GrumbleSmiles

This is a continuation of the CAFE Health survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list)

This is a very good result, though there is room for improvement with half the group.  A key issue would be to define what is a reasonable amount of exercise in later life to maintain a level of health.  Obviously this would differ for each individual and vary with age.

FOOTNOTE:  A number of YouTube exercise videos specifically related to older people might offer useful guidelines.

This is a continuation of the CAFE Health survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list)

The “expert group” were able to give more than one response to this question.  There was a good level of interest in all the subjects raised.   Two thirds of the group wanted to know more about health prevention —  or more accurately ILL HEALTH PREVENTION, as someone pointed out.

FOOTNOTE:  This issue seems to represent a significant gap in the information readily accessible to older people.  There are a considerable number of outlets for this type of information in Coventry:

• The Health Service itself       )
• GPs Surgeries                            )
• Public Health Service             ) THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NO
• The Library Service                 )  “ONE STOP SHOP”
• Specialist Organisations        )
• Private Health Care                 )

This is a continuation of the CAFE Health survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list)

This simple graph illustrates the high level of interest there is in finding out more about their health condition, which suggests there is a significant knowledge gap in this important area.

Given that 80% of this group use computers and a high level have chronic health issues, it is perhaps surprising that only 50% have  used them to find out more about their health.  That said, the internet is not always easy to navigate your way around, if you want to be sure you are accessing reliable information.

A few more people have accessed voluntary health groups to find out more.  Specialist Health Groups usually provide a wealth of leaflets and advice and much of this is freely available on the internet.

FOOTNOTE:-  An APP that provides  links to sites recommended by the local Health service would be more trustworthy and more easily accessible.  There will also be local branches in Coventry of health organisations related to specific conditions and links to these would be useful.

This is a continuation of the CAFE Health survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list)

This undoubtedly accounts for the relatively high use of the GP services and the high level of hospital admissions.  No doubt these figures would be much higher still with an even older group of people.

Multiple chronic conditions are a major reason for the long lengths of stay that older people spend in hospital.

This is a continuation of the CAFE Health survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list)

The good news is that half the group have not been in hospital in the last 3 years.  The not so good news is the other half have been admitted to hospital and a quarter have been admitted more than once.  In itself this represents significant use of hospital services but given the relatively young and mobile profile within this group, it’s probably a significant understatement of the demands placed on the health service by the majority of older people in Coventry.

This is a continuation of the CAFE Health survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list)

Don’t be thrown by the graph — the scale is set incorrectly —  what it shows is that only half the group have an annual health check.   As I recall, all older people are entitled to an annual health check, so is it that they are not offered one , or are they just not turning up.  Either way, they should all be getting a six monthly medication review, I wonder if this is happening.

FOOTNOTE :-          There must be scope for health improvement in this area.  A HEALTH APP to prompt you to get your medication and annually to arrange with your GP to have your overall well being checked could be useful.

This is a continuation of the CAFE Health survey.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list)

The vast majority of the group  (90%)  had visited their GP in the last 12 months,  which maybe surprising in such a young profile of older people.  Unless it was related to preventative visits, for example :-  flu vaccinations.

The high demands put on medical services are reflected in the 40% of the group who visited their doctor on more than 3 occasions in the last year.

The difficulty of getting an appointment with GP’s has been much in the news recently.  ( See my blog entitled “Disappearing GP’s” ).  Within this group 70% of people had some difficulty getting an appointment with their GP in what they considered a timely way.  The alternatives for them would be to contact NHS Direct or now its successor – the 111 service.  The NHS Direct service was rightly or wrongly blamed for significantly increasing the number of people turning up at Accident and Emergency services.  The new 111 service is reputedly in all sorts of difficulty recruiting suitably qualified staff.  Neither options seem a good alternative to the once universally respected GP family doctor.

This is a series of graphs which show the results of our second CAFE group meeting held in the Welcome Centre, adjacent to Coventry University Technology Park, on Friday 7th June 2013.   The focus of this survey was HEALTH and HAPPINESS as perceived by the  “expert” group of older people.   It is representative only of their views of themselves and doesn’t purport to be typical of other groups of older people in Coventry.

The commentary on the graphs is entirely my own personal reflections.  ( Other posts in this series can be found either by clicking on “CAFE Project” in the Tag Cloud or by clicking on  “GrumbleSmiles Trust” in the Topics list).

Overall this is a very positive rating of their health by this group of people.  Over 70% rated their health as very good and the remainder rated it moderately.  Obviously on one level this is not surprising because everyone had to have the ability and mobility to come out to the meeting.  But later graphs will qualify this view.