Michael Parkinson - Forum / Good causes & social discussion / Do you have a story relating to the care of the elderly?

Over 50 Plan sold by AXA Sun Life plc

Selden — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:02:56 GMT

Has Sir Michael looked carefully at the terms of the [url=http://www.sunlifedirect.co.uk/life-cover/guaranteed-over-50-plan]Sun Life "Over 50 Plan"[/url] which he helps to market?

There is what appears to be [url=http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2532017] something of a horror story on MoneySavingExpert.com[/url] at the moment.

If the facts are as given, does Sir Michael feel comfortable with the manner in which an elderly man, now deceased, was treated?

alzeimers

halifaxparky — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:18:03 GMT

My dad is well into the that awful of deceases Alzeimers. Hes nearly 80, had for about three years, its sheer hell for him, and torture for us who care. Physically hes fit and strong, but the mind of man for whom youve loved and looked up throughout the years is practically dead. For all the people who help people like my dad I am truely greatful.

Dignity in Care Training

GNCS — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:18:53 GMT

Hi,

I would like to offer training and education to healthcare professionals on the subject of "Dignity in Care".

GNCS are the largest national healthcare training company in the UK teaching over 3000 healthcare professionals every month in specialist subjects. We provide training to many of the large Care Home Groups such as Southerncross, Fourseasons, Leonard Cheshire, Barchester, Care UK to name a few and I feel we are well placed to really make an impact to improve the knowledge and confidence of healthcare professionals by providing "Dignity in Care" Education.

In order to do this GNCS need your feedback and thoughts to enable us to provide the best possible training.

If you have any ideas, would like to teach this subject, offer expert advice, or just want to be involved please get in touch.

I am aiming to start offering this training to Healthcare Professionals in Early April across the UK and your feedback and support would be much appreciated.

Thanks for reading,

Chris Aitken

gordon brown

mikerosenberg — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:31:25 GMT

sorry I seem to have posted this under the elderly forum...was not a deliberate error!!!! shows my own dementia problems

GORDON BROWN INTERVIEW

mikerosenberg — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:29:55 GMT

Would love to hear views on the Piers Morgan interview of Gordon Brown on ITV. Its easy to be ubercritical and cynical about politicians who chose to bare their soul three months before an election but this was such an obvious attempt to win our hearts and minds with the help of good editing using wistful and teaful chots of Sara that even trying to be charitable I found it hard to see it as anything more than a political PR exercise. Will we now see the other two leaders or indeed Nick Griffin shortly in similar stunts?

Interested to hear others comments

TV channel for dementia sufferers and other elderly people

vidirisi — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:52:49 GMT

As one of millions of people who has seen elderly relatives moved into care homes, one of the most upsetting things I have found is the inappropriateness of TVs showing regular television channels in these environments. For example my mother in law when in late stage dementia was frightened about bombs in the building, and I suspect that this was triggered by a TV news article. This gave rise to a thought. If we provide children's television (CBBC and CBeebies), why not create a TV station for the mentally impaired elderly (which might also find a wider audience among parts of the general elderly community). This TV station could show films from the viewers' earlier days, music programmes from the past, gentle current programmes e.g. on flower shows, and have news bulletins with content managed to minimise exposure to upsettting stories (in the same way that children's TV news does - or at least did in the days when I watched it, thanks to John Craven).
Vidirisi

NHS Health Care

Arthur — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:20:19 GMT

At 76 no training on the pc I hope I an oa the right page, I have been on prostrate surveillance since 2003 with a PSA of 5.3 november 2008, In 2007 I had extreem pains in the biceps and taken to hospital they said it was a heart attack after many test and months later I was refered for triple heart bypass, October 2008 I had an appointment for Prastrate Biopsy I am told my PSA is 5.3, Appointment 2nd February I am now told my PSA is 7.6 following the heart opperation treatment is restiricted because of his pelvic pain?, I have informed all concered of my abbdomen colon rectum pain anus sore after defecation NO ONE WILL GIVE AN OPINION, I would like to ask Mr Parkinson having looked into some problems with the NHS how do you obtain an independent medical opinion in th UK or some one else may advise me.

