Public health news: Age friendly communities

Public health news: March 2024

South Tyneside Council started their age friendly journey with the Centre for Ageing Better in March 2022.

''Age-friendly communities are places where people of all ages can live healthy and active lives. These communities make it possible for people to stay in their homes, participate in the activities that they value and contribute to their communities, for as long as possible.''

A local baseline survey was completed in April 2023. The results were shared at four events across the borough, where residents, community organisations, and service leads had the opportunity to validate the survey findings (October 2023).

A JSNAA (Joint Strategic Needs & Assets Assessment) and an Age Friendly Communities Strategy & Action Plan were approved by the Health & Wellbeing Board in January 2024.

The next step is to finalise indicators for each of the eight themes, so we can measure progress over the next four years.

Actions include:

• Co-producing an age friendly checklist and undertaking accessibility audits, beginning with the Town Centre.
• Improving the process for claiming travel reimbursement for hospital visits.
• Ensuring that there is sufficient appropriate age friendly housing provision.
• Embedding the age friendly employee pledge.
• Celebrating older people, including the promotion of Action without Limits on 20 March 2024.

In this campaign we highlight that ''Ageism is the prejudice that's hidden in plain sight".

It's embedded in our society and even accepted as normal by those of us who are older.

We see and hear casual ageism every day in the media, on TV, at work, in pubs, on social media, in family conversations. 

It doesn't have to be this way.

Thinking negatively about ageing and older people has been accepted and ignored for too long.

The three year campaign will use advertising, PR and social media to spark debate and conversation about what ageism is and to challenge the way we all think about ageing.

Dementia friendly book launch

Open Ended Books has announced its first dementia friendly title.

Bewick Tales: Stories from the Life and Work of Thomas Bewick by Sarah Lawrance and designed by Wendy Lewis is out on 21 March.

Open Ended Books is a new publishing initiative from Equal Arts, a creative ageing charity.

Titles will focus on living in the moment and what people can achieve, rather than relying on reminiscence.

Equal Arts aims to bring creative opportunities to older people and those living with dementia, including creating dementia friendly books inspired by culture and creativity.

The books are designed to be accessible with illustrations and a narrative that connects with readers.

The accessible layout, design and narrative was created after Equal Arts and author Sarah Lawrance consulted people living with dementia.

Equal Arts ceo Douglas Hunter said: "Our work is based on the Dementia & Imagination model and the benefits creativity can bring. There is a significant gap in resources for people receiving a dementia diagnosis".

"We aimed to make an uplifting, accessible book that provokes curiosity, imagination and conversations between readers, their friends and family. Open Ended Books focuses on the here and now and what people can achieve rather than the past and what has gone."

Gill Taylor, from East Durham, received a dementia diagnosis in 2012 and took part in the process. She said: "With dementia we lose our short-term memory, but you don't lose your intelligence, that desire to learn and stretch yourself doesn't go away.

"If reading has become frustrating and you don't know these books are available to you, there's the risk people will stop reading, stop doing something they've always enjoyed. People living with dementia can do so much and books like Bewick Tales can support people to continue reading for pleasure and provide the opportunity to continue learning."

 The book draws on the life and work of artists and engraver Thomas Bewick.

It features a story on every spread, inspired by visits to Bewick's birthplace of Cherryburn, Northumberland, and his wood engraved illustrations.

Andrew Newman, professor of cultural gerontology at Newcastle University, said: "We are all part of networks of caring relationships. Just as a family member will care for someone living with dementia, they in turn care for that family member. At times relationships can change with the progression of dementia.

Bewick Tales provides a way for people to connect and communicate which is hugely beneficial for wellbeing."

The book was made possible with funding of £30,000 from Innovate UK's Create Growth Fund and National Lottery Heritage Fund, with the support of the National Trust at Cherryburn, The Bewick Society and Newcastle City Library.

Find out more at Equal Arts: Open Ended Books.