MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER - Winter Exerts it's Icy Grip Again

Winter has arrived with a vengeance very early this year. It seems only a very short time ago at the start of the year that we were battling against ice and snow to ensure that all those in our communities who depend on our care and support get the visits they depend on for their health and wellbeing. The weather forecast for the next few days tells of worse weather and plummetting temperatures. Gloucestershire yesterday recorded it's coldest day for a century. The BBC has today been out with our staff on Exmoor reporting on how we maintain our services to vulnerable people whatever the weather.


The beautiful scenes of winter can be exciting for some and terrifying for others. It is a time of anxiety and stress as elderly people struggle to keep warm. For our staff the winter warnings send messages to be ready at all times to cope with the unexpected. Make sure your cars are prepared and that you are equipped well for unwelcome adventures. Much work has been done recently to update our policies and procedures for ensuring the continuity of our services in the event of bad weather. All our bases are prepared and ready for the challenges of winter and with customary excellent communication, teamwork and bucket loads of common sense we will ensure that those who depend on us can continue to do so with confidence.


TAKE CARE, TAKE PRECAUTIONS, STAY WARM! MAKE SURE THE CARE GETS THROUGH!

Location:Southern England

FRIDAY 26 NOVEMBER - A Rising Star has Risen at The Halcon Centre

As the sky darkened this afternoon with the imminent arrival of the first snow of winter I made my last visit of the day (and the week) to the Halcon Centre. This is our excellent respite centre for adults with physical disabilities and long term conditions in Taunton. It was a good chance to catch up with some of the residents, visitors and staff of the centre.


It was my special pleasure to be able to congratulate on his appointment our newly selected Manager (designate) for the Centre, our own Kevin Mellor. I was delighted to be told of Kevin's appointment this week following a fully competitive selection process and against a substantial field of qualified candidates. Kevin has worked at the centre for 12 years and has a deep understanding of our service. His selection as manager owes much to the leadership and management training he has recently undertaken as a member of our "Rising Stars" group of up and coming potential managers from throughout Somerset Care Ltd. He is the first of the group to achieve a full managers post and we all wish him every possible success in his new role, which he will assume fully next month following a period of induction and further training with out interim manager Mike Vickery. We are extremely grateful to Mike for so willingly supporting the Centre for the past few weeks.


CONGRATULATIONS KEVIN AND GOOD LUCK!

Location:Taunton

FRIDAY 26 NOVEMBER - Meeting St John Ambulance Somerset

Back from Plymouth to Taunton in time to meet my afternoon visitors from St John Ambulance Somerset. This proved to be a timely meeting following yesterday's encounter with Crossroads Care (see below). I was interested to learn more about St John's Somerset Carers Support Programme. Much in common here with the work of Crossroads and a good possibility that we may all be able to work together to develop a more joined up service for individuals in need of care and support and their carers across the County.


It was also good to learn more about the St John Community Projects and in particular their visiting Library and Volunteer Support Service to care homes. In addition to providing access for residents to a regular supply of books the service includes volunteer run reminiscence workshops for residents, particularly in dementia care, using life story books and "Memory Boxes". I was pleased to learn that several of our homes, namely Calway House, Moorhaven, Pulsford Lodge and Sydenham House already make use of this service.


Pictured are Ken Griffiths, Library Manager (l) and Ross Young, County Executive Officer (r) with yours truly, mindful of my recent manual handling (loads) update training (Tina please note!), insisting on help in lifting the "Memory Box" full of interesting memorabilia and conversation pieces.

Location:Central Office, Taunton

FRIDAY 26 NOVEMBER - Visiting Acacia Training in Plymouth

Off early this morning, wearing my hat as Chairman of the Somerset Employment and Skills Board, to a meeting at the Skills Funding Agency offices in Plymouth about the South West regional allocation of European Social Fund money to support workforce development and training. All very complex but considerable funding for Somerset at stake, to be negotiated alongside representatives of other counties in the region.

