An economic, moral and spiritual challenge to us all: The costs associated with dementia will amount to more than 1% of the world’s gross domestic product this year at $604bn (£388bn), a report says. The World Alzheimer Report says this is more than the revenue of retail giant Wal-Mart or oil firm Exxon Mobil. The […]
Valuing Age
Posted on by James Woodward
Selling books is no easy work these days and authors need all the help we can get…… I am glad to give some space to this review by Helen Cameron of Ripon College Cuddesdon. WOODWARD, James. 2008. Valuing Ageing: Pastoral Ministry with Older People. London: SPCK. Pbk. 192pp. ISBN: 9780281057795. £12.99. Reviewed by: Helen Cameron, […]
Unclouded ending?
Posted on by James Woodward
VERA, aged 71, is a lifelong member of her church, in Birmingham. She is angry that the Church seems preoccupied with the young. “It’s almost if we do not exist,” she says. While many churches focus on attracting younger congregations in the effort to rejuvenate an ageing Church, it is also possible to […]
Robert Butler
Posted on by James Woodward
I salute the work of this very remarkable man – who I met while on sabbatical in 2008 in Washington DC. His influence on our thinking about old age has been pioneering. Before passing away from acute leukemia on July 4, 2010, at the age of 83, Robert N. Butler, MD, served as president and […]
Older People have their part to play too
Posted on by James Woodward
(article published in the Church Times 7 May2010) THE latest statistics from the Archbishops’ Council suggest that half of those in our pews are pensioners. Some rural congregations were, on average, older than 65, while the youngest Anglicans were found in London, where the age of the “standard” churchgoer is 54. It compares with the […]
A Second Flowering?
Posted on by James Woodward
Why is older age so important? Inner exploration, undertaken with some cognizance of what may be discovered, leads to a possession of oneself, to risking change and allowing transformation. The second half of life can be a work of growth, a ‘’second flowering’’, in which exploration of the depths of self in relationship to God, […]
Councils ‘will struggle with ageing population’
Posted on by James Woodward
Social care is currently means-tested in England Councils will struggle to cope with the financial challenge posed by England’s ageing population, a watchdog says. The Audit Commission said the £9bn a year social care bill will double by 2026 if current practices continue. The warning comes as ministers are considering a revamp of the funding […]
Dementia ‘losing out’ to cancer in funding stakes
Posted on by James Woodward
Dementia ‘losing out’ to cancer in funding stakes Each dementia patient costs the economy £27,647 each year Dementia now costs the UK economy twice as much as cancer but gets a fraction of the funding to find causes and cures, a report seen by the BBC shows. For every one pound spent on dementia research, […]
Ageing: Blessing or Burden?
Posted on by James Woodward
Last weekend I spent in Sarum College ( above) with a delightful and interesting group of people exploring the nature of age…. Here is a reflection from one of the members of the group: ‘Age: Blessing or Burden’ by Paul Scott These are first thoughts, having just returned from a weekend conference at Sarum […]
Better Care for Dementia?
Posted on by James Woodward
Dementia services in England are not getting the priority that was promised, the National Audit Office has said. It urges the Department of Health to demonstrate that its dementia strategy, published last year, is not just words. The plans include action to boost early diagnosis and better patient and carer support. The NAO praises the […]
Listen to Older People!
Posted on by James Woodward
Robert C Atchley, Spirituality and Aging, John Hopkins University Press 2009 – This book is a reminder that sometimes wisdom is reserved for those who have had a lifetime of listening, study and reflection. This mature book is a compendium of wide-ranging research that processes two decades of interviews, observations and study to explore […]
The scandal of Care?
Posted on by James Woodward
Poor dementia care in hospitals costing lives and hundreds of millions Published 17 November 2009 People with dementia – who occupy a quarter of all hospital beds – are staying far longer in hospital than people without the condition who go in for the same treatment. This is costing hundreds of millions of pounds to […]
A Mission Shaped Church for Older People
Posted on by James Woodward
I travelled down from Windsor to London yesterday to share in a conference run by the Church Army and the Leveson Centre to promote our publication A Mission Shaped Church for Older People at St Michaels Chester Square. (available from the Leveson Centre – www.levesoncentre.org.uk) This event was specifically intended for those with a passion […]
Too Old for what?
Posted on by James Woodward
Oliver Popplewell is annoyed. Why? At 75 he is obliged to retire from his post as a High Court Judge. He then embarks upon an adventure and ther eis the result! Sir Oliver Popplewell became, in his own words, officially “judicially senile” after a distinguished career at the Bar, as a High court judge specializing […]
Pensioner Poverty
Posted on by James Woodward
This shocking news report should move us all into some action: Reform of the pensions and benefits system is urgently needed to tackle pensioner poverty in the UK, which is among the worst in Europe, campaigners said today. The call for action came after European commission statistics showed that 30% of over-65s in the […]
Spirituality and Ageing
Posted on by James Woodward
Spirituality and Aging Robert C. Atchley John Hopkins University Press Maryland 2009 13: 978-0-8018-9119-9 There are a growing number of people who are consumers of literature, retreats, and personal growth programs concerning spirituality. In this admirably concise and important book a retired American teacher of Gerontology offers a contribution to the growing literature which struggles […]
What will you do when you grow old?
Posted on by James Woodward
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, I grow old … I grow old … I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled. Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach? I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, […]
Bringing Dementia out of the shadows
Posted on by James Woodward
It is easy to knock the Government and I wonder sometimes if any of us really understand the complex and demanding nature of modern governance? Today I want to commend the Governments excellent initiatives around Dementia. Let me remind you about the plans. The ambition is to set up memory clinics in every town […]
Giving shape to Old Age
Posted on by James Woodward
In the Old Age of the Soul I do not choose to dream; there cometh on me Some strange old lust for deeds. As to the nerveless hand of some old warrior Te sword-hilt or the war-worn wonted helmet Brings momentary life and long-fled cunning, So to my soul grown old – […]
VALUING AGE?
Posted on by James Woodward
Later today I shall travel down to London for a small event to mark th epublication of this book. Thanks to my old boss Richard Harries ( now Lord Harries ) the party is to be held in the House of Lords. Here is a little taste of what I want to share with guests: […]