Need proper aids to help maintain dignity

jenny — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:06:48 GMT

hello

After being a nurse all my life i realized thier was a great need for this new dignity saving item i designed.I designed registered it copyrights protocols then ran out of money,but my word then on the news i saw micheal and his campaign ,silly but i really had,nt noticed before that anyone cared[sorry].

So if you want to invest micheal or friend make some money and donate to the cause,contact me please,,,,jennyheeney@hotmail.com

106 byear old Louisa watts evicted from her care home in freezing conditions

Whereforcare — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:52:52 GMT

Unfortunately, we can talk about Dignity in Care until the cows come home, but stories such as this one show the reality of how our society treats our elderly. Disgraceful.

http://where4care.com/?p=419

Training

GNCS — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:03:54 GMT

Training for Healthcare professionals is readily available and I would like to express my thoughts as to why healthcare providers struggle or have issues with care.

One of the major problems is that care staff do not have sufficient knowledge when dealing with service users who suffer from Dementia, this lack of knowledge does not give care staff the confidence and therefore leads to issues and problems with care.

However, there is training available, I provide it! The lack of training is very well documented and care providers are aware it is an issue, not just in dementia. More care is being pushed out into the community and care staff are being asked to deal with more complex issues, which with "basic" training and knowledge will go along way to improving the care for service users who are either self funding or government funded.

My company offers training on a large number of specialist subjects, i am not plugging my company but only making people aware that if the care providers do not feel they need the extra training, which is what i offer, not the mandatory training/ minimum standard training, they will generally opt out of this training.

For example, I have only just completed a mailshot last week to over 8000 nursing and residential care homes throughout the UK informing them of the Dementia Training which my company will be providing in 2010. This training is taught by Dementia Care Specialists, has been viewed and recommendations have been made to improve the training by the Alzheimers Society (Cathy Baldwin, Dementia Training Manager, Alzheimer's Society) and is also affordable £35 per person! I have had 3 enquiries out of 8000+ Nursing and Residential Homes who are interested in this education. What more can I do????

I work with the largest care providers in the UK and I just feel it is an uphill battle, some homes and care groups are excellent and recognise the issues and need for specialist training but for the vast majority aslong as minimum standards are met, it is sufficient. Until the likes of Dementia, Pressure Ulcer Prevention, Care Planning and Medication Administration training are included in the mandatory/ minimum standards, not a great deal will change!

Thanks for reading!

Chris Aitken, MD, GNCS
www.gncs.co.uk

Training

Tillie Baker — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:23:04 GMT

Many thanks for the opportunity to comment on this subject.
While I agree that the government should be promoting much more, the needs of older people, the Dignity in Care campaign is the tip of the ice-berg and I have to say, cynically, I am afraid, more a political move, rather than a real attempt at making a difference. I feel that many of the problems lie in private care homes and home care agencies as well as hospitals.
My career, has spanned 36 years, starting as a pre nursing student at 16, a nurse in hospital and the community, a care manager for a charity and a hospice at home service and more recently as a freelance trainer and care consultant to nursing and residential care homes and home care agencies.
I moved into training of care staff and nurses as I thought this may be the best way to address the issues of poor care and bad practice and in many cases abuse that I have encountered during my both my career and unfortunately the experiences I witnessed with close relatives on at least three occasions.
I have recently developed and begun to deliver a day course, which is very experiential, to demonstrate what is is actually like to be on the receiving end of care. I also encourage and provide ongoing support for one or two members of staff in each training group to become 'Dignity Champions' for their home.
Staff, mainly I have found, have good intentions, but due to lack of motivation, lack of equipment, support and adequate training from the owners of the establishments, are not able or allowed to provide the quality of care we would like to receive ourselves.
Care Managers are often under great pressure from the owners of these establishments to keep costs down, profit being the main incentive. This greed is applied also to recruitment of 'cheap' unsuitable staff, inadequate training which barely meets National Minimum Standards, let alone motivates and supports staff and several other cost cutting methods, too numerous to go into now, but I can supply more than enough details if required.
For example I have trained for an organisation which owns around 750 carer nursing homes in the UK. I asked when carrying out a training exercise with care staff, while they were experiencing helping each other eat a meal and being fed, if they were provided with table napkins for residents. I was given a pack of blue plastic 'bibs', and told that this was the only method they were provided with to protect peoples clothes when eating and drinking. This was the case in all the homes in the organisation. Some 'bibs' were prettier, but they were still 'bibs.'
When I asked how would they feel if they went to a restaurant and the waiter put a bib on them, they all agreed it was not acceptable and had asked managers for linen table napkins but were told they were 'too expensive.'
Residents pay between £800-£1,000 per week to stay in these homes!
The answer is simple really, if you would not like to be treated like this, why should you treat others in this way?
This is just one of examples too numerous to mention - I often despair, but I keep going in the hope that in some small way, I may make a difference.
I believe my training should be mandatory for all who work in the care field. I charge only enough to keep going and cover my costs, but often the owners and managers say they will not even release their staff for training as it is a luxury and not a necessity, required by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). Thus the staff are not even valued enough or treated with dignity, so how can we expect them to pass this on to the vulnerable people they look after?
Training should be mandatory and subsidised by the government to encourage private homes to take it up.

