Updated and Improved National Entitlement Card for Older People Due to be Introduced Autumn 2016

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If you are over 60 years old and your card has the OneScotland logo, a new style card will automatically be sent to your registered address before your current one expires. You don’t need to do anything.

Your current card may not be due to expire for several months however, new cards are being sent to everyone in advance of this and you should destroy any old bus passes now to avoid confusion.

The new style card has the mygovscot logo – replacing the One Scotland logo - see illustrations

You will notice that the new style over 60s card no longer has a valid to date. This means it is now a card for life. Cards issued on the grounds of disability will continue to display a “valid to” date.

If your current card has the mygovscot logo, then you already have the new card and will not need a replacement.

Card replacements
Please check that the photograph and personal details on your new card are correct.  If any are not, or if this card is for someone who is no longer at the address, telephone the number on the back of the card to report this. When you receive your new card you need to start using it immediately and destroy any old cards you have.

Changing the Way We Care Free Conference for Older People in Dundee 13 March 2014

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Dundee's dynamic Celebrate Age Network are holding a consultative conference for older people in the city on Thursday afternoon 13 March 2014 1.30 –4.30pm. Venue Baptist Church, Ward Road, Dundee.

This free event will provide older people in Dundee the chance to give their views directly to social work, health and housing about how they want services delivered.
Register your interest in attending now by contacting Hazel Imrie telephone (01382) 305741. Please tell Hazel if you need transport to get to the event.

International Day of Older People 2013 - The future we want: what older persons are saying

Today is International Day of Older People. The theme this year is:
 “The future we want: what older persons are saying”. 

People are living longer and 23% of the UK will be aged 65 and over by 2035. In the UK we are celebrating the huge contribution that older people make to our society. 

I think more folk living longer should be celebrated as a medical achievement rather than as a social problem.

Take the opportunity of celebrating this International Day of Older Persons by voting on what is most important for you and your family. 

Join the global vote and register your priorities.

Older People in Broughty Ferry Had Their Say

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Last Wednesday afternoon, a group of older people from Broughty Ferry attended a consultation event held at the YMCA in Brook Street.

The event was organised by a new team of Community Engagement Workers who have been funded through the Reshaping Care for
Older People Fund. They are based at at The Volunteer Centre in Dundee.

I attended in a dual capacity as both a Ferry Councillor and an older person.

During the afternoon folk were invited in small groups to have our say about our area over a cup of tea. More specifically, we were aksed what we liked about our area, what we would like to see improved in our community and most importantly, how we could help to achieve this.

It was a productive and interesting afternoon which was helpfully facilitated by the Community Engagement Workers.

Follow Up Event - Date for Your Diary
On Wednesday 15 May 2-4 pm there will be a Feedback Event to hear what was said about growing older in The Ferry.

Older Ferry Folk Have Your Say! Communities in Action Event Wed 13 March 2013 2-4pm YMCA Broughty Ferry

Older people living in Broughty Ferry have been invited to have their say about their area over a cup of tea. 

On Wednesday 13 March, 2013 2-4pm they will be welcome to come along to the YMCA in Brook Street. They will be asked about what they would like to see improved in their community and most importantly, how they could help to achieve this?

A new team of Community Engagement Workers for Dundee are based at The Volunteer Centre in Dundee. This new team have been funded through the Reshaping Care for Older People Fund. They will be working closely with older people in the city to help to develop the capacity of communities to better support older people to remain in their own homes for longer. They are organising this event and look forward to meeting older Ferry folk on that afternoon. 

The target audience is older people, however, they are not excluding any age groups as it’s a public involvement event and they believe it would be good to hear an intergenerational perspective.

There is no charge for this event. 

Further details please contact: 
Email GillBain@number10.org
Email PatGreenhough@number10.org
Email Philippa@number10.org
Tel     01382 305758

Welfare Rights and Wrongs for Older People in Dundee

At the Policy and Resources Committee last night we considered a report, "Hospital Fund and the Johnston Bequest",  which recommended that:
"..... a budget of £25,000 be provided from the Hospital Fund and Johnston Bequest to pilot a targeted welfare benefit advice service for older people in Dundee 2013/14."

What could be controversial about such a proposal at a time when, according the Department of Work and Pensions, 1 in 6 pensioners in Dundee are living on a low income? Additionally, that group of older people in our city will be finding their incomes severely squeezed by significant rises in their day to day living costs for essentials such as food and fuel. It is also widely recognised that as the benefit system is turned on its head, some of our older citizens will need help to navigate their way from one set of cash benefits to another and with submitting Internet only applications for government cash benefits. Furthermore, we know that our existing welfare rights advice agencies in the city are already under pressure.

While most Councillors were satisfied with reassurances that the new focus for some of the resources from these funds was legally acceptable, Liberal Democrat Councillor Fraser Macpherson, moved against this proposal with an amendment which read:
"I move as an amendment, that there should be no change to the current arrangements whereby from time to time, when funds allow, all 29 Councillors on the City Council are invited to nominate another deserving pensioner for addition to the list of beneficiaries and that the Chief Executive should be instructed to investigate the possibility of funding a pilot welfare advice service for older people in Dundee ass part of the process for setting the 3013/14 Revenue Budget."

In a nutshell, Councillor Macpherson, supported by Conservative Baillie Scott, wanted to keep the status quo whereby periodically, all 29 City Councillors were asked to nominate a deserving pensioner in their ward for an annual lifetime 'pension' of £70.

I thought that, in the context of the Fairness Strategy for Dundee which the Council had previously adopted, this proposal was a creative and constructive way of using some of the resources from these bequests, to benefit a wider number of older people. Furthermore, this proposal has the prospect of adding a more significant sum to many, not just a few, pensioners' pockets. 

