Quarterly

Issue 19

5/5/11

Apr

May

June

2011

Silver Surfers’ Day Never used the internet? Wonder what it is all about?

If the answer is ‘No’ and you wish to see some of the things that people do on the internet, then there are two events which may interest you. Friday, 20 th May – Between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm at Trinity Centre, Eastgate in Louth there will be volunteers from different organisations with laptops ready to show visitors a range of different activities that people do on the internet.

For example: talking to (and seeing) someone miles away using Skype for free, using Google to find out information in seconds, Ebay, Shopping, finding the best price, emails, booking coach tickets and much more! Teas and coffees available during the morning. (See also page 2)

At an event organised by the Citizens Advice Bureau, people will be shown how to look for advice and information

and how to compare energy prices etc using the internet. This event on Thursday, 19 th May will be held at the Citizens’ Advice Bureau’s reception at Meridian House in Louth - just across the road from the British Heart Foundation charity shop. You are welcome to call in anytime between 10.30 am and 3.30 pm Both events are free and you come when you like, for as long, or as little time, as you like. All welcome.

Dates of the next Walk ‘n’ Natter walks are:- 17th and 31st May, 14th and 28th June, 12th and 26th July and 9th and 23rd August. The Tuesday ‘seniors’ walks start

from Meridian Leisure Centre in Wood Lane at 2pm.(see page 15)

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FREE COMPUTER COURSES If you are interested, then contact CG Partnership as soon as

possible to ask for more details or to ask for an enrolment form.

Telephone: 01673 843489 The venues are • Wolds College (same entrance as Cordeaux School), North

Holme Road in Louth (Bus Number 51)

• Market Rasen Learning Centre, 8 Queen Street, Market Rasen

Beginners Computers 12.30 pm – 3 pm, Mon 9 May for 3 weeks (Market Rasen Centre)

9.30 am -12 pm, Mon 23 May, Tues 24 May & Thur 26 May (Wolds College) 1 pm – 3 pm, Mon 13 June for 4 weeks (Market Rasen Centre)

Introduction to eBay

9.30 am -11.30 am, Fri 20 May for 3 weeks (Market Rasen Centre) 9.30 am - 12 pm, Mon 27 June, Tues 28 June and Wed 29 June (Wolds College)

PowerPoint for Presentations

12.30 pm – 2.30 pm, Fri 20 May for 2 weeks (Market Rasen Centre) Internet Safety

12.30 pm – 4.30 pm, Fri 10 June for 1 Day (Market Rasen Centre)

Improvers Computers 1 pm – 3 pm, Wed 15 June for 5 weeks (Market Rasen Centre) Suitable if you have a basic computer knowledge and want to

increase your skills in Word , Excel, use of the internet, file management and e-mail.

After the Silver Surfers’

morning on 20th May,

visitors and volunteers

can order fish and chips

(£3) and enjoy a sit down

lunch at the Centre with

bread and butter and a

cup of tea/coffee. Orders

must be in by 12 noon.

Depression – it can affect any one of us. We have copies of four leaflets to give out at the next open meeting on 3rd June which may be of help to anyone feeling

low and who may be wondering if this is depression. Part of what was a ‘down but not out’ initiative by Age Concern, these short leaflets may make it easier for someone to approach their GP or may help if you are alongside someone who is living with depression.

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Discharge from Hospital – Were you satisfied with the

discharge arrangements?

The current Lincolnshire Local Involvement Network

(LINk) are soon conducting a survey to check that discharge from hospital procedures and subsequent care provision are meeting the needs of Lincolnshire

people. [Some patients and carers had identified some issues, hence the need for a survey to get a

wider picture].

The deadline for completing the short form or just telling them about

anything that was good or bad about your experience of the

discharge process is 24th June. A report of its findings will be sent to

the Seniors’ Forum and of course hospitals and others involved.

The telephone number is on page 5 if you wish to be sent the survey

sheet. The email address is lincolnshire.link@shaw-trust.org.uk

WARNING - BEWARE

At our last committee meeting we were informed of a ‘dubious’ Gainsborough Will Writing company which used to be called Minster Legal Services now calling itself Saga Legal Services!

