Independent living?!

Why is it "AgeUK" if it's not one organisation? Why AgeUK Newcastle and not AgeNewcastle for instance?

It would be a shame to waste this very informative thread and a wealth of experience Blinko but I really want to find out more about what went wrong at Age U.K. Newcastle (now in administration).

My thinking exactly OldMeg . I may be cynical / suspicious but I smell a rat !

As far as I understand they were still accepting charitable donations last week yet they are in administration this week .

My thoughts exactly Anniebach

Age UK is divided up into franchises. Each is independent I’m reliably informed. IMO they need investigating by the Charity Commission.

How cruel to say - if you bum around all your life and get free housing. I brought up our two children on my own then was carer for my parents for fifteen years, not exactly bumming around

Further to my earlier post, just to report that Laura at GNHQ says they are 'exploring this issue' re working with Age UK. I've asked if we could be kept informed.

It would surely be a pity to waste this wealth of anecdotal information.

I agree Alexa. I can't drive or do heavy work, but I offered to do more for my next door neighbour than I was (which was shopping once a week and making sure his lights and curtains moved at least twice a day) However he and his family really insisted they didn't want to inconvenience me and his poor family have been driving for an hour each way several times a weeks to check on him. If there had been an actual scheme - whether paid or charitable - they'd probably have been happier to take the help on offer.

Many or at least some old people would do unpaid work to help each other. I could. But there is no system in place that can fit my abilities to the recipient's needs. I am too old at 86 to drive people out for shopping as it's a struggle to do my own work. However I can offer some nursing care for someone near my home, or check they had their meds.Or read and so on to a blind person. Help with some old person's dog maybe.

I worked for a care agency on behalf of an old lady. This old lady was known to her GP and health visitor who apparently had not taken the initiative to orchestrate her care .Good neighbours, a younger woman and her husband, alerted the home helps department and kept a friendly eye on subsequent care. I was not paid to nurse or to control the lady's health concerns but do personal care only. She could not contact the GP herself. When I rang GP and health visitor about a specific health concern they only addressed the immediate issue but seemed to see no reason to take control of the lady's care. It was not the job of the care agency to intervene.

The services would be a great deal better if they were joined up and headed by someone such as the health visitor or GP. The social services especially need to work in concert with the NHS people both hospital and GP service.

Financing should be both adequate and ring fenced.

Annsixty how strange I wonder what causes this. I must do some googling...

I never thought I would be fearful but because of changes in my family if I became ill I would be completely dependent on carers or placed in any care home who has room for me.

"No worries" Gabriella

It is the same with my H ready he is totally unable to move, it is strange but he lies like a log until lifted , the last time, the ambulance service arranged for a community lifting team to come out, my H was on the floor for 2 hours totally immobile.

annsixty

Oops! Sorry.

Talking of falls, when my next door neighbor of 92 falls it appears he's too helpless to even change his position in order to reach something near him on the floor or low table, or to lie comfortably (ie last time he had fallen with his face sideways against the wall) even though he's never actually been injured in the fall. I understand his legs are not strong enough to actually stand himself up but as he's actually been moving around the house and most days getting himself in and out of beds and chairs, how can it be that once he's on the floor he's only able to lie there passively until his fall alarm brings him help? Is this usual?

If only some of our members of Parliament were left in this difficulty perhaps something might be done!

Gabriella you misunderstood my post.
The Carecall pendant I was talking about is for emergencies in the home.
It does cover falls , they bring equipment which inflates under the client and raises them up to be assisted to stand.
I am aware the carers do not do this but the carecall staff do.

Ah, I see, Gillybob. Apologies, I misunderstood. Maybe their rates went up and they found they couldn't meet their bills? Just a thought.

Oops sorry for not making myself clear Blinko I’m typing on my phone so making heaps of mistakes . I meant How can/did Age UK Newcastle go bust ? It’s only happened this week (yesterday even ). Can these organisations be trusted ?

Gillybob, I think Age UK is a national organisation. As to 'How?', there's a facility at the top of each thread where anyone can email any thread content to anyone else. I know this cos I emailed the recent thread on what to do and see in Malta to DS2 who's going later in the year. So I imagine it would be a matter of obtaining the Age UK email address and doing it.

I did wonder if GNHQ might be able to use their contact with Age UK to ensure that the thread is brought to the attention of the right people. (Anyone listening at GNHQ? Grateful for your thoughts if so).

Were they big salaries so a few at the top ?

Apologies ( using phone to type) Should have read ....

were they paying big salaries to a few at the top?

Those “money grabbing companies “ as you describe them lottagelady are usually only getting around £18 per hour ( if that) from the LA ‘s . Impossible to make any profit never mind get rich . They’re closing down almost everyday .

Oops hadn’t quite finished . Were they big salaries so a few at the top ?

Age U.K. Newcastle has just got bust Blinko! I don’t know any details but it begs the question How?

I wonder if it's worth sharing this thread with Age UK? They have been asking for people's experiences of the health and social care systems recently. Even if their report is complete, anecdotal information like this thread could be added on an unattributed basis?

Any objectors?