Over recent decades, rates of childlessness have increased substantially in many European countries, including the UK. The percentage of British women remaining childless has risen since it was at its lowest level for women born in 1945 (9%), doubling to approximately 18% for women who are currently completing their childbearing years.
Monthly Archives: January 2010
Guest Blog: Childlessness: costs, consequences and charity
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Guest Blog: Responding to the needs of older people in the Haiti earthquake emergency
The earthquake which struck Haiti last week has been devastating for all Haitians, but has had an especially severe impact on the older population. In this initial response phase the priority has been efforts to rescue trapped people and emergency aid to the injured. However it is also urgent to reach the most vulnerable – children, people with disabilities and older people – who need immediate help. You may have seen news reports of older people in nursing homes in desperate need. We are concerned for the immediate welfare of the residents of the Port-au-Prince Municipal Nursing Home, and have alerted the Mayor of Port-au-Prince to their plight as well as doing our utmost to get emergency supplies there immediately.
Kids In Museums
Today (14 January 2010) saw the launch of the Kids In Museums Manifesto (http://www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk/our-manifesto/) which sets out 20 ways to make a visit to a museum family friendly. Amongst other things, they talk about the importance of a friendly welcome, the need to reach out to communities, and that the sector should engage younger people in the design of the services provided.
Dementia and the Challenge of Personalisation
Since the 1990’s many advanced welfare states have moved away from the delivery of home care services and towards alternative ‘cash-for-care’ schemes. This move towards self-directed care has formed the heart of the Government’s personalisation agenda and has become emblematic of Labour’s restructuring of the relationship between the citizen and the state in respect of welfare services and support. More recently the Government has also contemplated the potential of personal health budgets, which would permit individuals to buy their own health care.
If two hands are better than one, how about four paws?
If two hands are better than one, how about four paws? Such an opening gambit may seem nonsensical, but the psychological, social and functional benefits of canine-human interaction are slowly being acknowledged in the health and social care arena. Across the generations, the therapeutic value of man’s best friend is well attested, with a notable emphasis on the emotional and positive aspects of this interplay. Today, however canine and more generally animal interaction is perceived to yield wider benefits not only for the individual, but potentially for the public purse.