They call on people without being invited and also phone people trying to get them interested in their will writing service or other products they are trying to market. We suggest you avoid them!

This company is NOT at all related in any way to the very well known

SAGA whose telephone number is 01303 771 111

e-Books and e-Audio books

More than 1,000 e-Books are

now available online. You need

your library card and PIN to get to

the catalogue and download from

http://virtuallibrary. lincolnshire.gov.uk

They are free of charge and last for 21 days though only one person can have any particular title on their computer or e-book reader at the same time. You can download 3 e-Books at a time.

The library also has hundreds of e-Audio books and borrowers can download the latest bestsellers at the same time.

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BINGO FRIDAYS! In Louth there is bingo from 1.30 pm to 3 pm on alternate Fridays at Maxey Court Community Room. This is open to the wider older adult community as well as to residents. Cost £1 a book. Next session is on 20th May and every fortnight thereafter. Enquiries: Kathy Briggs 0793 966 9308, from Communities Together Project.

The Citizens’ Advice Bureau in Louth has a Housing Caseworker who can assist with mortgage or rental possessions and any housing related issues . For advice or to make an appointment call 01507 609459. Opening times are in the ‘Directory’ which also has other information such as an advice line with pre-recorded advice but which has the option to press 9 (between 10 am and 3 pm) to get through to a person in one of the Lincolnshire Citizens’ Advice Bureaux. The web site is also full of information: www.adviceguide .org.uk

900 Directories have been distributed so far to individual older

people. Please get in touch if someone you know would like a

copy. All Seniors’ Forum members have already been sent a copy.

NHS Dentists There are currently (on 26/4/11) places for new patients at NHS

dentists in Louth so if ANYONE wants help to get registered

with an NHS dentist, please ring the NHS Lincolnshire

Dental Helpline on 01522

515386 between 9 am and 2 pm (Monday to Friday) for assistance. The call will be

answered by a person!

MONDAY

9TH

MAY

is an Activity Day at

Welbeck Way Community Room

off Mill Lane in Louth

All activity sessions are free

10.30 am – 11.30 am

New Age Kurling / Bowls.

11.30 am – 1 pm

Wii Machine.

1 pm- 2 pm Break

2.30 pm – 3.30 pm

Gentle seated exercises

This day is open to all older

people not just residents in

Welbeck Way. The organiser is

Kathy Briggs (see above).

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LINk HealthWatch For a number of years the Local Involvement Network (LINk) has been the body which listens to the health and social care issues that we have concerns about and keeps an eye on whether the County Council, NHS Trusts and other providers do what they are supposed to do. Part of the reforms to the NHS include retaining the Lincolnshire LINk but calling it Health Watch Lincolnshire instead! Many members of the public and organisations have become ‘members’ of the LINk - no fee! Members get newsletters and updates as well as the opportunity to attend Executive meetings, or for that matter become a member of the Executive! That will still be the case after the changeover in 10 months time . People will still be able to feed in their views or experiences for the attention of the Lincolnshire LINk - soon to be Health Watch Lincolnshire . The LINk telephone is 01522 705190 and the website is www.lincolnshirelink .org.uk

Pausing,

listening,

reflecting,

improving!

As you will be aware, the Department

of Health are undertaking a listening

exercise having decided to ‘pause’

before implementing the Health and

Social Care Bill. The government says

it will adapt its proposals after listen-

ing to the views of professionals and

patients.

We encourage you to

have a look at the basics

and submit your

thoughts and views if

you wish. - see

www.dh.gov.uk/healthandcare

All responses and views should be

submitted by 31 May 2011 to inform

the Government’s response to the

listening exercise. However

(strangely) the NHS Future Forum

(who are collecting the views) have to

submit its “initial advice” to the Prime

Minister and others BEFORE the end

of May so best to get your comments

in as early as possible!