On my way to the meeting I had time to call in to our Acacia Training and Development Training Centre in Plymouth.


It proved a good time to visit as it was the morning of management team update meetings so I was able to catch up with some of the team as they discussed the latest, very positive, state of our training business in Devon and Cornwall. Our management team, as always at this time of year, are busy recruiting learners to apprenticeships and monitoring their progress through our assessment and support staff.


Members of the ATD Plymouth management team (l to r) Jacqui Trainor, Jarod Harvey, Hazel Lessiter and Jim Black.

Location:Plymouth

THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER - New Croft House Progress Meeting

This afternoon I attended a site meeting to review progress on our new Croft House project at Williton. It is wonderful to see the building now weathertight and with work proceeding apace and on schedule for completion next spring. There is no doubt that the new building will offer an excellent home for our residents at the current Croft House to move to next year. It is an impressive structure that occupies a prominent position on the western edge of Williton. Take a look at how it is progressing below.

Location:Williton

THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER - Looking Ahead at the Crossroads

Off to Weston-super-Mare today for a meeting with Crossroads Care. The organisation describes itself as follows:

Crossroads Care is Britain's leading provider of support for carers and the people they care for. We work with over 35,000 individuals and their families, helping carers make a life of their own outside caring. We employ over 5,000 trained professionals, providing flexible services to people of all ages and with a range of disabilities and health conditions.

My meeting was with the Chairman of Crossroads Care South West, John Oldham (centre below) and Crossroads Trustee Paddy Fitzgerald (left). We were also joined by Christine Holland, CEO of Crossroads South West and our own Director of Community Services Eoin Keogh.


Our discussion was an interesting exploration of how in future closer links might be built between Somerset Care and Crossroads Care for the benefit of the people for whom we provide services and their families. The objectives of both organisations are complimentary and we share common purpose and values. Could we do a better job for those we serve by working more closely together? I need little persuading that we could.

For further information see www.crossroads.org.uk. Let me and others know what you think by posting a comment below.

Location:Weston-super-Mare

WEDNESDAY 24 NOVEMBER - Welcome to our world!

My pleasant task today was to welcome our newly appointed manager colleague to Central Office. Tricia Oliver assumed her appointment as Manager of Wessex House in Somerton last month and today was my opportunity to spend some time with her as part of her induction day at Central Office. Tricia is a very experienced nurse and care home manager and is enjoying settling in at Wessex House. We discussed the key place that the home plays in the community of Somerton and within the Somerset Care Group as one of our larger nursing homes.


It was a pleasure on behalf of the Board and all her colleagues in the Group to welcome Tricia to the Somerset Care family and to wish her every success in her appointment.

Location:Taunton

TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER - Celebrating the work of Team Torbay

Setting off this morning under heavy wintry skies and plummeting temperatures I headed south and west in search of more cheerful weather on the English Riviera. Sure enough by the time I arrived in Torbay the sun was shining brightly. My first visit was to the Torbay office of Somerset Care at Home and a chance to catch up with the staff team at their office in central Torquay. Our domiciliary care contract with the Torbay Care Trust dates from 2006 and over the past 4 years we have been steadily building our business and our reputation in the Bay area. We are now well regarded by our commissioning partners and most importantly by our clients, who clearly value the excellent services of our staff team.


The Somerset Care at Home Offices in Torquay.

This afternoon I joined with Board colleagues and we celebrated the achievements of our Care Team at our own Torbay Care Awards event. It is always a genuine pleasure to be able to spend time with our wonderful front line staff and to be able to thank them for the fantastic job they all do. At our event today we were joined by several of our clients and by members of the commissioning team of the Torbay Care Trust. Both groups spoke very highly of the standards of care our team continually adhere to. They are a magnificent team who work closely together to ensure that everyone we support gets the best possible service every day of the year.


