December 2011 - Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

18 The Shuttle DECEMBER2011
OLDER
PEOPLE’S
CHAMPION
Edited by Ben Greenwood
Winter is upon us and a big freeze
is likely round the corner.
It’s a time to keep an eye out for
elderly or vulnerable neighbours. If
you are worried about people in your
community, there are Council and
NHS services that can help.
The Decent and Safe Homes
(DASH) services provides advice
on how to keep homes warm whilst
keeping energy bills down.
It also offers a free handyman
service for residents aged over 60 or
those getting disability living allowance
(DLA).
Those eligible can apply for small
DIY type repairs to be carried out
including easing doors, fitting door
chains and spy holes or changing light
bulbs and hanging curtains.
Residents can also have a home
safety assessment to look at risks
within the home such as loose carpets,
loose handrails and other trip/
fall hazards.
And Enhanced Housing Options is
a free service for vulnerable residents
especially the elderly and disabled. It
sees residents visited by a Liaison Officers
when they feel their housing no
longer meets their needs. DASH is a
year round service but is exceptionally
important during cold snaps.
The Guidance for Living Over Winter
(GLOW) scheme also refers people
to DASH. Backed by the Council,
NHS and voluntary organisations, it
sees winter advice guidelines issued
to anyone who knows, lives or works
with older or vulnerable people and
can get them extra help.
It has prevented hundreds of unnecessary
deaths and made life more
pleasant for Blackburn with Darwen
residents
Social workers, community nurses,
opticians, GPs and even ambulance
staff have all referred people to
the GLOW scheme.
Once someone agrees to be referred
DASH takes a comprehensive
look at what they need.
Councillor Mohammed Khan, Executive
Member for Adult Social Care,
said: “Bad housing can have a big
impact on health and wellbeing especially
over winter.
“I would also urge people in the
community to keep their eyes open
and check if vulnerable neighbours
are safe and well. It’s our community,
it’s our call.”
Councillor Tony Humphrys, Executive
Member for Housing, said: “Our
‘DASH’ (Decent And Safe Homes)
service ensures that vulnerable residents
live in warm, safe and secure
properties, which do not expose them
to hazards affecting their health and
well being. The service is very much
appreciated by residents.”
Dr Malcolm Ridgway, medical director
at NHS Blackburn with Darwen
Care Trust Plus, said about the GLOW
scheme: “Last winter was particularly
harsh and 240 people were helped
with 642 separate actions. These actions
are likely to have stopped many
people going into hospital and saved
lives.”
For more information on DASH
or GLOW contact (01254) 588822 or
email dash@blackburn.gov.uk
4Councillor Mohammed Khan with Dorothy and Alan McTague
CARERS NEED
CARE TOO
Dorothy urges others to get support they need
By Kate Grieves
Dorothy McTague from Darwen
is reaching out and urging other
carers to get the support they
need.
Her husband Alan (72) has vascular
dementia, which means he has
memory loss and a decreasing ability
to perform tasks in everyday life.
He also suffers small strokes,
which further affect his memory.
It is the second most common
form of dementia after Alzheimer’s
disease in older people.
Alan was diagnosed three years
ago and Dorothy is now his full-time
carer and has been since his condition
deteriorated. He now needs 24-
hour care in all aspects of his life.
She is now trying to help other
carers to get the help they need, and
are entitled to, to help them cope,
through Blackburn with Darwen Borough
Council’s adult social services
and local charities who can offer
support.
RESPITE
Both the Council’s adult social services
and Blackburn with Darwen
Carers Service offer help to carers,
provide respite opportunities and organise
breaks, events and days out.
“The Council
and The Carers
Service have
been absolutely
wonderful.”
- Dorothy McTague
The couple recently
moved back to
Darwen following three
years in the Ribble Valley and
a year in Cumbria, to be closer to
family who live in the area.
Dorothy (69) who has been married
to Alan, a retired builder, for
20 years, said: “The biggest thing I
miss, and I am sure other carers do
as well, is that I have essentially lost
my husband and my best friend.
DECEMBER2011
Lives
“Sometimes you feel you have
no one to talk to and you can feel
very isolated.
“Everyone who meets Alan says
he is a lovely man, and he was always
so kind and wonderful, which
makes it incredibly hard.
“The Council and The Carers
Service have been absolutely wonderful,
at a time when things were
really hard and I really appreciate
every bit of support they offer.
TALK
“You can call them just to talk if
things are getting on top of you and
you feel you can’t cope and they are
so kind and understanding.
“They organise trips out as well
which are really nice.
“They also make sure you know
about your entitlements and how to
apply for them.”
“It has really helped enormously
to be in touch with other carers, who
are going through the same thing.
“I have met some wonderful people
through social services and the
carers service and we go for lunch
and meet up which is lovely.”
Alan also currently spends three
days a week at Spring Bank Court
Daycare Centre in Mill Hill, Blackburn,
which offers activities and care
for mentally or physically frail older
people who live in their own homes
or with a carer.
Councillor Mohammed Khan,
the Council’s Executive Member for
Adult Social Care, said: “The selfl ess
job done by carers all over the borough
needs to be recognised more
and one way of doing this is for them
to access more care through Council
services which can be invaluable.
“I hope all carers in Blackburn
with Darwen will make contact with
adult social services and the carers
service who will be able to offer
them the assistance and help they
deserve.”
“I would like to pay tribute to
those individuals who devote their
time and energy to look after a family
member and friend or love one.
“They have demonstrated out
standing excellence within their fi eld
of work.”
You can also get information on
adult social care services at www.
yoursupportyourchoice.org.uk. Carers
service can be contacted on
(01254) 688440.