Hello, my name is Andrew Senew. With my wife Joanna and our amazing team of 100 caring and compassionate people we run Home Instead, providing companionship- based homecare to older people in Edinburgh. Your Director – Maureen – asked me if I would share some of our recent experiences and thoughts on the future. None […]
Thinking About Prefixes
For some obscure reason known only in the deepest recesses of my mind, I have been thinking about words with prefixes. Words like distribute, arrange, invent, create, align, possess, upholster, fuel, are all enriched and enhanced by the prefix, ‘re.’ Of course, not all words that start with, ‘re’ gain from its inclusion, words like […]
A new way of living
Introduction My husband had a stroke seven years ago which destroyed speech, all of the use of his right hand, and some of the power of his right leg. Fortunately, his cognitive ability was unimpaired. We were forced together to find ways in which we could understand each other, and new ways in which to […]
Stepping Up: Responses of Community groups
One of the strong, positive features of life over the past few months is the response of community groups, as people step up to provide practical help and a social connection to those in their communities who might need that support. Faith groups are often part of it, providing volunteers and practical resources to make […]
An Intergenerational Perspective
I work for an intergenerational charity in Scotland called Generations Working Together. We aim to bring younger and older people together, to encourage projects where younger and older people mix and to support our members to connect our communities together. We do this because bringing younger and older people together tackles loneliness, isolation, and ageism […]
James Houston Center for Faith and Successful Aging
Dear Scottish and English friends I am so grateful to Maureen for this giving me this chance to share some thoughts about the James Houston Center for Faith and Successful Aging (www.jameshoustoncenter.com). But before I do, I want to take this opportunity, during this season of caregiving amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to thank Maureen and […]
Community Belonging – Lessons from lockdown
I’m fortunate to have two part time jobs. I work as a research assistant at the University of Edinburgh with “bold” (Bringing out Leaders in Dementia) project and, I am also the family and community development worker with my local Church of Scotland. I had started attending the church in January 2019 and started my […]
Looking after ethnic minority older people during the Corona-19 pandemic in Scotland
The corona virus pandemic has changed the world as never seen before. It has meant that the Scottish Government has had to move quickly to put plans in place to ensure that those at risk who are being asked to self-isolate, are protected and not forgotten. The government has announced various funding opportunities to deal […]
A Powerful Reunion
Around 1998 I was a home visitor for a project supporting older people. As part of this I visited a woman who I’ll call Edie. Edie had married late in life, having bumped into the man of her dreams on a weekend away to mark her retirement. She and Alf had been happily together for […]
Locked-in, lucked out ….
Since the start of the lock-down we’ve had a special kind of music in our house. Not special because of its genre or style. Not reliant on well known composers, singers, or instrumentalists. Not emanating from the stages of respected concert halls or clubs. But a type of music that springs effortlessly from the often […]