Our award recipients.

In a close knit team where everyone more than pulls their weight it is always difficult to choose individuals for special recognition. The task of selecting her Operations Manager Award winner fell to Shirley Chapman. After much careful thought Shirley chose two winners who together form our inseparable care planning team of Claire Davies and Sam French.


Special thanks should go to our management team who lead the Torbay base with such dedication, enthusiasm and skill. Their leadership is what binds the staff together into a purposeful and committed unit. Congratulations on all you do and on a great day today to our Manager Tracy Uddin and her Deputy Sally Kenyon.


A TERRIFIC DAY WITH TEAM TORBAY!

Location:Torquay, Devon

FRIDAY 19 NOVEMBER - A new honour for a distinguished public servant.

Many congratulations to our Non Executive Director Chris Davies CBE on his appointment as a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the County of Somerset. This is a rare honour bestowed by Her Majesty The Queen on individuals who have given long and distinguished service to their County.


Chris was appointed to the board of Somerset Care in April 2008, having spent his career in social work and having worked as Director of Social Services for both Somerset County Council and Cardiff City Council. He is also a former President of the Association of Directors of Social Services.

We wish Chris every success with this new role. I wonder if I might have to teach him some sword drill!

Location:Taunton

THURSDAY 18 NOVEMBER - Activity Co-ordinators Buzzing (photos)

For some reason I was unable to upload these photos last week of our Activity Co-ordinator training. Better luck this time I hope!


Our Occupational Therapist and Activities Leader Julia Boon in action.


An energised group of Activity Co-ordinators at Calway House.

Location:Taunton

FRIDAY 19 NOVEMBER - Office fun for "Children in Need"

While closeted in the Boardroom all day for our monthly Board meeting the staff of Central Office were busy raising the excellent sum of £338.00 for "Children in Need"


Congratulations to Kim Wilson (L) for all her inspiration and organisation and to her able assistant Emma Hartland.

Location:Taunton

THURSDAY 18 NOVEMBER - Activity Co-ordinators Buzzing

It was an absolute pleasure today to be able to spend a couple of hours with a large group of Activity Co-ordinators who were attending their annual update and training day at Calway House. There was as always with creative people a real buzz of energy in the air as knowledge was shared and ideas developed. Such training and sharing is of great value as it is on the basis of activities in all our homes and services that our reputation for high quality services depends. Our training day was co-ordinated by our Occupational Therapist and Group Activities Leader Julia Boon.

There was much discussion on how we can continue to explore ways that those we support can be enabled to get as much out of life as possible. Colleagues were reflecting on the recent BBC TV series "The Young Ones" and its powerful message of enablement and empowerment of older people to continue to live their lives to the full and not give in to societal pressure to feel weak just because they are advancing in years.

In my talk, which drew heavily on my recent experiences gained through my Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship and encounters with activities professionals in other parts of the world I discussed the following:
1. Don't just make music in care homes - MAKE A MUSICAL!
2. Hand drumming circles
3. Tell Your Story especially Digital Storytelling
4. The Arts and Older People - drama, dance, song, visual art, crafts
5. Preparation for Somerset Care's 20th Anniversary in January 2011
6. The marketing and sale of the Easy PC system.
7. The increasing professional use of social networking and the intention to establish a Somerset Care Activities Group on Facebook.

It is very important to emphasise the distinction between an Activities Co-ordinator role and that of an Activities Organiser. Our activities staff carry the former title for an reason. Their role is to co-ordinate, stimulate and energise activity in care settings. Organising, planning and running activities is everyone's role, staff, management and residents themselves. Co-ordination is about enabling others to do more for themselves. That was the lesson of "The Young Ones" and it is an important one in the evolution of quality care services.

Good luck with all the Christmas events that are being planned across the Group and it isn't too early to be thinking about how you are going to celebrate the Royal Wedding next year. Now that'll be a good reason to party! God bless the happy couple!

