housing, employment, social care, hospital discharge, digital access, ageism and Lasting Powers of Attorney.
These resources can be particularly useful for advocates because they provide straightforward information that can help older people understand what they should expect and what they can do when things go wrong.
👉 Explore the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales information guides
☕ Time for a Cuppa – time for a conversation
Sometimes the most important conversations begin with something very simple – “Would you like a cuppa?”
OPAAL’s Time for a Cuppa campaign encourages older people to have conversations about something that many of us would rather avoid talking about: planning for a dignified death and what happens if you are the person left behind.
Planning ahead isn’t about being morbid. It’s about giving people greater choice, control and peace of mind.
What would you want to happen? Who would know what you wanted? Who could help if you were no longer able to make decisions? And, importantly, what happens to the person left behind when there is no plan?
Our resources are designed to help start those conversations – whether someone has family and friends around them or is facing later life with a much smaller support network.
The campaign looks at practical issues around preparing for death, including important documents, finances, digital accounts, Lasting Powers of Attorney, funeral wishes and the practical things that someone may have to deal with after a death.
A cup of tea can be a good place to start.
Why not use September as an opportunity to have that conversation with someone you support – or share OPAAL’s resources with your members, colleagues and partner organisations?
🕵️♀️ Back to school for scammers too?
Unfortunately, while we might be going back to school, scammers never seem to take a holiday!
Scams continue to evolve, and one of the challenges for anyone supporting older people is helping them recognise when something doesn’t look or feel quite right.
The Friends Against Scams website is a great resource for advocates, professionals, older people, families and communities.
It includes information about different types of scams, advice about protecting yourself and others, training opportunities and useful resources.
There is also Ask Silver, a scams-checking tool. If you’re unsure about a website, you can enter its web address into the checker. You can also upload a screenshot of a suspicious text, email, letter or other image for assessment.
👉 Try the Ask Silver scams checker
Remember, though, that online checking tools are an aid rather than a guarantee. Encourage people to take care when clicking links, sharing personal information or making payments.
So, as September gets underway, why not make this your own “back to school” month?
Learn something new. Refresh something you already know. Share a useful resource with a colleague. And, perhaps most importantly, start a conversation with an older person about something that could make a real difference to their future.
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