It has not been too busy this week with a research appointment on Monday and talking to Sheffield Health and Social Care staff on Thursday.

The daily challenges of life with Dementia continue.

But sadly, the challenges of the UK Government continue to affect people living with Dementia and other disabilities continue, to divert us from a path to enablement and the removal of the view that we are a burden to society.

The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill and Social Care are two issues of great concern at this time.

They have the potential for conflicts of interest and rights abuses

That which is morally wrong cannot be politically right

(Sarat Chandra Bose)

Which is why these issues should be challenged.

Spending time in silent reflection and Mindfulness this week, I came across a quote in some old notes by William Penn, which for me sums up Dementia Advocacy and awareness raising.

“I expect to pass through this world but once.

Any good therefore that I can do …

let me do it now.”

Consultation by the UK Ministry of Justice on the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill

The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill is currently going through Parliament and following increasing concerns about this legislation the Ministry of Justice has opened a consultation that runs until the 7th March 2019.

The bill is an attempt in part, to replace the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) with the Liberty Protection Safeguard (LPS).

Increasingly, concerns are being expressed about how the LPS will work including:

Care Home managers being able to instigate an LPS

Hospital Administrators being able to instigate an LPS, which potentially if someone is in Hospital, fit for discharge but no Social Care available, the can be forced into a Care Home, to free up a bed against stier wishes.

The apparent lack of advocacy and representation.

The use of the term “Appropriate Person”

Replacing the term “Mental Disorder” with “Unsound Mind”

Increasingly, the bill is seen as a way of removing the rights of people with Dementia and other Disabilities which is why it is so important for DPOs, NGOs, other organisations, professionals and people affected by Dementia and other Disabilities, to take part in this consultation.

Link to UK Ministry of Justice Consultation

Petition from the 3 Nations Dementia Working Group

To: Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Social Care and Dementia

Campaign created by

Three Nations Dementia Working Group

Following the UN Rapporteur’s visit to the UK, where he recognised that 49.9% of funding has been cut to local authorities, according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, we demand a debate at the highest level of government and a solution to the gaps in social care provision which disproportionately impact upon all people affected by dementia.

Why is this important?

The lack of provision of social care in the UK is leading to immense distress for all people affected by dementia.

According to the Office of National Statistics, people with dementia are dying prematurely as a result of austerity.

Carers are not supported and are overwhelmed by the burden of unpaid care.

‘Local authorities… which perform vital roles in providing a real social safety net have been gutted by a series of government policies… The Government has remained determinedly in a state of denial’ (From the report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights in the UK)

Please Sign the Petition

Videos

Peter Berry’s 84th Weekly YouTube Video

Stephen Tamblin’s 39th Weekly Facebook Video

You can also catch Stephen’s 7th YouTube video

BBC Video How to talk about disability without being awkward.

Blog

“Kindness costs nothing and can make someone’s day. Harsh words cost nothing and can throw someone’s world into disarray……I know which I like best…..how about you?”

Wendy Mitchell’s blog titled Our own Solitary Bubble……