This post was contributed by Dianne Jeffery, chair of the Malnutrition Task Force and Chairman of Age UK.
This week is Meals on Wheels Week, a great initiative that brings the care sector together to raise awareness about the importance of Meals on Wheels services.
No one should doubt the importance of Meals on Wheels. Since 1943, the year of its introduction, the service has always played an integral role in the care of the elderly and most vulnerable in society.
This blog was contributed by Dianne Jeffrey, Chairman of Age UK and member of the Age International Board.
As well as being the Chair of Age UK, I am also on the Board of its subsidiary charity,Age International. I believe passionately that people in later life all over the world deserve our support. That is why I am proud that Age International is helping older people in more than 40 developing countries around the world, including the Philippines after the devastating Typhoon Haiyan.
When disasters strike, people ask me three main questions:
1.Will aid be delivered?
Yes it will. I have had the privilege of seeing our work in action. We work through local partners who know the situation on the ground better than anyone else. We have strict monitoring and evaluation procedures in place, so we know money will be used correctly. In the Philippines, we are working through our
Help Age International beneficiary Francesca Genemilo , 78, at a HAI food distribution camp. She has diabetes but no access to medicine , her husband who is also ill is taking shelter at the local clinic even though it has no staff.”Because he is old the medical services think it is not an emergency”
This blog was contributed by Dianne Jeffrey, Chairman of Age UK and Co-chair of the Commission on Improving Dignity in Care.
Dianne Jeffrey CBE DL, Chairman of Age UK and Co-chair of the Commission on Dignity in CareI have always been clear that dignity and compassion must be at the heart of our health and care system.
This is why, in June last year, the Commission on Improving Dignity in Care for Older People (made up of, Age UK, NHS Confederation and the LGA) published its report, Delivering Dignity. It was the culmination of hundreds of written submissions and oral contributions from experts, clinicians and patients. In this report we set out a raft of recommendations for changing the way we design and deliver care as the numbers of older people who need care continues to grow. Continue reading “Older people deserve better care in hospitals and care homes”