PARKY RADIO 4 ? TODAY

Parkymyfave — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:13:15 GMT

WHEREVER I HEARD HIM TALKING ON THE RADIO ABOUT THE ELDERLY AND THEIR PLIGHT...WONDERFUL!

MY PARENTS AND LATE FAMILY, LIVED TO OLD AGE, BUT ONLY NOW APPRECIATING THE TRIALS. PARKY WAS AND IS AN EMOLLIENT TO ALL.

THANK YOU. HUMBLED.

Help others to find good care

Whereforcare — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:06:22 GMT

Hi there- I've been following Sir Michael's report on Dignity in care with great interest and absolutely agree with his findings- I just hope that those with the power to change this will do so rather than leave it as mere rhetoric.
I have been a dignity champion for the past year, having basically been involved with care of the elderly all my life, from having parents who were psychiatric nurses through to being a carer myself but most especially in the past 18 months when, having previously worked for a large care company and meeting many people who did not know where to start with regards to finding a good care home I did as they say, have a lightbulb moment.
I set up a website called [url=http://www.whereforcare.co.uk]www.Whereforcare.co.uk[/url], where those who have experience of care, such as residents, relatives and visiting professionals can write frank and honest accounts of the care they have experienced in order to help those who are looking to find good care.
What we have struggled with is actually getting the 'word out there' about this website, as not being a famous personality! or delivering a shocking story about the care sector, we have for the most part fallen on deaf ears within the national press, and as a consequence have to work extremely hard to garner reviews of care homes.
We are, I will openly point out a 'for profit' company, in the sense that it would be nice to be able to pay ourselves!, but keep the entire reviewing process completely free for carehomes to respond to (it is of course free for the public) and even an upgraded listing for a carehome on the website is the pretty minimal cost of £90 for the year- so as you can see it is the passion of finding good quality care homes which is the motivator rather than a quest for the big buck!
All reviews are vetted thoroughly before being posted, a process which has resulted in some very red faces within the care industry when care homes have tried to review themselves...
So we are therefore appealing to any of you who have had experience of care homes to please take the time to visit the WhereforCare website and write a review of that care home in order to help others looking for care- you will remember how fraught a process it can be and I'm sure your help would be greatly appreciated!
Alternatively, you can email us on enquiries@whereforcare.co.uk and we will send you a review form which you can print off, fill in and post back to us if that would make the reviewing process easier.

Time to Care

OAP — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:35:21 GMT

Hello all,

I am a consultant in Old Age Psychiatry, and came to the UK in 1998 from India. In my first job as a Junior doctor, I was shocked to see the semicircles of drooling elderly patients arranged around a TV, drooling (that was probably because of the drugs). I subsequently trained as a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry but felt there was a need to do something basic- both in terms of care provided, stigma, staff and believed this could not be done with in the confines of the NHS.

