Animal Assisted Therapy
Via Independent Living
We pet owners aren’t in any doubt about the therapeutic benefits of our feline or canine companions.
Science agrees with us, as increasing numbers of studies demonstrate the positive contribution made by even quite brief contact with a pet animal.
Lower blood pressure and breathing rates, less depression, reduced pain levels, improved cognition – these are just some of the proven benefits achieved with animal assisted therapy
The National Alliance is delighted to welcome Spotlight YODP, who were approved as members at the November board meeting. Spotlight YOPD aim to be the go-to organization for people with young onset Parkinsons – providing or enabling access to information and support for those diagnosed at a younger age (under 50).
The National Neuro Alliance’s Chief Executive Sarah Vibert has been elected as a trustee of National Voices. In this role Sarah will help set the direction of National Voices, and will be well placed to ensure coordination and collaboration between The Neurological Alliance and National Voices on topics of mutual strategic importance.
Congratulations Sarah!
The patient experience survey will remain open until 17 January. We’re still asking member organisations to promote it across as many communications channels as possible – this is what ensures the best response rates. See more, including comms materials and a survey link, on our webpage on the survey.
The NA team are also in the process of approaching neurology services across England about the roll out of our ‘in clinic’ survey from January. So far the response from clinicians has been very positive. The NA team attended the Association of British Neurologist’s Services Committee meeting where we took the opportunity to seek their support in engaging clinicians.
“New website launched
The new website is up and running. As well as an updated look reflecting our new brand, new features include pages on the National Neuro Advisory Group (which The Alliance co-chairs) and the Neurology Intelligence Collaborative (for which The Alliance provides the secretariat).
A new resource library includes all of our latest documents as well as external publications and data resources.
On 21 November three new trustees were elected to the Board of The Neurological Alliance:
Three trustees stood down:
Adult Social Care Green Paper
You may remember that the Local Government Association launched its own “green paper” on the future of adult social care in the summer, in exasperation at governmental reticence about delivering its own promised consultation.
The LGA received more than 540 responses from individuals and organisations, and says that the government must now make the case for national tax rises – including Income Tax and/or National Insurance – in order to secure the long-term future of adult social care services.
Strategy for our veterans – and consultation (published 14 November 2018)
The Strategy for our veterans sets the principles and aims to continue to support older veterans and establishes the right conditions that will empower and support the newer generation and their wider community. This strategy applies across the spectrum of the Veterans demographic groups.
Looking ahead, this strategy sets the intent for veterans public services across the UK to work towards.
Veterans live across the UK and draw on services from across governments. To reflect this, the Strategy is a UK-wide document, supported by UK, Scottish and Welsh governments. Delivery will look different in each part of the country. However, the support of all governments in the UK means a full commitment to achieving a shared vision and principles and the best outcomes for veterans across the whole country.
Each nation will determine its own means of consultation to support implementation of this strategy. These will seek views on focused questions, to build on the research and engagement conducted to produce this strategy, against a backdrop of what is already delivered.
The Strategy for our veterans: UK government consultation paper for England is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategy-for-our-veterans(also attached).
The associated consultation is online at: https://surveys.mod.uk/index.php/948951?lang=en%20
This consultation is open until 2345 on 21 February 2019. All responses to this Consultation Paper will be analysed and a government report will be published within 3 months of the closing date above. Individual responses will not be responded to.
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Somewhat surprisingly, considering the amount of coverage given to the cost of residential care, most of us are pretty hazy on the details.
The consumer organisation Which? has undertaken research asking people to estimate how much they would have to pay as a private customer for a care home place in their area.
More than half underestimated the cost, by an average of £237 a week – or £12,000 a year.
If we don’t know how much it’s likely to cost, we are probably heading towards financial problems or an inability to access good quality care in later life.
