Registered Charity # 1080517

Age UK Sandwell were the lead host at this years Spread the Warmth event to raise awareness of the

importance of keeping warm and well, in preparation for the onset of winter; for older people living in Sandwell. The objective was to ensure that the information and support was delivered to:

Give practical advice on how to keep warm to prevent illness and possible hypothermia

Offer attendees the opportunity to speak with organisations who could help with grants available for free cavity wall and loft insulation

Provide benefit checks to those with a disability/debilitating illness Offer free health checks provided by health care professionals Publicise and raise awareness of organisations available to support

older people across the borough.

A BIG WARM thank you goes to the organisations that supported us on the day which included West Midlands Police, Sandwell Trading Standards, Agewell, Sandwell U3A, West Midlands Fire Service,Sandwell MBC, Sandwell PCT, STAY, Ring & Ride and Home Accident Prevention Service.

LONLINESS AT YOUR DOOR

Lonliness what does it all mean?

It feels like stillness of the oceans

And the stillness of the streams

The fallen leaves

And the bareness of the trees

The emptyness inside

With the loneliness one feels.

Loneliness feels like everything’s stops

Like the singing of the birds

And you feel like someone

That has been forgot.

You feel alone

With no one else around

No lovers arms wrapped around you

No friends on your door to be found.

Only time will tell

‘Please get me out of this hell!’

‘I don’t want to be alone anymore!’

Will someone

‘Please knock on my door!’

Written by Mary Woolvin

HOME LIBRARY SERVICE

WHO IS THE SERVICE FOR? Anyone who lives in Sandwell:

Who can't get out to the library or Mobile library stop because of a disability, illness, frailty.

Difficulty in carrying materials to and from the library.

A full time carer who can't access the Library because of individual circumstances.

Residents in residential/nursing homes and day/community centres.

If this sounds like you, or someone you know, give the Home Library Service a call on 0121 552 4136.

WHAT IS AVAILABLE?The Home Library Service offers:

Books in both regular and large print Talking books Music CDs and DVDs Free requests

HOW OFTEN DOES IT CALL?Every 4 weeks, except for Public Holidays.

WHAT DOES IT COST?It's completely free of charge.

HOW TO FIND OUT MOREContact the Home Library Service by:

Phone - 0121 552 4136 Ask for details at your local library Fill in an online application form

Email us at specialneeds_library@sandwell.gov.uk Write to us at: The Special Library Service,

63 Crosswells Road, Oldbury B68 8HH

7 steps to end malnutrition in hospitalWe want every ward in every hospital to implement seven simple steps to end malnutrition in hospital:Step 1 Listen to us We must be consulted about hospital menus‚ our meal requirements and our preferences‚ and hospital staff must respond to what we tell them.Step 2 All ward staff must become 'food aware' Ward staff need to take responsibility for our food needs in hospital.Step 3 Hospital staff must follow professional codes Hospital staff must follow their own professional codes and guidance from other bodies.Step 4 Assess us for malnourishment As many of us are malnourished on admission to hospital‚ we should all be weighed and our height measured on admission.Step 5 Introduce protected mealtimes Protected mealtimes will ensure we are given appropriate assistance to eat meals when needed and sufficient time to eat our meals.Step 6 Use a red tray system Those of us who need help with eating should be identified on admission and our meal placed on a red tray to signal the need for help.Step 7 Use mealtime volunteers Where appropriate‚ hospital should use trained volunteers to provide additional help and support to us at mealtimes.

Age UK has been campaigning to end malnutrition in hospitals since 2006.Our Hungry to be Heard campaign tackled the scandal of older people becoming malnourished while in hospital, either because they don’t get food they can eat or the help they need to eat it.What we called for! All hospital wards to effectively implement seven steps to end malnutrition. The Care Quality Commission to inspect hospitals with a particular focus on malnutritionWhat the campaign achieved? •Working with Age UK, many hospitals have implemented some or all of the seven steps. •With the support of Abbott Nutrition, our local partners have been able to set up mealtime volunteer programmes in more than a dozen hospitals.•After being inundated with hundreds of emails from Age UK campaigners, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out unannounced spot checks in 100 hospitals during 2011. CQC inspectors looked to see if older people were treated with dignity and if they received the food and the support they needed at mealtimes. The inspections showed that while some hospitals were doing well, a fifth of hospitals were not meeting the minimum standards required by law. More inspections are planned for 2012. What's happening now? Age UK is now working with others in a Malnutrition Taskforce to look at how to drive down preventable and avoidable malnutrition in hospitals, care homes and the community.What you can do Have you, or someone you know, experienced malnutrition in hospital, a care home, or at home? Would you be happy to share your experiences with Age UK? If so, please contact Age UK.