We need to make lifestories and provide proactive care during the course of the dementing illness and put dignity back into care.

There are sufficient numbers of dedicated people willing to do what is right if given a chance.

It's time to Care!

Caring for Elderly Parents

smallfish — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:39:59 GMT

It can be a rewarding mission, a two-way street filled with joy!When your parents grow old and are no longer able to adequately take care of themselves, there are a number of ways to deal with this natural development of aging. Too often, their grown children opt for a nursing home solution, even when they know their parents would prefer to stay in their own home, or perhaps move in with you. It's easy to rationalize this choice. Some kids of aging parents feel they're not qualified to give the proper time and care required in caring for elderly parents. Others feel that such an arrangement will eventually result in discordant relations among family members, or that their own hectic schedules will become unmanageably disrupted. What most people in this position fail to realize is that, instead of being a burden, caring for elderly parents can be a wonderful blessing.

Dementia Care with dignity?

Tillie Baker — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:26:00 GMT

Following on from my 2 previous postings - if any of you have just seen the extremely upsetting, to put it mildly, programme 'Can Gerry Robinson fix dementia care homes' - I rest my case.
The Manager and owners of the home, if I can call it that, where the residents were referred to as goldfish, should be immediately locked in a cold room with no food for a week to see what it feels like to be a resident in their own home.
I just despair - where on earth do we go from here Michael - help please! You are a dignity ambassador.

Carry On Mike

halifaxparky — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:40:27 GMT

We need celebreties like Sir Micheal to voice the concerns for the care of the elderly.

Like Lennox for Aids, McCartney for veggies, and his ex for Land Mines, substitute the celeb for Joe Soap, and these subjects probably would never get the fully publicity.

If it benefits just one sufferer, or saves a bit of the planet, surely this is worthwhile.

Keep it up Mike, you know first hand what its like.

Training - am I wasting my time?

Tillie Baker — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:27:29 GMT

I have just returned home after delivering a third training session this week on dignity in care.

I am exhausted and have a headache!

Not because the participants were not understanding what dignity in care was - they were some of the most hard working, caring people I have ever met. They showed great understanding of what dignity means and I know they work their socks off, to show care and concern for the people they look after. But they were very angry.

Angry because, they know as well as I do, that when they return to work after the training session, they are not allowed to implement what they need to, or anything new they may have gained from my training.

And the reason for this you may ask? Why would anyone be opposed to ensuring a dignity culture is in place in the workplace? Who would send their staff on such training just to tick boxes and look good with CQC inspectors and quality audits? Where were these people from who, like me, feel they are banging their heads against the proverbial brick wall? Who are well aware they are working in situations which are bordering on institutional abuse?

A group of NHS staff who work in acute mental health areas with some of our most vulnerable people. Whose managers are so concerned about statistics and promotion, they have forgotten they are dealing with human beings.

Social services home care staff and staff, who have gone through yet another reorganisation and are putting people to bed at 5pm because there aren't enough staff to manage the workload, even though jobs have been cut.

Staff of all levels from a large group of private care homes whose owners and directors are more concerned with filling beds and making profits than giving their residents a decent meal.

Please will someone help me to get to the people at the top, so that I can ensure they experience for themselves what it may be like to be on the receiving end of this poor and undignified service that is in this country today.
I would love to have the opportunity to do this before I give up this fight altogether.

So called 'Performance Monitoring'

Igor Blimey — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:15:39 GMT

Technically, this is a thread about middle age, rather than old age but this seemed like the most suitable forum to post under.

How many people have reached their fifties and suddenly found themselves frozen out of the job market? It's happening to me at the moment. I've had no full time employment for over 6 years and although I apply for jobs on a regular basis, I've had no more than a handful of interviews in all that time. Why? Because I have to state my age on the application form! Fortunately I am able to get (just about) enough casual work to survive but I've had to cut down on all my expenses. Already, I only use my central heating when I'm freezing cold. I've cut myself down to 1 or 2 baths a week when I used to bathe every day. I turn off all electrical items when not in use and I waste absolutely no food at all. For example I buy bread that doesn't go stale too quickly and almost never throw any food away.

