A place to breathe: the critical role of day services.
On Wednesday I chaired an open meeting for those interested in the role and value of day services for older people. During the virtual meeting I heard of some of […]
Living with dementia in Scotland: the reality of discrimination and diminishment.
Monday sees the start of the annual Dementia Awareness Week (DAW) and I have to confess that it is a week which brings to mind mixed emotions for me. Professionally […]
Social Care Nursing: a voice to lead.
The following blog is adapted from an address given to the Scottish Care Nursing event ‘I feel, I see, I imagine’ on the International Day of the Nurse ten days […]
Out of the shadows: reimagining home as a place of care
This week’s blog post is the text which formed part of the address I gave yesterday at the 2022 Care at Home & Housing Support Conference. This event titled ‘Home […]
The journey of palliative care in social care: a reflection
Today is World Labyrinth Day. I first came across labyrinths when I was at university and participated in a day of reflection as part of UN Peace Day. Since then, […]
Working for a different future: local elections and the reality gap.
I have literally been all over the place in the week that has just passed. It started with me joining colleagues in Ireland and hearing from the Irish Minister for […]
Care home redesign and vision: some personal reflections
On Thursday last along with a good number of folks I attended the first meeting of what was called the National Care Home Contract Redesign. Sounds dull and boring but […]
In between time: the need for sensitivity.
I hope like me many of you will have the opportunity to enjoy this holiday weekend. Today is an unusual day. It is the Saturday between the Christian feasts of […]
Some distance to go: social care and person-led autonomy.
A few weeks ago, I gave a talk at a conference on social care and technology. Well in truth I recorded the talk because I was unable to attend in […]
Holding to the memory: a care chrysalis
This week’s blog post is a bit different – it is the text of the address I gave yesterday at the Scottish Care Home Conference. This was the first in […]
Paint the world purple: the need for focus on epilepsy and older people.
Today is World Purple Day. It is also known as Epilepsy Awareness Day and is celebrated annually on March 26th. In 2008, eight-year-old Cassidy Megan from Canada decided she wanted […]
everything’s gonna be all right: the power of poetry to comfort and challenge.
I’ve written before in this blog about the fact that English was not my first language and that in my early days at school I struggled with language and in […]
The valuing of older age in war and pandemic : a reflection.
Along with many others I signed a letter this last Thursday which was sent to the UK Prime Minister and the United Kingdom Government. Key organisations working with and for […]
Gender discrimination in care: a reflection for International Women’s Day.
Tuesday sees the celebration of International Women’s Day, 8 March, 2022. This is an annual event which raises the profile of the experience of women and girls around the globe. […]
The price of freedom: a reflection on these days.
I’ve often remarked in this blog that in the strange patterning of days some words seem to become prominent in the conversations of the moment. Perhaps the word of the […]
Change comes from passion: a reflection on avoiding the landfill site of social care hope
Behind every policy and legislation there is often a passion and a movement; behind every change there is frequently a vision and an aspiration. The world of social care and […]
Let’s not evict human rights: a personal reflection on the defence of rights.
At the current time the UK Government is undertaking a consultation on major proposals to change the provisions of the UK Human Rights Act – a piece of legislation which […]
Living in a land of trust: a reflection.
At times during this pandemic a word, phrase or concept just seems to appear from nowhere to occupy a position of dominance in debate and discourse. This last week everywhere […]
Time for respect: the critical importance of valuing social care nursing.
One of the first tasks I undertook when I started in my role as CEO of Scottish Care nearly 6 years ago was to go around the country and take […]