Location:Taunton

FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER - Research into practice with Exeter University

Following the wonderful news that the Somerset Care Group had been recognised for "Outstanding Dementia Research" at the National Dementia Care Awards on Wednesday, I had the opportunity of a previously scheduled meeting today to share the pleasure of this award with our partners at The Department of Psychology at Exeter University. Our close links with the university have been developing over many years and our academic and research colleagues are regularly seen as welcome visitors in our care homes.

The links we have forged with the University are strong and we hope they will strengthen further as we continue to work to understand the psychology of dementia care and ageing services, and to ensure that the results of academic research become embedded within our care practices and our culture of innovation and continuous learning. This was the subject of my discussions today with Professor Alex Haslam and his wife Cath. Alex heads the Department of Psychology and Cath is a Senior Tutor in the Department.


Our discussions were focussed on how we can support the development of care services locally, nationally and internationally by closer collaboration in dementia care research. From the basis of good, evidence based research we recognise the need to work through the care provider and skills and learning communities to ensure that the benefits of the research are translated into high quality front line care and support services. This is an important and exciting agenda that Somerset Care is keen to pursue to ensure we live up to the reputation we now have, and that has been recognised by the "Outstanding Dementia Research" Award.

Do share your thoughts on this important subject by posting a comment.

Location:Exeter

THURSDAY 11 NOVEMBER - Join me in the blogosphere!

Having now been a blogger for a couple of months I am looking forward to a few people joining me in the blogosphere by adding comments to my blog entries. Please don't be shy - it can be lonely out there in cyberspace! It would be reassuring to know that someone is with me! Creating a comment is very straightforward and I would suggest people use “Google Account”.

If you have a googlemail (also known as gmail) email address then this will also be your Google Account name + password. Otherwise you will need to set up a new Google Account.
To sign in or create an account, click on “Sign In” at the top right corner of the blog.

This will open a new page which can be used to create a new account (by clicking “Get Started”) or signing in with an existing account.

When you have signed in, you can leave a comment on the blog by selecting “Google Account” from the drop down list.

By the way you can also,if so minded follow my comments on TWITTER. Log on at the TWITTER site and follow AndrewLarpent.

THURSDAY 11 NOVEMBER - Time to Remember

"They shall grow not old
As we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them"

WEDNESDAY 10 NOVEMBER - Outstanding News from Bournemouth

Tonight comes wonderful news from The 2010 UK Dementia Congress and the first ever National Dementia Care Awards. Somerset Care was recognised in two categories with The "Best Interior Dementia Design" Award going to Grovelands, our care home in Yeovil. This award was accepted on behalf of Grovelands and the Company by Jackie Howells, manager and Natalie White, deputy manager.

Our second success and even more significant was the award for "Outstanding Dementia Research". This recognises the work we have been doing over recent years throughout the Somerset Care Group and in particular our collaboration with the Department of Psychology at Exeter University. We are delighted that Professor Alex Haslam and his team can share in this national recognition of our work. The award was accepted on behalf of the Group by our Dementia Care Advisor Jane Lynch.

This is a tremendous achievement and our congratulations go to everyone in the Group who is involved in this important work. It will help us to redouble our resolve to ensure that the Somerset Care Group continues to work to ensure the best possible support and care for people living with dementia.

WEDNESDAY 10 NOVEMBER - Easy PC and ATD at RCPA

Another day - another conference! Last week it was global, earlier this week it was national and today, arguably the most important, it was local. It was great to see so many of our Somerset managers at the Somerset Registered Care Providers Association (RCPA) Annual Seminar, held this year at the splendid New Pavilion at the Somerset County Cricket Ground in Taunton. An excellent venue.


