[Edinburgh-carecampaign] no subject

[Marlyn Tweedie]

Reminder  Panorama   Mon. 24th August  '09     - 8.30pm   On struggles of
elderly people re. losing their wardens in sheltered housing schemes
Should be worth watching.

Unfortunately it clashes with a talk at this year's Book Festival    "Age
and Society"   Talk is led by Irma Kurtz and chaired by Sheena McDonald.
The description talks of how, in ten years time, over half the UK population
will be over 55; how medicine ensures that most of us can live into our
80's  But what is the role of older people? do they have one?
Irma investigates growing old - it's pleasures and griefs and questions how
society will deal with the dilemma of  ageing.

An interesting relevant talk.  Unfortunately we know how society is dealing
with the needs of an ageing population.  Their priority is to privatise and
offer these needs to Co.'s that can make a profit out of them.Not meeting
even basic physical needs is a consequence of this UK wide  - indeed Europe
and Canada wide policy.

If meeting basic physical needs aren't a priority, then we can forget
society meeting emotional, social, spiritual needs.

In Eve. News Wed. Aug 19th , there's an article"Council Chiefs Spend £15,000
a day on Consultants" The total bill is £5.5million   - a 4% fall on
previous year. The Dept of Health and Social Care spent £31,284 in 2008 and
*£136,911 in 2009*
So when other Dept.s were spending less they were spending more
This was to employ David Bolton and Gerry Graham to modernise the homecare
service.

>From their point of view, of course, it's money well spent. Their
modernisation programme is saving money.  But we know the cost in terms of
need,quality of care; conditions and pay of staff in the private sector
(not that Council pay and conditions are great for homecarers)
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