The amendment by Councillor Macpherson (West End), supported by Conservative Baillie Scott (The Ferry) was defeated by 26 votes to 2.

New Listening Ear Service for Older People Welcomed

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There is a new telephone helpline, Dundee Information and Advocacy Helpline for Older People (DIAL-OP). This new service for older people and their carers in Dundee opened in August.

DIAL-OP information helpline is a fantastic resource which aims to help signpost callers to agencies and organisations that can help provide them with more detailed and accurate information in relation to their enquiry or concern. They also aim to be a practical point of contact for vulnerable and isolated older people who may not have anyone to talk to about their concerns, or perhaps a caller may be apprehensive about discussing certain issues with family and relatives. In a nut shell; if it matters to the caller, it matters to DIAL-OP.

DIAL-OP have ten friendly, local volunteers, who are keen to support callers to the service by providing ‘a listening ear’. All callers are accepted without prejudice and encouraged to talk and explore their options. 

The Dundee Information and Advocacy Line for Older People (DIAL-OP) service is provided Monday to Friday from 10am-1pm  (01382) 305757
Outwith those hours they have an answering service which is checked daily as well as an e-mail address: Dial-op@diasdundee.org

Cautious Welcome for Proposed New Sheltered Housing Development

Yesterday the City Council Planning Department confirmed that, under delegated authority to planning staff, Dundee City Council had granted planning permission for a development of retirement housing in land to the north of Arbroath Road in The Ferry.


The development comprises 60 homes for older people in a courtyard development that incorporates a former steading.


The site is on the northern edge of Broughty Ferry between the A92 Arboath Road and Drumsturdy Road just north of the Dighty Burn.


In their application the developers refer to this as "new build supported living community comprising 60 flats and communal facilities."


While many aspects of the development seem well designed and carefully conceived, I do wonder whether this is an ideal site for what is apparently a sheltered housing development? The relative remoteness from the shops and other services in central Broughty Ferry and the lack of a local shop mean that the residents would be reliant on their own transport or the developer's promise to provide a minibus service to central Broughty Ferry until a bus service is established. 


I also have questions about any large scale housing developments in Broughty Ferry and the capacity of our local public services to cope with increasing levels of demand for drainage, doctors and social care.

Link to more information about this planning application that preceded the granting of planning permission.

Open Day Success at Age Concern Broughty Ferry

This morning I attended the Open Day at the Age Concern Centre in Central Broughty Ferry at  343 Brook Street. I received a very warm welcome from Centre staff, committee members and volunteers. 
This was also a great opportunity to meet representatives from a variety of other public and voluntary organisations that provide services for older people in Dundee including The Ferry.  
It was a particular pleasure to meet the Chairperson of the Dundee branch of Contact the Elderly, Ferry resident and retired GP, Dr Shirley McEwan. She explained to me that she organises regular Sunday afternoon tea parties which are held in private homes for people over 75, who live with little or no social support. The afternoons are full of fun and laughter and make a real difference to the lives of their guests who are picked up and dropped off by volunteer drivers. 
What a simple yet wonderful service to provide!
Further details and local contacts can be had from:
Morna O'May
East of Scotland Development Officer Contact the Elderly in Scotland
telephone 01786 871264 email morna.omay@contact-the-elderly.org.uk

Coincidence of Death of Five Residents at Orchar Nursing Home

The deaths of five residents of the Orchar Nursing Home, within the space of two days, are being investigated by Tayside Police.
A man aged 74 and four women aged 81, 88, 90 and 91 all apparently died between Sunday 25 and Monday 26 March at the Orchar Nursing Home in The Ferry. A spokesperson for Tayside Police said it was making enquiries into these five deaths.

Inspiring Exhibition at Forthill Sheltered Housing Lounge

Yesterday morning I spent a most enjoyable hour at the Art Exhibition at Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex in Forthill Drive. The annual exhibition features paintings produced by members of the Art Class that runs at the lounge once a week. In the photo you can see Joe Murray one of the artists standing in front of several of his paintings. 
I particularly appreciated the autumnal woodland scene painted by Julie Duncan. She told me her inspiration came from a visit to the Enchanted Forest near Dunkeld last Autumn. I only held back from snapping it up by the lack of vacant wall space at home to hang more paintings.

I think the most significant thing about the class is that here are a group of senior citizens actively involved in developing or rediscovering their creativity. This is the kind of older age I think we would all aspire to.
It's clear to me that many older people need much more than caring services; given the opportunity, like these residents, they will readily engage in challenging learning and development pursuits and activities.

Food Train Dundee - Supporting Older People at Home

Food Train is a a new service for older people who live within the city boundary in Dundee. 

Food Train's shopping service is a simple process; customers complete a blank shopping list which is collected by volunteers. Help can be provided for any customer unable to write their own shopping list. All the orders are handed into a local supermarket and orders are made up up on a nominated day fresh for delivery by Food Train volunteers on that day. The shopping is delivered in a box which is unpacked by the volunteers who will put things away if needed. 

The customer pays for the shopping plus a delivery charge of £3. To access the service, customers must be unable or have difficulty getting their grocery shopping. Customers can self-refer or be referred by anyone. There are no forms to fill in and the service can begin immediately. Customers use the service weekly, fortnightly, monthly and short term or long term to suit there own needs. Each customer pays £1 per year membership to join the scheme.

There are also opportunities for volunteers aged 16+ who may gain accreditation for their volunteering.
Food Train is a charity with funding support from Dundee City Council.

I am sure many constituents in Broughty Ferry will find this a vital and helpful service.

For more information or to join the Food Train:

Contact Grant Symons at Food Train 01382 459202