But the real killer is knowing that my income is never likely to improve. At just 54 years of age I'm apparently considered to be 'past it'.

Now as far as I know, it's totally illegal to discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation or age. And yet job application forms routinely demand that you disclose information about all of the above. Okay, they can't ask directly "are you gay?" so they get around it as far as possible by asking "are you single? married? in a long term relationship?" etc etc. Discriminating on any of the above grounds is ILLEGAL so in my opinion it should be illegal to ask for any of that information in a job application - unless it's somehow relevant to your performance of the job. And yet (along with your name and birthplace) your gender, age, race, disabilities and marital status are often the very first questions on the application form.

Employers argue that they do this because it helps them monitor their performance in giving equal opportunities to minority groups but personally, I think this is utter hogwash. I believe that many (in fact, most) employers ask for this information precisely so that they can weed out the older applicants - or the male applicants - or the Jamaican applicants - or Scousers - or whatever else they consider as undesirable.

On a job application form, you should be asked for your surname, your initial, your contact details, your qualifications and your employment history. And maybe (along with criminal convictions etc) you should be asked to disclose any disabilities if they would hinder your suitability for the job. However, your age, birthplace, gender, racial group and everything else should be illegal if they don't directly affect your ability to do the job.

Does that seem too much to ask?

Elderly Abuse & Neglect

Wath — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:51:19 GMT

While I congratulate Sir Michael Parkinson on becoming the countries dignity Ambassador for the Elderly, I wonder what difference this will make to the thousands of elderly people in Hospitals and Care homes who have to endure torture and abuse and neglect on a daily basis?

I have seen what happens to the elderly from two different sides, one as a full time carer for my mother and secondly as a campaigner for carers and the elderly alike, things have not changed in the twenty odd years that I have been involved in this area, all the public keep on hearing is that the government intends to stamp out this abuse and neglect, If this type of thing was happening on a daily basis in places like Great Ormond street hospital for children it would soon be put right by this government or any other for that matter, society no longer values the elderly, children are no longer brought up to respect elderly people, the young are not interested in the sacrifices their grand mothers and fathers made, no elderly person should be afraid of ending up in Hospital or a care home but sadly that is what I am hearing all the time.

I have seen first hand the erosion of Nursing standards, nurses today regard themselves above the basic duties of care such as washing and feeding patients, nurses today because of government interference believe themselves to be on a par with doctors, infact nurses are being given more and more duties that take them away from basic caring duties and this has caused huge problems.

Watching elderly patients being told off because they have soiled themselves is not being treated with dignity, having ones food put out of reach and then having it marked down as patient refused food is not good enough, the cases of dehydration and malnutrition in our hospitals and care homes is growing on a daily basis, something must be done to stop this torture, I use the word torture because If food or water was withheld from people in HMP then things would be sorted out directly and people would lose there jobs.

I dont know what remit Mr.Parkinson has but If he really wants to see what goes on, then he should turn up unanounced at 2 or 3am in the morning on a hospital ward or at a care home, turning up when people know you are turning up is no good, they will just adjust things for your visit.

We only have to look and see how our government treats its pensioners to see how elderly people are valued, How can we expect public employees to respect the elderly when the government or its politicians dont? When there are cases of abuse and neglect then people must lose their jobs, no big pay offs, punishment is what is needed, If one can not be held responsible for the people in your care then what is the incentive to provide a good and decent service.

The elderly have paid a huge price in their lives, they have fought in two world wars, surely they deserve decent care when they need it, the other thing people and government forget is that they have already paid for it.

Good luck Mr.Parkinson but I doubt if your small input will matter one iota, its just another New Labour spin machine at work.

