Many of us find ourselves in situations where we need to support people in expressing themselves or speaking out. This Zoom event will explore how we can do this more effectively and some of the barriers that we might face. It will be of interest to anyone that is concerned about equality and building more … Continued
One of the reasons why independent advocacy for older people is so very important is simply to do with how quickly we are able to process information as we age. Just as many of us can’t run as fast as we did when we were 25, our brain cannot process complex information at the same … Continued
It’s not an easy subject to talk about, but sadly many of us will know someone who has had the difficult diagnosis of breast cancer. But the Association of Breast Surgery are contributing as partners on the initiative along with others such as Breast Cancer Now and Independent Cancer Patients’ Voice. They are looking to … Continued
Can we talk for a moment about the toll the last 12 months has had on all of our lives? The reality is that for so many of us there have been: Ongoing challenges Difficult cutbacks Upsetting stories Losses of so many things from loved ones, to personal fitness Is there anything we’ve missed? For … Continued
How did you sleep last night? We all need sleep but so many of us are not getting enough of it. Even people who don’t feel chronically sleep-deprived can be getting less sleep than they need, which may have important health effects both short-term and long-term. For adults, most people need 7-9 hours every night. … Continued
We caught up with Dave Bradshaw, Leader of Sandwell Advocacy, and OPAAL Trustee, to hear from him in his own words, why independent advocacy has such an important place in the lives of older people. Here’s what he had to say. “I’d always been interested in community politics; I just wanted to stand up for … Continued
We have been talking recently with a woman in her late 50s, about how the recent pandemic has affected her in her working life. Here’s what she had to say: “It is as if older people have to sacrifice themselves. And as if only care and medical issues are our concerns, rather than also continuing … Continued
Did you know that third of people with dementia in the UK (288,000) live in care homes? And those in care homes usually have more severe dementia than those living in our community. Behavioural and psychological symptoms, often including agitation, can make it challenging to care for these people. Person-centred care, where each individual has … Continued
The Older People’s Advocacy Alliance (OPAAL) and the National Coalition of Advocacy Schemes are undertaking a modest piece of research to identify some of the most disempowering aspects of the Coronavirus restrictions since March 2020 for older people. Questions that the research will be exploring will include: Ø How many people (informal advocates) found … Continued
This week has been Trustee Appreciation week – so we thought we’d take a moment to thank our lovely Trustees who do so much to support us in our efforts to help older people live the life that they choose. But more than that – we are looking for more Trustees to help us with … Continued