Recently in Adam McCulloch Category

by Adam McCulloch

Rod 'Seacole' Liddle, former editor of Radio 4's Today programme and Guardian columnist has signposted a diary article in a trade journal by a Devon Council equality officer. From his preamble to the article 'this is how your money is spent' it is clear he is not impressed. From his comments and those of his readers it is fairly clear that there is work to be done to convince everyone of the valuable work done by people like the equality officer. 

by Adam McCulloch

Roger Singleton (head of the Independent Safeguarding Authority and ex-Barnardo's chief) was on Radio 4 Today programme this morning (27 October) talking about who needs to apply to be on the ISA register. It was interesting to hear that Singleton agree with the presenter that some people (piano teachers, freelance tutors etc) who do not strictly need to register, will end up registering for commercial purposes.

by Adam McCulloch

I don't think anyone could argue that The Sun has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Labour Party over the past few years, in fact since the turn of the century. So its pompous announcement last night that it was backing the Conservatives shouldn't really be heralded elsewhere in the media as some sort of surprise or knockout blow.

By Adam McCulloch

We need to get much sharper in matching the needs of people with dementia with the care homes where they will be placed

When someone leaves a hospital destined for a care home because they have been (vaguely) diagnosed with dementia their relatives are not given a thorough briefing of what sort of home is suitable and what isn't.
In our case we were handed a photocopied list of homes and told to get on with finding one because the hospital bed was needed. There was no attempt to advise, match needs or discuss preferences.

by Adam McCulloch

Working in social care journalism you can easily be fooled into thinking that all is doom and gloom here in the UK. The mantras of 'lack of resources', 'lack of training', and 'why can't we be more like the Swedish?' have become familiar. But this Guardian article adds fuel to the growing realisation that the Swedes (despite their relative wealth and low population) no longer offer a model that we should look at so enviously.
Meanwhile, a friend of mine living in Japan referred me to this Times article . To claim benefits in Japan you first have to sell your 'luxury items'. These include car, musical instruments etc. Also, as my friend has found to his horror, any illness that prevents you from going to work is subtracted from one's already meagre holiday entitlement.
Maybe the good old UK isn't so bad a place after all...

by Adam McCulloch

I love the idea that eating curry can ward off dementia - although apparently the quantities needed may leave one somewhat bloated. There's a substance in tumeric called curcumin that can combat the changes in the brain that lead to Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. The annals of the Indian Academy of Neurology spell out the details.
There is no mention of the effects of the two pints of lager us Brits like to consume with our curry. Hopefully, they won't completely counter the curcumin benefits.

by Adam McCulloch

Here's a very perplexing case history for those of you in older people's services. I'd really like some comments, especially if you have ideas how things could have been handled differently or have any suggestions to make. You might even have had a similar experience. I really want to know how typical this is.
One thing I want to make clear is that the client involved here is definitely at the more 'awkward' end of the spectrum. She scores very highly in mental health tests and has convinced several occupational therapists and, apparently, psychiatrists of her ability to cope at home. She is lucid and persuasive:

by Adam McCulloch

Social care, particularly at management level, is hamstrung by its careful language when it comes to confronting The Sun and other tabloid newspapers, which it must do in the aftermath of the Baby P case. In social care language is tempered and tamed. It is non-judgmental, balanced and avoids implications of fault and blame. It reflects the complexity of the decisions made, and the involvement of different professions. It can be unemotional language and often very technical. Words like 'appropriate' proliferate. Can we combat tabloid newspaper distortion with this language? I doubt it.

    By Adam McCulloch


Here is the most boring picture ever.
But look closer. Reverse charges? Phone 100? Bit old hat, eh? Everyone has mobiles now don't they?
And, anyway, where is this phone that encourages its users to reverse the charges?
It's in an NHS dementia assessment centre near London.

by Adam McCulloch

Plenty of snow around all over the country this week once again, and no doubt social workers are struggling to make visits and reach their offices. But I have a cautionary tale for you.