Our Director Sheree Green writes:
We join today with people across the globe to mark the UN International Day of Older People. The aim is to raise awareness of the challenges faced by older people and to encourage communities to offer support and help address these difficulties.
For many older people, loneliness can become all-consuming and have a serious impact on their health and well-being. According to Age UK, 1.4 million older people in the UK are often lonely.
When the Mental Capacity Act 2005 was implemented, I came across a sad example of an elderly woman making an unwise decision. The woman was visited weekly by her granddaughter. The granddaughter regularly took cash from the woman’s handbag when her back was turned. The woman knew this was happening, and understood her granddaughter was stealing from her, but she let this continue. Her rationale? She was lonely, and she enjoyed time with her granddaughter. For this woman, the financial loss was secondary.
Maybe today is an opportunity to reflect on how we might share our time with an older person – in our family, our friendship group or our neighbourhood. Make today truly special for someone.