One of the Government’s principles

for change in the NHS includes

“No decision about me, without me”

Manby and Grimoldby Weekly Community Walks Wednesdays at 10 am

Leave from the Lancaster Inn. Contact is Alex Woollen, Scheme Coordinator on 0750 0079287 or alex.woollen@sustrans.org.uk .

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Sat, 21 May - Sun, 6 June Wolds Walking Festival 16 days - 80 walks

Something for every level of ability. Launch at the Brackenborough Hall Coach

House Holidays and the Finale in the village of Partney with 4 walks (from 2

miles to 10 miles arranged for this day). 30 walks are between ½ mile and 3

miles, 16 walks between 3 and 5 miles, 5- 7

miles (15 walks) and over 7 miles (19). There

is a photographic competition too. More info

on www.woldswalkingfestival.co.uk or

telephone 01507 609740 for the exceptionally

well presented brochure with all the details.

The Co-operative Membership

Big Community Vote During June and July, Coop members can cast a vote ‘online’ for a community group or organisation they would like to see receive £2,000 to help them develop a project.

We have submitted a proposal but will not know until the end of May if we have been one of the five groups chosen in the Central & Eastern Region. It is just possible that we might be chosen (well anything is possible!) but we only succeed if we get the most votes. Those with a coop membership card (and hence the coop membership number) can vote for the organisation in their region which they would like to see get the funding. We have no idea what other projects have been submitted but we put down the following as a basic idea:- We are acutely aware that so much of life is now internet based and wish to do our part to introduce older people to the internet and the benefits it could bring (eg comparing energy prices, getting information, shopping online, ebay, Skye). We would set something up to provide opportunity in an informal, supportive environment for older people to gain regular access to the internet. For those people who can get on the internet, we would like you to check in

the middle of June to see if the Seniors’ Forum is listed and to vote for us if

we are! The web site is www.co-operative.coop/membership It would

appear that you go along to ‘Local Communities’,

then just under that to ‘Big Community Vote 2011’

THANKS

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The Royal British Legion has been inspiring communities to

hold Poppy Parties Poppy Parties Poppy Parties Poppy Parties to celebrate its 90th anniversary. Poppy Parties are being held on 10th, 11th & 12th June, or sometime near then, in order to celebrate the long history of the British Legion and to raise funds for the charity. Over 9 million people are eligible for the help of The Royal British Legion and this year it expects to get in the region of 160 thousand calls for help.

Phone Number: 01522 811634 or National Legion Line:

0845 772 5725

On 11th June a Great Poppy Family Fun Day is being held at Manby House from 2 pm – 5 pm, and there is a Poppy Party in South Somercotes on the same day.

Marshchapel Archives Marshchapel had a successful Exhibition at the beginning of the month on ‘Bygone Lincolnshire at Work and Play’. Their Archive Group collects and protects photographs and documents relating to Marshchapel and is keen to add more material to the collection.

They can ‘scan’ your original photographs into their computer and then return them to you. Get in touch with Ian on 01472 388514 or June on 01472 388520 if you can contribute to this.

Nearly a thousand Marshchapel images are already on the internet - click the link at the bottom of the website page www.marshchapel-archive .co.uk

If you know of any others, please let us know and we will include them on

www.aroundlouth .org.uk

Mobile Libraries have changed routes and stops and there are over 50 added places on the routes but, like with everything else, if people are not using the service, its future will be under threat. So Use it or Lose it!

The Access Mobile Library service deliver books to a person’s home if through disability they are unable to get to a library or mobile library. They also have large print books, supply books on tape and CD and deliver book collections to care homes. Phone: 01522 782010

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TEXT PHONES

Text phone users can contact the emergency services by dialling 18000. This call will be connected to the 999 services and translated by a Text Relay assistant (provided by the RNID). The National Emergency SMS Service is an ‘add on’ to the existing 18000 service that is available in the UK. This allows anyone unable to use voice telephony, to send a text to 999 using their mobile phone, which gets converted into a call to the emergency services. For more information about this service and how to register go to www.emergencysms.org.uk

Deaf or Hard of hearing?