The subject of Euthanasia

halifaxparky — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:58:18 GMT

Highlighted again on Tv this week, as mentioned in Mikes Week in Words. A touchy and a horrible subject to broach upon, but until you are put in such a position, no one can understand the emotions of those involved. Personally Im against it, but I can see the point of relatives who battlecry to legalise it in Britain. Not only those who suffer physically and wish to end their lives but also those who suffer mental illness and at times request they wish to end it all like my dad mentioned at the very top of this subject page. I wont allow him to do it, but one day I may well be sat in his shoes, suffering in the same way

General Attitude to the elderly.

RobertH — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:18:13 GMT

Greetings Mr Parkinson,

may I just take this opportunity to mention that your interviews have given me hours of enjoyment over the years and to this day the Connoly, Dickinson space suit joke still brings a smile to my face.

I strongly believe attitudes have to change and those attitudes need to be changed at governmental level first. It requires people like your self to start speaking out and brining to attention the national disgrace of how this society treats the elderly.

I'm 39 and I dread to think what living in this country as a pensioner in 25 years time will be like. But then again this society doesn't wait until someone is 65 before throwing away the key, no it seems even at 55 your deemed surplus to requirements. The way the UK currently treats the elderly we could see in 20 years time life centres set up where we old people can nip off and get our injection so as not to be a drain on society any more.

When I look around me I see absolutely no services, opportunities, social outlets etc for the mature among us. Oh, but there are a million an done organisations out there providing the young (usually up to 30) with oppurtunities galore. Now Im not saying we shouldnt use our taxes for such things, but anyone can see there a massive bias, but the real damage lies in the message that basically says bank on the young write off the elderly. Its absolutely everywhere in our society so grained in to the conscience that sometimes I'm literally stunned at times how I hear the mature referred to. IF theres one area political correctness attitudes have not grown its with the elderly. In fact without any doubt the ignorance is higher now than its ever been I suspect.

The small amount of age concern organisations need to start getting a bit more political rather than issuing their usual statements of disappointment they need to start saying. "Look, we represent the people whos taxes kept this country going so instead of sending 4 billion in aid to Pakistan put that money in to giving the elderly free fuel. It should be their right anyway after paying taxes all those years. Quite simply this derogatory attitude toward slightly older people with a few decades above the rest of them has to stop.

Caring for carers at breaking point - Advocare helps them not to take 'no' for an answer

Advocare - Caring for Carers — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:28:27 GMT

Dear Sir Michael

Re: Society's 'Shove them in a corner and wait for them to die' attitude

Having read your comment re the above in the latest CareAware newsletter about society's 'shove them in a corner and wait for them to die' attitude I felt bound to bring Advocare - Caring for Carers to your attention in the hope you will be able to help us or can put us on to someone else who might.

Advocare - Caring for Carers is a small charity based in Poole, Dorset and a far as we know the only organisation of its kind in the country dedicated to supporting unpaid carers of frail, sick and disabled loved ones and empowering them to have a free voice. Having become a registered charity last year Advocare is now working towards expanding but needs to remain independent in order to retain its hard-won integrity. Without this Advocare would lose the trust of the carers it speaks and sometimes acts for. For this reason we will not consider being 'bought' with statutory hand-outs, as some not for profit organisations are, just to keep going. I would rather shut down.

In a nutshell, when carers come to us they are usually in distress having tried everyone else. They want to challenge the system but are too afraid of retribution and don't want to rock the boat as it were. With our network we can sometimes open new channels of communication and 'troubleshoot'. Doesn't always work but we have had some incredible successes. To continue the work we do my small team and I need sustainable funding. One way of getting this I'm told might be through sponsorship and are looking for a sponsor who has above integrity and a social conscience. Hence, when I saw your comment in the CareAware newsletter I thought of asking you. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

With kindest regards,

Cathey Gardner (Mrs)

Chief Executive

Advocare - Caring for Carers

Registered charity No. 1126739

Registered office: 4 Hatherden Avenue, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset BH14 0PJ

Website: www.advocare.org.uk/

elderly

goldsmith — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:01:57 GMT

regarding dignity for the elderly, my motherinlaw was recently in queens hospital romford, essex, from there she was transferee to gray's court hospital in dagenham, she is 86 & has a broken hip , in both these hospital (both these hospital's are less than three years old) she repeatedly wet the bed because no body answered her call for a bedpan, so every time two nurse's had to change the sheet's & then have them laundered, she is now back home but how undignified & a waste of money with all the laundering, i wont go into the appalling food, this is a waste of million's of pound's.

dave goldsmith.

p.s don't they realise that they will be elderly one day.