Donate a coat this winter

Do you need help around the home fixing the little things? Maybe your garden needs some TLC?

Age UK Sandwell offers a reliable and trustworthy service both in and around the home. Our Handyman can call at a time to suit you and make small repairs, put together flat pack furniture, fit

security locks and general maintenance tasks.Our gardeners can trim hedges, tidy borders and mow lawns.

Services charged at £15 per hourFor more information call Sue Davies on 0121 500 1860

Cooking & Healthy Eating Programme

Can you spare a coat to help us raise vital funds to keep vulnerable older people warm and well this winter?

Back for the 3rd year, our Donate a Coat initiative is calling on everyone to Spread the Warmth by donating old winter coats to an Age UK shop to be sold on and loved again – with all the profits going to Age UK’s vital winter warmth work.

Celebrity coats on sale, coming to a store near you!

A host of celebrities have kindly donated their coats to be sold in our shops as part of Donate a Coat. And if that wasn't enough, we've also been given a selection of brand new coats from some top retailers including Topshop, Barbour, Ted Baker, New Look, Wallis, Burton, BHS, Miss Selfridge, Jaeger, H&M, Dorothy Perkins, River Island and French Connection.

Come back and visit www.ageuk.org.uk/donateacoat from 7 November to find out which coats are available, and where you can buy them.

Over 8,000 coats were donated and resold through Age UK shops last winter, helping to raise thousands of pounds to help older people.

Whether you are donating your coat or buying a new one from Age UK shops you can help Age UK Spread the Warmth this winter.

Why we're collecting coats

Each winter, an extra 200 older people die every day from the effects of cold weather. Age UK is here to change that.

Age UK helps people get benefits and grants to help with heating costs. Our Winter Grants Programme helps local partners deliver groceries to those trapped by bad weather. And our volunteers are making friends with those who would otherwise have no human contact.

You could help with just one small act of kindness. Let a coat you have loved be loved all over again.

You can donate your coat, or other quality items, to any Age UK shop or bring along to

The Head Office in Bull Street, West Bromwich.

Cycling for 50 Plus! Want to improve your health and fitness?

Ride in idyllic surroundings away from traffic.

Every Thursday, 11am – 12.30pm

Sandwell Valley Park, (Meet

Sandwell Stride Walks

A great way to get some exercise, enjoy a walk and the fresh air of some of Sandwell’s

best parks and nature reserves.

All walks are led by trained leaders and all abilities are welcome.

New over 50’s weekly walking group

Starting Friday 18th January 2013

Meet at Wednesbury Library

At 10.30am, walk around Brunswick Park for approx 2 mile.

Ring Carol Wilson on 500 1873 to confirm your place.

For more Sandwell Stride Walks across Sandwell please call 0800 011 4656

Over 50sIndoor Bowls Club

Every Thursday 10.30 – 12.30 at Rounds Green Christian Fellowship, St Johns

Road, Oldbury

First four sessions are free,

£2 per week thereafter

Contact Carol Wilson on

0121 500 1873

Cooking & Healthy Eating Programme

Sandwell Silver Surfers

8 week beginners course

Starting week commening 14th Jan 2013

Langley Library, Barrs Street, Oldbury

Wednesdays 10.30am-12.30pm

Oldbury Library, Jack Judge House

Saturdays 10.30am-12.30pm

We meet at the following libraries once a month for Computer Drop-In sessions

Langley Library

2nd Monday each month 10.30am-12.30am

Cradley Heath Library

4th Friday each month 2.00pm-4.00pm

8 week courses need to be booked in advance

Cycling for 50 Plus! Want to improve your health and fitness?

Ride in idyllic surroundings away from traffic.

Every Thursday, 11am – 12.30pm

Sandwell Valley Park, (Meet

Do you know of a community group who would like to have a try at Chair Based Exercises?

If so, give Carol a call on 0121 500 1873 to discuss your needs.

Chair Based Exercise is not an Extend Class but just a fun way of getting you moving your joints and strengthen your bones.

Classes are free and can be delivered to groups of people over 50 years of age within the Sandwell area.

SNOW SHOVEL COLDWINTER FREEZING HATWEATHER SNOWFLAKE SCARFSLIDE SLEDDING HATSKATING EAR MITTENSSLIPPERY

There are a number of Winter words on the above. Cross each one off as you find it. However one word does not appear in the word search. Send the ‘left over’ word to us at Bull Street along with your name, address and contact number. Or e-mail the answer to us at info@ageuksandwell.org.uk for a chance to win a £10 voucher. Closing date 28th February 2013.

Winner of our Summer newsletter was Elsie Harvey Correct answer ‘SWIMMING’

Just for fun Spot the 8 differences Sudoku

1 65 3 4 14 1 2 33 4

4 6