Special smoke alarms can be fitted as part of home fire safety checks by the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The alarms use a strobe light and also vibrating pads which are placed under a pillow to alert people to the fire at night.

See our Directory on page 54 for other details but anyone interested in this, or a free home fire safety check including fitting of free safety equipment, can call the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue on 01522 582222 or email HFSC@lincoln.fire-uk.org TEXT RELAY - the text to voice

relay service,

For information on this service for the deaf or hard of

hearing, please write to Text Relay, PO Box 284,

Liverpool, L69 3UZ or phone 0800 7311 888

Louth Community Walks Thursdays at 10 am

12th May Start - Little Cawthorpe, Meet outside The Royal Oak (The Splash)

19th May Start - Kenwick Park Hotel

26th May Start – Navigation Warehouse 2nd June Start – South Elkington, meet next to the ponds just after the church.

9th June Start – Love Lane, next to Westgate Fields

16th June PICNIC WALK Start – Hubbard’s Hills car park off Halfpenny Lane

23rd June Start - Little Cawthorpe, Meet outside The Royal Oak (The Splash)

30th June Start - Kenwick Park Hotel These walks are part of the East Lindsey Active scheme and led by Alex Woollen. Contact details at the bottom of page 5

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Sensory Impairment Lincolnshire County Services

(SILCS) Since April, Birmingham Institute for the Deaf (BID)

has been providing the sensory impairment service for

Lincolnshire County Council working also with the

Beacon Centre for the Blind and with Deafblind UK.

Councillor Graham Marsh, Executive Councillor for

Adult Social Care has stated that people who use services (and carers) were instrumental in putting the

details of the contract together, based on what people said they wanted and needed.

This combined support service is based at

Unit 7 Checkpoint Court, Sadler Road, Lincoln, LN6 3PW

Telephone: 01522 848295

DeafLincs will continue to provide sign language interpreting

services. Many members of this Seniors’ Forum were helped by DeafLincs following their presentation at an open meeting

two years ago.

Their contact details are in our Directory along with those of the Lincoln and Lindsey Blind Society.

Total Voice Lincolnshire provides a free

and independent advocacy

service to people who are not able to

speak up for themselves (or who feel that they are not able to),

about the service they are receiving from Lincolnshire County

Council or from Secondary Mental Health services.

Its community advocates can help people (eg those with

mental ill health, dementia or physical disabilities, etc) look at

ways of solving issues they have with their lives, and support

them if they are feeling frustrated, not listened to or ignored.

Telephone: 01522 706590, email: TVL@voiceability.org

or visit the web site at www.totalvoicelincolnshire.org

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Care Homes If someone has considerable concerns about a relative in a care home, and have already approached the care home itself, they can contact Customer Services for Adult Social Care at Lincolnshire

County Council on 01522

782155 for help and advice.

They can also get in touch with the regulatory body, Care Quality Commission (CQC) Telephone: 03000 616161. Address: CQC National Correspondence, Citygate, Gallowgate,

Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4PA

The new and re-elected Louth Town Councillors will (it is expected) hold their council meetings in the former courtroom at the Sessions House.

THE NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER is 01507 355895 ADDRESS: LOUTH TOWN COUNCIL, SESSIONS HOUSE, EASTGATE , LOUTH LN11 7AJ

Members of the public are welcome to attend Council Meetings but are only permitted to speak during the ‘public forum’ in the 15 minutes preceding each meeting.

Some websites, whic

h you may like

to visit - also on fac

ebook!

www.grannynet.co.uk

www.thegoodwebguide.co.uk

& (of course)

www.officialroyal wedding2011.org

The Good Life Guide (published jointly by the

County Council and NHS Lincolnshire) has been reprinted and copies will be available at the next open

meeting. Many members will already have copies of this A4 size, 55 page booklet which

aims to help people thinking of retirement or those already

retired to stay safe, healthy and active.

It was used as the basis for the First Contact website

www.firstcontact.org.uk

www.health talkonline .org

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After our last open meeting a button was found in the room. It will be brought along to the June open meeting in case anyone wishes to claim it.

Hilary Ashman , who volunteers with Age UK Lindsey, is a First Contact Volunteer.

As part of that work she holds an information and advice session on the first Wednesday of the month at the Louth Library from 9.30 am - 12 noon. Any older person, or someone concerned about an older person, can call in and have a chat with Hilary. She can also point you in the ‘right’ direction for further help and support.

Every month, first Wednesday morning, in the Louth L ibrary!

Age UK Lindsey run the charity shop at 103 Eastgate (near the chip shop!) where you can donate clothes, shoes, accessories, vintage items, books, games, toys and bric a brac. All proceeds go to the local charity for work in East and West Lindsey.

CARE SERVICES DIRECTORY There is a revised edition of the 2010/2011

Lincolnshire Care Services Directory.

It is not published by Lincolnshire County

Council’s Adult Social Care but is produced in

conjunction with them, covers home

support, care homes and specialist care and

is a comprehensive guide to choosing and

paying for care.

There are copies at Social Services,

Eastfield House in Eastfield Road LN11 7AN.

Age UK Lindsey Festival Day Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa

Tuesday, 7th June, 10 am - 3 pm

Grimsby Orpheus Male Voice Choir Floral demonstration by Ann Snowden

Stalls, Tombola, Raffle, Exhibitors, Demonstration, Entertainment,

Wii fit demonstrations and so much more.

Entrance is free - All welcome Refreshments available to purchase.

Anyone wishing to learn more about being a volunteer with Age UK Lindsey can contact Angela Sanderson who also coordinates the Wellbeing Call Service.

Mobile: 0795 424 9223; email: angie@ageuklindsey.co.uk

Lincolnshire Show (off A15, LN2 2NA) 22nd and 23rd June Gates open at 8 am Adults £20 Enquiries:

01522 522900

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FORUM MEMBERSHIP. Nearly 470 older people have joined the Louth and District Seniors’ Forum. If you are reading this newsletter and you are not a member, you may wish to consider joining. Membership is open to anyone over 50 in the area of approximately 10 miles radius of Louth though we are flexible.

It is FREE to join. Please just get in touch by email, letter or mobile / text with your name and address. Thanks

Factsheets and Guides

With all the newsletters which we

have posted, we have included a

small booklet of Information and

Advice from Age UK. It includes a

list of their Factsheets and an

order form for the many

Information Guides Age UK have

produced. Postage and package is

free as are the guides. Telephone is

0800 169 65 65.

We hope it will be of use, helping

you get specific information and

providing some help and guidance

to you at this point in your life.

Cheque Guarantee Card From the end of June, people will no longer be able to use their bank debit card to GUARANTEE a payment they are making by cheque from the same back account. Before this change, when we signed a cheque in front of the person receiving it, he/she could then check the signature against the signature on our debit card which meant the bank had to honour the cheque up to a certain value. From July onwards this practice will cease. We can still use cheques, however some businesses may choose not to accept them since there will be no guarantee from the bank that they will be honoured. Writing cheques to send to someone is not affected (yet!).

Cheques to be phased out by 31 October 2018? Between now and the first review of this proposal in 2014, the Payment Council is expecting that many people will have stopped using cheques - we are told there will be alternatives in place (!) and that we will be using other ways of making payments, donations

to charity, subscriptions to organisations and gifts to family members. The Payments Council (Tel 020 3217 8368) will not be asking people for their views specifically about CHEQUES until 2014 and a decision about whether to abolish cheques by 31/10/18 will be made in 2016.

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SAFETY FIRST ! It is unpleasant to read about these three scams operating in the UK, particularly the first, but it is best to be forewarned. They were brought to our attention by Mary Finch.

BEWARE - WHEN OUT DRIVING While driving on a rural road, a lady spotted an infant car seat on the side of the road with a blanket draped over it. She decided not to stop, even though she had all kinds of thoughts running through her head. When she got to her destination, she called the Police and they were going to check it out, but this is what they advised even before they went:- “There are several things to be aware of … gangs and thieves are now

plotting different ways to get a person (mostly women) to stop their

vehicle and get out of the car. There is a gang initiation reported by

the local Police where gangs are placing a car seat by the road … with a

fake baby in it … waiting for a woman, of course, to stop and check on

the abandoned baby. Note that the location of this car seat is usually

beside a wooded or grassy (field) area and the person – woman – will

be dragged into the woods, beaten and raped, and usually left for dead.

If it’s a man, they’re usually beaten and robbed and maybe left for dead

too. Do not stop for any reason! Dial 999 and report what you

saw, but don’t even slow down”

- - o O o - -

BEWARE AGAIN - WHEN OUT DRIVING If you are driving at night and eggs are thrown at your windscreen,

do not stop to check the car, do not operate the windscreen wipers and do not spray any water onto the windscreen.

Eggs mixed with water become milky and block your vision by up to

92%. You would then be forced to stop on the roadside and …

you are likely then to become a victim of criminals.

This is a new technique used by gangs and thieves.

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… another scam

CHECK YOUR RECEIPT BEFORE LEAVING THE CHECKOUT There have been several reports where customers have fallen victim, or nearly have, to this scam. We are summarising it and haven’t mentioned the name of the major supermarket chain since it seems as though it could easily happen in other major stores.

One person, whose bill at the checkout was about £150 happened to

glance at the receipt as he collected his bags and saw a cash-back of

£40. He had not been given £40 and told the cashier that he didn’t ask

for ‘cash- back’ and to delete it but this was refused. A supervisor then

said the person had to take the cash-back but since it had been paid by

a credit card this was meaning there would be interest on a cash

advance! They eventually deleted the whole amount and re-scanned

but this time a cash-back of £20 popped up but the person noticed this

before he entered his PIN and it was deleted. The explanation given

was that the electronic devise must be defective but if this was the case

why did not the cashier offer an explanation or the £40 cash-back to

the shopper in the first place. The person’s first thoughts were

“How many people went through before her and at the end of her shift,

how much money did the cashier pocket?”

Someone else reported a similar instance that a colleague experienced

in another area where she was hurried along, wasn’t given the receipt

but had to ask for it and then the ‘annoyed’ cashier handed it over.

Later that night she looked at the receipt and discovered that it showed

£20 cash-back which she did not ask for. When she asked the store to

investigate they said they could not see the cashier pocket the money.

When she told a bank employee she was told “A cashier will key in that

you asked for cash-back and then hand it to her friend who is the next

person in the queue.”

Obviously, we need to check our receipts immediately

when using either a credit or debit card !

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Walk ‘n’ Natter Group John Heywood, the chairman of

the Forum organises the walks with the help of Tracey Richardson whose work with

East Lindsey District Council includes helping older people

benefit from getting more exercise. Tracey currently leads all the walks and varies

the routes to suit the walkers and their level of fitness. John commented that “The time passes

quickly since you are chatting as well as walking. You get to know people whom you have never met before and soon get engrossed in some interesting conversations!” The walks take about an hour and

a half and many of the walkers extend their time together with a cup or tea at the Leisure Centre afterwards. Thirty five different

people have been on one or more of the walks so far and some have been on all of them!

Anyone over 50 is welcome to come along. Leave at 2 pm (prompt) from the Meridian Leisure Centre in Wood Lane (LN11 8RS)

every fortnight - see dates on front cover.

Tracey Richardson can be reached through ELDC on 60111 ext 198 or on her mobile 0782 598 9418 if you wish to speak with her. If you are coming along for the first time, it would

be helpful if you could arrive 10 minutes early since there is a short form to complete in connection with insurance. There is of course

no charge and newcomers are warmly welcomed.

Default Retirement Age Employers are no longer able to issue any notifications for compulsory retirement using the Default Retirement Age (DRA) procedure. Until 1 October 2011, only people who were notified before 6 April 2011, and whose retirement date is before October 2011 can be compulsorily retired.