This was another very good event that was expertly chaired by RCPA Chairman, our very own Alyson Martin. The agenda was focussed on matters of direct interest to the care provider community of Somerset. The morning session included updates on employment law, where there are important new changes for us to watch out for as a result of the Equality Act 2010 (more nice work for lawyers!), on the imminent introduction of the new Qualification Credit Framework (QCF), on the national social care landscape from Des Kelly of the NCF, and on care for people with dementia. In the afternoon session we had updates on the excellent Somerset "Delivering Choice" end of life care programme and on the new complexities of the CQC regulatory regime. More details and contacts for information via the RCPA website at www.rcpa.org.uk.

Our own Acacia Training and Development was a key sponsor of the event and was prominent with an excellent display in the exhibition area.


Our stand was being manned this morning by our colleagues (l to r) Jane Taylor, Mandy Bridge and Pip Tissington. For more on Acacia Training go to www.acacia.ac.uk.

A further important innovation on display at the exhibition was our newly launched Easy PC product, developed and brought to market by our Care Technologist Jason Shaw, and designed as an easy to use customisable domestic PC for older and disabled people to use either in care homes or in their own homes.


This is a tremendous step forward for Somerset Care and Jason deserves our congratulations on a great job in creating the product. He needs help now from managers and staff across the Group to help with marketing and bringing it to the attention of our customers and their families. This should be the perfect Christmas present for families to buy for their elderly relatives. As an entry level product into the care technology market Easy PC is as good as anything I saw in my recent travels in the US where much investment is going into similar developments by large technology corporations such as INTEL.


Now I am conferenced out for a while and, after 3 weeks away, it is good to get back to my desk and to business as usual!

Location:Taunton, Somerset

TUESDAY 9 NOVEMBER - Storms bring flooding woe to Inver House

November gales have been lashing the Isle of Wight today and a combination of heavy rain and high tides have brought flooding problems to our care home Inver House in Bembridge.


This has caused significant disruption to the home and sadly comes just days after remedial and redecoration work was completed after a previous flooding episode. This has posed challenges today for our residents and staff and we were concerned to learn that this had necessitated moves from their rooms of two of our residents. Our management and property teams have been working flat out to deal with the emergency and their efforts to minimise the damage and address the cause of the flooding are much appreciated.

Location:Bembridge, Isle of Wight

TUESDAY 9 NOVEMBER - With Somerset Carers at the NCF Managers Conference

After a long but faultlessly smooth journey back home from sunny Southern California and a short weekend at home with log fires burning to keep out the November gloom, it was off early on Monday morning to the NCF Managers' Conference. The venue was the majestic Tortworth Court Hotel and Conference Centre in South Gloucestershire.


The Hotel has provided the venue for these conferences for several years. The staff look after the delegates very well and many managers comment on the gracious and elegant surroundings and the friendly warm atmosphere of the Hotel. The conference was attended by 180 delegates from the NCF membership, friends and supporters. 24 hours of concentrated presentations and workshops on topics of direct professional relevance to front line managers of care services, interspersed by a reception, an excellent dinner and much hilarity and animated conversation in the bar into the small hours. It was a great pleasure to be able to spend a most enjoyable evening in the company of so many wonderful managers of services, including 12 colleagues from across the Somerset Care Group.


Our leader at this event and conference chair was the Director of Policy and Communication of the NCF, Sharon Blackburn.


The agenda of the conference was designed to offer delegates a comprehensive overview of the social care scene relevant to its theme of "Innovation and improvement at a time of change - the role of the manager".
Further details of the conference agenda are on the NCF website and copies of the presentations will shortly be available there as well. See: www.nationalcareforum.org.uk

The most memorable presentation of the conference, and worthy of special mention, was undoubtedly that given by Caroline Tomlinson from "In Control".


Caroline shared the inspiring story of the journey she and her family have been on since 2003 when, in order to help achieve better support for her son with learning disability she created and pioneered the system now widely recognised as self directed support. This grass roots advocacy movement has now become a nationally recognised charity that is working to empower people with disabilities to take and maintain control over the way they lead their lives and manage their support. It is a powerful story of determination and passion achieving fundamental change in the social care system for the benefit of those in receipt of support services. For further details see www.in-control.org.uk.

Location:Tortworth Court Hotel, South Gloucestershire.

FRIDAY 5 NOVEMBER - Somerset Care's Rising Stars Scale New Heights

I was delighted to receive news from home in the form of an email from Rowena Shepherd telling me about the success of the first Leadership and Team Building Day attended by our group of aspiring managers who are participating in our "Risning Stars" programme. This is a one year personal and team development course for our prospective managers of the future. It seems that a good day was had by all and no one fell off the wall! Follow the link below to get a taste of their day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXtHzlDRRqM

Location:Cannington College, Bridgwater, Somerset to California

THURSDAY 4 NOVEMBER - Last full day in the US

Today is a significant day for my family as it is the 92nd anniversary of the day my grandfather won the Victoria Cross during the last great battle on the Western Front in WW1 - the crossing of the Sambre Canal. His valour is remembered with pride.

The date will also henceforth be memorable as the date on which I became personally acquainted with the Pacific Ocean. The air temperature was an amazing 95 degrees F so, as the surf was up, I was pleased to be able to spend a cooling half hour in the waves revising my long dormant body surfing skills.

The main purpose of my visit to Oceanside was to call to visit my relations Bernard and Ethel Florack who live here in very active retirement. After three weeks travelling the continent studying services for older people it was very fitting to spend time today with senior members of my own family. They are living independently and keeping busy and it is a wonderful testament to the benefits of the Californian lifestyle that Bernard, at over 90, is still employed three days a week as a "greeter" at his local Wallmart store.


At the end of a beautiful day in this attractive part of Southern California I was treated to a spectacular end to my time in the US by a fantastic sunset.


A fitting finale to a memorable trip. Looking forward to getting home.

Location:Oceanside, California, USA

THURSDAY 4 NOVEMBER - Good News From Home

When I checked my emails this morning I was delighted to read news from our training company. Acacia Training and Development Ltd has achieved formal "Recognition" status with the National Skills Academy for Social Care. The company is the only training provider in the South West of England to have achieved this status, which recognises it as a centre of excellence in the provision of training and education in social care. Many congratulations to all involved in this significant achievement.

Location:Oceanside, California, USA

WEDNESDAY 3 NOVEMBER - America awakes to LEADING AGE

America awakes to a significantly changed political landscape this morning as voters give President Obama and the Democrat Party a kicking. Republicans have made substantial gains in Congress and in the Governor elections across the Country. The news on the TV shows is about a move to the right across the country and a desire for a return to core values, and a grass roots rejection of "big government".

Here at the LA Convention Center the great US Aging Services Conference moves towards it's conclusion. As it started it was billed as the AAHSA Conference, as it ends it does so under a new name. From now on the organisation will be known by it's new name of LEADING AGE.



The conference is an end to end massive information and education experience with hundreds of different sessions and events. It is impossible for a delegate to take them all in and it is important to be selective. The exhibition is vast with hundreds of exhibits.



Highlights at this year's exhibition have been the Idea House, featuring latest design and technology products, a special section on gardens for older people and a Social Media Lab where students from the University of Southern California assist delegate with tutorials on how to use TWITTER, FACEBOOK, LINKED IN and other new media systems to advance their business needs and bring benefits to older people and their families. I took a class in TWITTER from Cindy, a very helpful student who helped me get with the system and log on. I hope to be a regular TWIT from now on. Thanks Cindy.



Alongside the conference there are a host of receptions and fringe events taking place. The bars and restaurants of the LA Live area at the heart of Convention City are alive with music, conversation and the sounds of networking in progress. Together with IAHSA Board colleagues on Sunday we hosted a reception for IAHSA members and supporters. On Monday evening I joined thousands in the Convention Hall for an evening of Comedy Through The Ages featuring US Household name entertainers John Pinette, Vicki Lawrence and the veteran comedian Bob Newhart. On Tuesday evening parties were in full swing hosted by industry supporters. I was able to enjoy the spectacular party hosted by key IAHSA supporter SODEXO, before a most enjoyable final dinner with friends from Australia and the UK.

The grand finale of the conference was a brilliant performance by Britain's greatest ageing export The ZIMMERS. They had the 7,000 delegates rocking in the aisles with their renditions of "We will, we will rock you", "Fight for the right - to party!" and "We did it OUR way!". This was a truly inspiring way to send delegates away with the powerful message that older people have plenty to contribute and are not to be ignored. If you haven't heard them catch them on UTube. Inspirational and moving. Well done the Brits!



There has been much to experience and learn at this great event in tinseltown. Too much to report in detail here. One very strong message though, that is worthy of special mention, was a powerful presentation by Roger Markowski, Country Director for HelpAge International in Haiti. The conditions in that country 9 months after the devastating earthquake remain desperate for many thousands of people still living in makeshift camps. Amongst them are thousands of older people who HelpAge International is struggling to reach and to support. They need our help.

The message Roger sends represents a call to action for IAHSA and LEADING AGE members. How can we work to reach beyond the limits of our own operations, states and countries to support the development of ageing services across borders and in countries that do not enjoy the privileges of developed societies. There is a world of need out the that we need to reach out to, and I hope this will increasingly be a feature of IAHSA activity as we move ahead.

Thanks LEADING AGE, for a great conference. We now look ahead to the even greater combined LEADING AGE/IAHSA Conference in Washington DC 16 to 19 October 2011. MARK YOUR DIARIES NOW AND PLAN YOUR TRIP!

Location:LA Convention Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

SUNDAY 31 OCTOBER - THe AAHSA Conference gets into gear

A beautiful Sunday morning in Downtown Los Angeles and a chance to prepare for the AAHSA Meeting in the massive LA Convention Centre. the streets are quiet in the town on a Sunday morning so it was a pleasure to walk the mile or so from the hotel to register and spend an hour in the cafe area ahead of the start of the conference.


Essential tools for the conference attendee! Trusty iPad at the ready, conference badge and program, Starbucks coffee and a blueberry scone and, as they say in these parts - YOU'RE GOOD TO GO!

Location:LA Convention Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER - CAST Adrift in LA

The study tour may be over but the US trip has more to go so at 5.30 am some of us were on our way to the airport and our flight to the vast sprawling city of Los Angeles. A cab ride to the city centre and we checked into our base for the next 4 days, the Sheraton Downtown Hotel.

After a short time to settle in and a quick work out in the gym (yes really!), it was off to the JW Marriott Hotel for the meeting of the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) Commission. As IAHSA Vice Chairman I had been invited to attend this meeting together with IAHSA Chairman, Glenn Bunney from Australia in order to bring an international flavour to the meeting. Glenn gave an excellent overview presentation of developments in the technology in ageing services agenda in Australia.


This was an important opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the policy agenda in the US. Once one is able to penetrate the jargon that pervades this area in America, as it does in different professional language in all countries, it is interesting to note the similarities in approach. Thankfully the knowledge gained during the IAHSA Study Tour enabled the guests from abroad to contribute something to the discussion.

Location:Los Angeles, California, USA

FRIDAY 29 OCTOBER - Tour Finale

At Annabelle's Restaurant in downtown San Francisco the story of the first IAHSA/CAST Study Tour comes to a spooky and riotous conclusion at the Farewell Dinner. After 10 days together on our tour all the participants are now firm friends and have bonded together as the IAHSA Tour Pioneers of the West. We have enjoyed a rich professional and social experience. We have met some wonderful people in the states and facilities we have visited and everywhere we have experienced the most wonderful and generous hospitality from our hosts. We have learned and shared and talked and laughed together all the way. To use a word we have heard a lot on the tour - it has been AWESOME!

The inspiration and organisational brain behind the tour and behind the development of IAHSA throughout it's history has been Executive Ginger Nuessle. Thanks Ginger - a great job!

The administration and facilitation of the tour has been impeccable thanks to the organisers, Academic Travel Abroad and especially thanks to our brilliant, friendly, but no nonsense and sometimes scary tour guide Fran.


We have also enjoyed the support and guidance throughout the tour of CAST Vice Chairman, David Gehm, who in his day job is President and CEO of Lutheran Homes of Michigan.


My final tour thanks must go to all the other participants. It has been wonderful to get to know you all and let's ensure the SPIRIT of the tour endures through the wonders of the virtual world!


These Halloween SPIRITS even showed up at the farewell party!

Location:San Francisco, California, USA

FRIDAY 29 OCTOBER - The visit I missed - PACE at ON LOK

Although my visit to the Center for Digital Storytelling prevented me from joining the final visit of the Tour I didn't want to miss including an short report on the visit made by the remainder of the tour party.

ON LOK (Cantonese for "peaceful, happy abode") is a large CCRC located in downtown San Francisco and catering for the Chinese population of the Chinatown district. It was here at ON LOK that the model of integrated care was developed 27 years ago that has now extended elsewhere throughout the US and is now recognised nationally as PACE.

PACE, an acronym for "Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly", is an integrated healthcare system that provides comprehensive services for frail elderly people and their families. The scheme is co-ordinated by teams of medical and social care providers, for an annual fee generally paid by Medicare and Medicaid. The care can be delivered at home, in hospital or in a long term care facility - wherever it is needed and is a model for health and social care Integration. There are now 74 PACE communities in 31 states.


Thanks from the tour participants for an excellent final visit go to everyone at ON LOK and especially to the host for the visit and presentation, Gretchen Brickson, Director of Technical Assistance.
Further information at: www.pace partners.net and www.onlok.org

Location:Chinatown, San Francisco, California, USA

FRIDAY 29 OCTOBER - Meeting the Digital Storytellers.

As the rest of our group headed back into San Francisco for the visit to the On Lok Center for Chinese Seniors in Chinatown, San Francisco (report to follow), I remained behind in Oakland and, after a short taxi ride, made my way to the University of Berkeley and to the Center for Digital Storytelling (CDS), where I had arranged to meet Executive Director Joe Lambert and some of his students.. The Center is based in an unassuming building with a deceptive shop frontage on Martin Luther King Jr Way.


Having had to confirm I was in the right place I entered the Center to find a group of students coming to the end of their storytelling workshop. I was made most welcome and was able to sit in on the final presentations of their digital stories at the culmination of their course. Some of the messages conveyed were extremely powerful and I quickly came to realise that the technology is the means rather than the end in digital storytelling. The power is in the story, not the medium and the students whose work I witnessed had clearly got this message very well. My interest is in how this approach can be used more effectively in the support of older people with increasing frailty and memory loss. Digital stories have the potential to reconnect older people with their lives and their personalities and can greatly enhance dignity and self esteem in advancing old age. The technical skills of young people connected with the rich life stories of their elders is also a powerful force in supporting intergenerational relationships.


Joe Lambert (right) was supported in conducting the workshop by Andrea Spagat, Northern California/Pacific Northwest Region Director of the CDS.

The 5 day workshop that was concluding was for those studying to become facilitators of this developing art form in their countries and states. Students had come from across the USA including Alaska, and from South Africa and New Zealand. I am most grateful to them all for allowing me to sit in as a fly on the wall during their wash-up meeting at the end of their course. This was a deeply powerful conversation for all participants and the programme had clearly been a hugely uplifting experience for them all; life changing for many.


Thanks guys! What a great group you are. Good luck in taking the message to your communities.

See: www.storycenter.org

Location:Berkeley, California, USA