The right to bereavement support is a human right.
I’ve spent a lot of time in the past week listening, talking, and reflecting on issues of death, dying and bereavement. The primary reason for this is that the UK […]
‘Don’t just say hello.’: sharing our mental health. – a short blog
I have written before on many occasions about mental health and older people, about the struggles of those who I have known to navigate the no-man’s land between support as […]
The deception of youth: reflections for the International Day of Older Persons.
This past week I have had the privilege of spending time with some of the most creative global thinkers and leaders in the space of aged care and older people’s […]
Keeping it real: the essence of social care.
The following blog was the substance of an address given to the Highland Senior Citizens Network in Inverness on the 14th September. I am just going to say a few […]
Fairness is a right…dementia discrimination is the reality’.
This blog is the substance of a speech delivered to the Alzheimer Scotland conference a fortnight ago in Edinburgh and is published as part of World Alzheimer Awareness month and […]
the other side of memory…
One of the consequences of writing a weekly blog is that it comes round inexorably every week. It also means that you cannot really avoid the events and what has […]
The right to read: the freedom of words
I have been thinking a lot about words this week. Our whole lives are dominated by our ability to communicate. Whether digitally or in the non-digital world our ability to […]
The glamorisation of poverty: a dangerous delusion- a thought piece
Like many people of my generation, I have always feared or at least been anxious about poverty. Memories of lack rather than emptiness have conditioned me as the first of […]
Always a bridesmaid never the bride: the valuing of social care.
The following blog is based on a talk given on Monday 15th August at the inaugural meeting of the GCVS Health and Social Care Network. SeeNetworks – Glasgow Council for […]
The anxiety of age: the cost of living crisis and older age
Last week I wrote in my blog about the potentially devastating impact of energy cost increases on the care home and homecare sector in Scotland. In response to that several […]
The straw that breaks the back of care
The last two and a half years have been a period which has been without equivalence for the care home and homecare sectors in Scotland. Regular readers of this blog […]
Re-designing older age: an exhibition visit.
I was in London this past week and had a couple of hours to spare between meetings and on the recommendation of a colleague I found my way to the […]
A grief that shrinks : alcohol and drug deaths. A personal reflection
It is eleven years ago today that the ultra-talented Amy Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning at the age of 27. She is best remembered for her famous songs’ ‘Rehab’ and […]
The generosity of care support: a summer reflection.
Summertime is often the time of year that I manage to do some reading separated from the normal rhythm of work issues. Over the last couple of weeks in amongst […]
Let’s plan to age: the positive value of preparation.
I well remember how much effort was put into the planning of the birth of a new child and its arrival into the world. So many hours making sure the […]
If not here, where? Human rights in care homes: a reflection.
The following is based on a contribution to the inaugural session of the Human Rights and Social Care Forum created by Dr Caroline Green, Kings College London, which was held […]
We don’t talk about Covid: the danger of viral complacency.
‘We don’t talk about Bruno’ from the amazingly successful Encanto children’s animation has dominated my personal airways for months – like all ‘earworms’ I have found it impossible to stop […]
Migration and social care in Scotland: time to start again.
I was fortunate to be able to attend a conference held by the organisation Migration Policy Scotland this past week. Migration Policy Scotland is a relatively new organisation, founded by […]
Cashless harm: older people and a changing financial world.
In what some folks have suggested as the result of both a disorganised mind and lack of focus I recently attended the Scottish Care conference and awards having forgotten to […]