After 1 October 2011, employers will not be able to use the DRA to compulsorily retire employees but it will still be possible for individual employers to operate a compulsory retirement age.

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Ray Kemp recently featured in local and county papers when he was thanked for 25 years of service as a volunteer driver for the Lincolnshire Probation Trust , which involves taking offenders to appointments that they are required to keep – more than 6,000 in total and clocking up 100,000 miles. At the age of 85, he is still continuing this invaluable work. Of course his record of volunteering doesn’t stop there, but includes working for many years with the ambulance service, the Royal Observer Corps, Victim Support and currently he looks after the British Red Cross resource centre, in the Social Services complex

Twenty four people attended when the Seniors’ Forum had a tour of all the facilities at the new Leisure Centre in March. Several points were raised afterwards with the Fitness Manager including the rule that people cannot use the pool to swim a ‘width’ only

‘lengths’ - the latter distance of 25 metres being too far for some! On the tour we saw the afternoon activities session which is especially for over 45s. It includes Short Mat Bowls, New Age Kurling, Table Tennis and Badminton , runs from 2 pm - 4 pm every Thursday and costs £3 (which includes a cup of tea half way through!). Don’t let the mention of Badminton put you off coming along since there is something for every level of mobility. Just come along or con-tact Tracey Richardson beforehand. (see page 15)

Ray Kemp, Margaret Brown (who arranged the visit) and

Fitness Manager, Chris Coveley

There is a morning session similar to the one we saw, which takes place on Tuesday mornings from 10 am - 12 pm. Activities are the same as the Thursday session. Currently the Tuesday session has the lower number of participants. You are welcome to come along and give it a try.

adjacent to the Fire Station, which loans out medical equipment and wheelchairs. Details on page 50 of the Directory. If you are reading this and

do not have a Directory (Nov ‘10) then contact us and we shall send you one.

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An article on Digital Switchover in Lincolnshire was printed in the last newsletter reminding those already able to get the extra channels to ‘retune’ on 3rd August and 17th August. If you have

questions about the switchover then ring Digital UK on 08456 50 50 50. With newsletters which we have sent out by post this time, we have included a bookmark with information about the help scheme for those over 75 or in a care home (or for people with certain disablities).

Supporting Independence - Action needed by 22nd May.

Lincolnshire County Council is currently consulting people on whether to raise the level of need which qualifies people for support from Adult Social Care services. People’s needs are assessed to see if they are eligible to receive services and to what level this should be. Everyone is entitled to an assessment. It is proposed that those with ‘moderate’ need will not be eligible for help in the future though the Council will provide advice and information. Older People with ‘substantial’ and ‘critical’ need will still be eligible under this proposal (depending on income and savings). The Council says it would like to do what it can to prevent people who have low or moderate needs from requiring more substantial help in the future so it is expected that short term (6 weeks) help will continue. Details of the proposal are available on www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/supportingindependence or for a paper copy, telephone 01522 782338. Your feedback can be given on a short questionnaire and sent to Supporting Independence, Room 131, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln. LN1 1YL by 22nd May and/or you can send in any other written responses you have to the consultation. Alternatively, you can complete the questionnaire online or tell LCC your views by phoning the number above. We urge you to take part in this. A decision will be made on 5th July.

The Forum’s address is:-

Louth and District Seniors’ Forum PO Box 31 Louth Delivery Office 15 Eastgate Louth LN11 9ND

The Seniors’ Forum does not accept any liability for the consequences of actions

taken by individuals as a result of information printed in this newsletter or information

sent out with the newsletter.

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How would you have coped?

In the interests of my wife’s tranquillity this vignette remains anonymous. One of her forenames is Mary. A regular task in providing 24/7 care is to assist her bathing. On one particular occasion there was, after a period, no enrobed appearance, but there was ominous banging from the bathroom region as she couldn’t climb out. Similar problems had arisen previously, but with assistance in twisting around and getting to knees and other forms of leverage she had always emerged. This was different. No amount of available contortion – becoming less with time – succeeded. Now, in my ninth decade, I lacked the strength to straight-lift a weight equal to slightly more than a bag of cement, especially where her delicate back in concerned. I possess, among other interesting complaints, a chronic heart situation. Physical exertion is fairly limited, and after ten or fifteen stressful minutes I had to lie down. After an hour or two, with Mary insisting that she could manage without outside aid, I was torn between a call to the fire brigade or an ambulance! She pleaded again for one last chance and I put her dressing gown in preparation. After some four hours or more of imprisonment in her bath this providentially did the trick as she just managed, by pushing with her feet yet again, to slide up and reach the top, where she sat. The rest was easy, comparatively. Clearly this was a situation that could not continue. I thereupon contacted her medical team, who contacted social services. Meanwhile I had been investigating the availability of overhead medical lifting equipment as Mary had never been fond of showering and it seemed unkind to condemn her permanently to this form of discomforting treatment. A number of different forms of this equipment seemed on tap, as it were. Social services were sympathetic but adamant: Mary would be discomforted and insecure as she hovered in mid air so a chair and a shower were their only answer. I searched the Web for answers and discovered the miracle of a walk-in bath. It seems that I am one of the few people not to have encountered this equipment before. The firm agreed to prioritise delivery after a vigorous discussion. Subsequently a bath arrived, the old removed with the aid of a sledge hammer, a great deal of vigour, and deafening noise. The new bath includes a side door, an electric chair (shaped to the bath contours) which conveys the bather from top to bottom, a state of the art shower, thermally controlled water to prevent scalding, and highly efficient insulation to allow prolonged soaking if desired.

Golden years do encompass tiny grains of wisdom from time to time.

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Sue will speak about the provision of healthcare in East Lindsey including Louth Hospital and in the community, but we are inviting you to send us any questions you would like answered, or aspects of local primary health care you would like covered, BEFORE 19th May and we shall let Sue have these.

She will of course also welcome questions on the morning relating to what she has spoken about.

LCHS now manages the Hospital, though the hospital

Trusts, the GPs’ company (Louth and District Medical Services), LCHS itself and others provide services.

Hospital News ...Hospital News ...Hospital News ...Hospital News ... Mary Finch, who is Vice Chair of the Seniors’ Forum, has been appointed as Independent Chairperson of the Partnership Board for Louth Unscheduled Care. Membership of the Board consists of all leading stakeholders providing health and social care services across the community. Mary’s contribution will be to bring important ‘added value’ to the Partnership Board by helping to ensure that policy and service decisions reflect the needs and views of local communities. Unscheduled care relates to urgent health needs which could not have reasonably been foreseen or

planned for. Congratulations, Congratulations, Congratulations, Congratulations, Mary and we wish you every Mary and we wish you every Mary and we wish you every Mary and we wish you every success in this important role.success in this important role.success in this important role.success in this important role.

We are delighted that Sue Cousland , the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Nurse for the Lincolnshire Community Health Services (LCHS) has agreed to speak to us on 3rd June at our open meeting.

The LCHS became an NHS Trust in its own right on 1st April (having previously been the ‘provider’ part of NHS Lincolnshire) in preparation for the government’s likely reforms in the way the NHS is organised and managed. The website is www.lincolnshirecommunity healthservices.nhs.uk

This will be a unique opportunity for us to hear from a senior manager who has a medical background herself, is an Executive Member of the new Trust’s Board, and is based at Louth Hospital (though has responsible for the whole of the county).

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OPEN MEETING Over 50s

Friday, 3rd JuneFriday, 3rd JuneFriday, 3rd June

10 am - 12 noon Conoco Room, Library

ALL WELCOMALL WELCOMALL WELCOM EEE

Teas and coffees on arrival from 9.40 am

Enquiries: Mobile 0797 488 0157 or louthseniors@yahoo.co.uk

www.lincs-seniors-forum.org.uk/louth

Lincolnshire Community Health Services

Provision of Healthcare in your Local Community

including Louth Hospital - Sue Cousland

Short interval for teas

Flower Arranging for All

The Easy Way! with Jan Irving