The Cost of Care

halifaxparky — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:46:32 GMT

It was pleasing to hear today, that the Government are formulating Plans to alter the current system of cost Care. Hopefully this will end patients and their relatives having to fork out huge sums of money and in some cases the selling of their homes to fund the care they receive. Hopefully the means testing system will end. These days the elderly are living longer, and they require care which dosent come cheap if your in a private run or even council backed home. These hard working people of yesteryear deserve the best. Unfortunatley all the help and funding is centred around the young drug taking fools who have never worked but have their habit or so called cure for their habit funded by our government without question.

how can Michael Parkinson endorse axa sunlife who con and use the elderly

jeffiestyn — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:48:58 GMT

Shame on Michael Parkinson for advertising Axa Life- he should be warning people against them My mother joined Axa Life when she was 79 paying £14.00 a week, she has to keep paying yet is only guaranteed £1125.00 on her death- cancelling would render her with £350.00, she has no option but to continue giving Axa Life £14.00 a week for their coffers.

Luckily she didn't join when she was 50.

The Courageous Terry Pratchett

halifaxparky — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:00:43 GMT

Good but sad programme aired by BBC last night. Terry desperatly trying to find a cure for his alziemers which he contrated a year ago at the age of 60. Terry travelled from his home to the U.S and back to Aberdeeen for some crumbs of comfort. meeting researchers and scientists who appear to come up with an alleged cure every month. He accepts he will get the full blown condition along the line, even though he will continue with his master writing skills. Terry spent some time on the care side of the subject, visiting a care home in the USA, which resembled a 5 star hotel as opposed to some British run Institutions. One American expert Ed Tobinik, even swears he can releive the illness with an injection to the base of the brain.

I pray for a similar quick solution over this side of the pond

Barnsley General Hospital

MartinM — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:31:30 GMT

Dear Michael, I do hope you are enjoying your sojourn to Aus..

While visiting the UK (I live in the USA now) we had cause to call an ambulance for my father in law (age 77) who was taken to Barnsley General A&E, apparently the busiest A&E dpt in the country.

The paramedics and ambulance people that arrived during a snow storm were brilliant, very professional and caring, same goes for the staff in A&E, excellent training fantastic attitudes.

It took 4 hours and some keen negotiation by the A&E staff to get a place on the admissions ward, this was full of aged people, some of whom could not get a bed on a ward, and some who were in hospital because they were afraid and lonely back at home.

He is my problem Michael, the NHS is simply not equiped to deal with the needs of the elderly, from my observations the staff are truly angels but they are human and are faced with impossible odds and situations due to the volume of demands and number of patients.

We have to step up the care for the elderly so that they do not end up in hospitals in the first place, many are simply afraid of being alone, afraid of not having the money to pay for proper care or just lonely as family are unable or unwilling to help them. I don't have the answer but I am not sure if anyone is actually looking at a solution.

Thanks

Martin

i dont beleive michael should take the blame for the insurences.

jenny — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:04:15 GMT

i dont beleive michael should be blamed for axa insurance,your passing the buck

we all take responsability for are OWN actions.

How ever i do see that elderly insurers are linning thier pockets.My mother has been paying for 15 years she will get funeral costs,in saying that thou im not sure which company she is with.

AXA Sun Life Funeral Expenses Insurance

NielStuart — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:01:46 GMT

I was quite dissapointed to receive an invitatation from AXA Sun Life endorsed by Michael Parkinson just before my 52nd birthday encouraging me to take out insurance to cover my Funeral Expenses, so my family did not have to worry.

I would have thought Michael was well off enough not to get involved in this type of tacky scaremonger type advertising.

Michael perhaps you would like a card each year from me pointing out how near death you may be.

Neil.:angry: