Noticeboard
The Centre for the Older Person’s Agenda (COPA) is based in Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Scotland.
STATEMENT - DECEMBER 2010
Many of you have known for some time that our core funding from RBS finished well over a year ago. Since that time we have been able to undertake a reduced amount of project work. Sadly the majority of these projects are coming to an end soon and the university is not in a position to be able to continue to financially support the Centre. We do not need to remind you of the current economic climate which at this time exacerbates the situation!
Ambi Wildman and Janice Burr will continue for the next year or so on a part time basis with projects to which we are committed and Yvonne Coull will continue to chair the National Forum on Ageing Futures Group. However, it will not be possible to undertake further project work of a substantial nature, nor the Financial Awareness Forum.
Professor Alan Gilloran and I would like to thank you for all the excellent support over the years.
Can we take this opportunity to wish you every success in all the work you undertake.
Mrs Yvonne Coull
Centre for the Older Person's Agenda
Queen Margaret University, EDINBURGH
EH21 6UU
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National Forum on Ageing Futures Group
"All Our Futures: Planning for a Scotland with an Ageing Population" included a commitment to establish a National Forum on Ageing. Members of various organisations and individuals, with support from the Scottish Government, have established the National Forum on Ageing Futures Group. This indedpendent "think tank" will both address current issues and engage with people across Scotland in imaginitive forward thinking. By keeping the debate alive, we can plan for a future which puts Scotland at the forefront of the age agenda.
The NFA Futures Group considers that older people have a contribution to make towards a flourishing Scotland. No-one can foretell future concerns, but flexibility of approach, openness to new ideas and willingness to think beyond the traditional core themes of housing, health, care and transport are important. To initiate this process, the NFA Futures Group will hold a number of events.
To find out about the events, the outcomes and reports, click on the link below:
National Forum on Ageing Futures Group
Ageing Well in the Information Society - EU Action Plan
Europe, like much of the industrialised world, is facing a huge challenge: how to maintain living standards as populations age. While diverse measures - political, economic, social and scientific - are being mobilised to prepare for the challenge, one very important field has taken a back seat.....until now. With the adoption of the European Action Plan for 'Ageing well in the information society', this all looks set to change. Information and communications technology (ICT) can empower older citizens while generating benefits for businesses, the economy and society at large. For further information, click on the link below:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/docs/ageing/executive_summary.pdf
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'Good Ideas' Booklet Helps Staff Care for Older People
A 'Good Ideas' booklet to help carers in their work with older people has been developed by The Centre for the Older Person's Agenda (COPA), in association with NHS Health Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council's Department of Health and Social Care.
The booklet offers a host of useful practical suggestions and has been developed to help day carers and respite carers who work with older people in their own homes.
A successful launch of the booklet took place on 19 March. The event celebrated good practice and aimed to encourage the development of ongoing support for outreach day carers and respite carers. Presentations on the newly developed materials, feedback from key participants and an opportunity to discuss the issues raised were all enjoyed by those attending.
Summary of Project
Download the 'Good Ideas' Booklet from our website
Limited hard copies available - order form
Press Release (19.03.09)
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Involving Older People Programme – Collaborative Research Project
The Centre for the Older Peron's Agenda (COPA) at Queen Margaret University, promotes multidisciplinary collaboration and the involvement of older people. The emphasis of a central strand of the work in COPA is on developing research that is informed by older people themselves. In 2007, COPA invited bids for 5 small research projects, the aim of which was to:
- support work that is centred on the involvement of older people
- encourage collaboration with COPA through new work and to enhance existing capability within COPA that supports the involvement of older people
- focus on involving older people in health and social care, service development with projects that explore the methodological implications of working with older people
- projects that include a practice and a policy dimension
- projects able to demonstrate a real involvement of older people in the area local to the new Queen Margaret University site in East Lothian and/or nationally across Scotland
Link to A summary of the 5 research projects on Auditory Profiles, Creativity, Finance, Drama and Activism
Each of the projects has now reached completion and have come together with the other collaborative research projects within the wider Involving Older People Research Programme (IOP).
A very successful Knowledge Exchange Event took place on 27 February 2009 at QMU, Edinburgh
Link to Briefing papers and Final Reports on the individual projects
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Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice
Local Network Agreement with COPA
The Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice (SCIP), the City of Edinburgh Council and The Centre for the Older Person’s Agenda (COPA) have agreed to work in partnership to establish a Local Network serving the Edinburgh & the Lothians area.
The Edinburgh & Lothians Network will be developed with local organisations, groups and individuals interested in furthering intergenerational work which is a key component in the Centre's strategy. In this way, groups and individuals can benefit from a range of support, learning and funding resources locally.
Link to leaflet on Local Intergenerational Networks
Link to The Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice (SCIP) website
Generations Working Together Spring Seminar Series 2010 - Intergenerational Learning
Link to Powerpoint Presentation (PPT 1.24MB)
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Forum for Financial Awareness and Older People
Improving Financial Inclusion for Older People in Scotland
The Financial Awareness for Older People’s Forum has been developed under the guidance of Better Government for Older People in Scotland (no longer in existence). It draws together a wide range of people from the statutory, voluntary, academic and private sectors together with individual older people.
Link to more information on The Forum for Financial Awareness and Older People
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All Our Futures: Planning for Scotland with an Ageing Population
The Scottish Executive launched the above strategy in March 2007. There are three documents:
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Promoting Mental Health and Well-being in Later Life Seminars (2007)
In June three seminars were held, Edinburgh, Inverness and Glasgow, in conjunction with NHS Health Scotland, Mental Health Foundation and Age Concern Scotland. Delegates were invited from a mixture of groups: academics; policy makers; practitioners and included older people themselves. The seminars were held with the purpose of ensuring that local action plans are developed which build on the existing body of knowledge and evidence. The documents presented were:
- The Mental Health and Well-being in Later Life Programmes 2003 - 2006
- Promoting Mental Health and Well-being in Later Life (2006 onwards)
- Health Ageing: A Challenge for Europe (2.03MB PDF)
- The seminars were also supported by Securing Care for Ethnic Elders in Scotland (SCEES).
Copies of the speakers' presentations, seminar programme and photographs are available below:
In the afternoon there were round table discussions which focused on four questions:
- What have you learned form attending today's seminar?
- What do these reports mean to you?
- How can you make a difference?
- What will be your next steps?
Outcomes from the discussions around these questions will be posted shortly.
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© Copyright The Centre for the Older Person's Agenda, 2007
