Time to Shine a Light on Social Care: the time for action is now.
On Wednesday 1st March I was delighted to be able to attend the virtual launch of the Scottish Care led social care campaign which runs the month of March. It […]
Technology thoughts for social care: positivity and threat.
It’s been a busy week in the world of technology, data and social care in Scotland. I managed that rare thing of attending the whole of a conference event and […]
Leaving No One Behind In An Ageing World: the collective opportunity.
There are times when you might feel the struggles and obstacles you are enduring are unique to your own circumstances and situation. To be honest it sometimes feels like that […]
Dream to be yourself: women and science
Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. As someone who is much more comfortable in the world of arts and literature it may seem an odd […]
Caring about racism: the challenge for social care.
I’ve never been the victim of racism but have sadly witnessed it and its impact all too often over the years. For over a decade I was involved in delivering […]
Time to talk and listen: Scotland’s older persons mental health silence.
Thursday coming is Time to Talk Day which offers an opportunity for people, organisations and communities to take time out to discuss mental health and to support each other. The […]
The power of listening devices – and how to control your data
Blog about some of the things to consider around data privacy and voice assistants.
Let us win the race against dementia: a whole of life approach.
There are many reasons for the current pressures being faced by our NHS and I have rehearsed those at some length in the weeks and months that have passed. This […]
Physician heal thyself? the shamefulness of failing to care.
Over the last few days I’ve been speaking a lot to journalists and media in response to the initiative from Scottish Government to make funding available to enable the purchase […]
A crisis within a crisis: the urgency of change for social care in Scotland.
As we all know what we say at the start of the year often sets the tone for our expectations, hopes, and promises for the year to come. In looking […]
Doing something unpredictable in the year to come: a reflection.
One of the best-known New Year poems is ‘The Year’ written by the American poet Ella Wheeler. She wrote: “What can be said in New Year rhymes, That’s not been […]
The eve of promise: the potential of social care
It is certainly a week of happenings. Wednesday past was this year’s Winter Solstice. It has always been a night of hope and light which begins the hallowing of days […]
The longing for place: a reflection on immigration
As many regular readers of this blog might know I read a lot of poetry for both enjoyment, stimulation, and relaxation – and lots of other reasons. Most recently I […]
The human rights gap: falling between legislation and enactment.
Today is Human Rights Day which is an annual international celebration and recognition of the critical role that human rights play or should play in all our lives. The theme […]
A tree of memory: grieving in a time of celebration.
Recently I read of ‘Tree Dressing Day’ which happens to be tomorrow, December 4th. It is a day which occurs on the first weekend of December and was started by […]
The giftedness of humanity: a seasonal reflection
It is as I am sure many of you will know only 29 days till Christmas. The shopping and buying frenzy is well and truly on. Christmas lights are lit […]
Re-imagining care homes – time to explore.
The following talk was in part delivered at the close of the Scottish Care Care Home Conference held in Glasgow yesterday. I don’t get much time for reading these days […]
Making Movember matter: preventing early male death.
Many of you will know that November is a month dedicated to give special focus to issues of male health. It is also a month increasingly known as Movember because […]
Remembering is an act of loving.
Next Friday in regimented moments of silence the nation will come together to remember all those who in a growing number of conflicts paid the ultimate sacrifice of their lives […]