This newly published booktakes a radically different view of what our aging society means. Dr Anna Dixon turns the misleading and depressing narrative of burden and massive extra cost of people living longer on its head and provides a refreshingly optimistic view of how everyone could enjoy a better later life.
This book shines a spotlight on how as a society we’re failing to respond to aging–and what needs to change to ensure later lives become better for everyone. Examining key areas of society that need to change; including health, financial security, where and how people live, and social connections, Anna Dixon presents a strongly optimistic picture of how thinking differently could change the way we value later life in every sense.
About the Author Dr Anna Dixon is the Chief Executive of the Centre for Ageing Better, an independent charitable foundation that brings about change for people in later life today and for future generations. Anna joined Ageing Better from the Department of Health and Social Care where she was Director of Strategy and Chief Analyst.
‘One in three babies born today will live to 100. In less than 20 years, one in four people will be over 65. This has huge implications for our society – for our communities, our jobs, our homes, and our health.’
‘The ‘population pessimists’ tell us that this age shift is a disaster – that it will bankrupt our economy, and heap pressure on our NHS. Newspapers paint older people as ‘selfish boomers’, hoarding wealth and opportunity. Society tells us that getting older is something to be afraid of.’
‘In this book, Anna Dixon tackles these pessimistic views head-on. She shows that our longer lives are a huge opportunity. Drawing on many years’ experience in the health sector, as well as interviews with experts and policymakers, ‘The Age of Ageing Better?’ sets out the radical changes needed to ensure no-one misses out on a good later life.’
Anna and Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the RSA, discussed the book’s themes in a live event. You can watch the recording of the event HERE
This book of poetry is published in 2015 by smith/doorstop Books (isbn 978-1-910367-34-6) at £9.95.
Fr Michael is well known in the Leeds Diocese as a “poet priest,” a parish priest who writes poetry. He has had a number of books published and this most recent set of poems arose out of a part time Writer in Residency at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital in Dublin over a three month period, with patients with dementia and strokes, and their carers. Consultant Dr Ronan Collins says “Giving experience of patient and carer through poetic narrative allows a deeper understanding of this journey with its milestones of despair, challenge, acceptance, recovery, hope and humour.”
In one poem clled Hippy Hippy Shake with reference to the 1960’s pop song (remember it?), he likens the physiotherapy exercises Tony undergoes after his stroke to a dance routine. In the last verse Tony and his wife Maura reminisce on dancing. Humour and disability are melded with compassion.
In another poem The Hurler an ex-inter county hurler is practising his walking as he recalls past triumphs. The poem concludes:
“The memories are what matter to him now.
They’ve seen him through some tight corners.
‘You’re walking straight as an arrow Tommy.
You can go home as soon as you’re ready.’
There’ll be bonfires in Toomevara tonight.”
In one of the most moving poems, The Golfer, Fr Michael describes a Portmarnock golfer’s repeated determination to overcome health crises: “coming back on course.” One of the verses reads:
“Lazarus they called him. Again and again he came back
from the dead, coming out of the bunker however deep.”
At the end of the last verse we sadly read:
“Out in Portmarnock the flags are at half mast.”
With absorbing economy of words and golfing analogy, beloved of this determined patient, we learn of his death. The reader has got to know something about this unnamed patient and cares about what happens to him in only a few lines of verse.
In similar vein in Gleann Na Smol we learn of Maeve and her husband who rode bicycles “to Bohernabreena and back” in their courting, family rearing and then older days. We only learn at the end that she is in a wheelchair and is taking timed exercise on a hospital bike. With a tender comment her hospital carer comments:
“‘ Nice one Maeve. A personal best. Bohernabreena and back
in fifteen minutes. Are you sure you went all the way?’
‘Gleann na Smol’, she smiles, ‘we went all the way.’ ”
Fr Michael manages to convey how the staff creatively help to care for their patients and it is clear how well they have got to know their history and interests. This carer and Fr Michael convey the respect and humanity of personal history and the importance of reminiscence in the healing process.
The book is interspersed with poems about dementia. Some are clearly dealing with cognitive impairment. In others we are not so sure and are food for thought. What is the difference between impairment, imaginative retelling of memories, jokes and laughter which may or may not convey wisdom, diversion from the pain or some confabulation? Which is which? There are several poems around memory testing and a particularly poignant one called Joe. This reminds us of the importance of prayer and ritual that can be anchoring for us all. Joe answers yes to everything, but when prompted with the first two lines of the Our Father Joe says the whole prayer…How many of us have been surprised by people with dementia? For Eucharistic Ministers this is a useful tip: to start the Lords’ Prayer and see what happens…
The poems are profound and richer the more one re-reads them. A final section of poems in the book are good resources for more extended reflection. In the hospital chapel are “healing stations” which are artworks connected to passages in the bible. Fr Michael links these to events for people visiting the Chapel. In front of Jairus’ Daughter (Lk.8 41-46) a woman has flown long distance to visit someone in hospital. She likely hasn’t been to pray in a church since childhood but:
“the young woman’s awkwardness is eased by desperation.”
As she turns to leave her face is streaked with grief.
I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.”
Finally, a wealthy businessman who has had a stroke sits in front of an artwork about Jesus with the demoniac. This is the scriptural story where Jesus allows the man’s demons to enter a herd of swine who subsequently rush over the cliff side,(Lk.8 26-33.) The poem is entitled “The Celtic Tiger and the Gerasene Demoniac.” The man is reflecting that Ireland had been possessed by the Celtic Tiger and he had the best suits, cars, suites in New York. He says:
“..And here I am now in my top of the range
4X4 wheelchair, down in the chapel, watching that poor demoniac
as Jesus raises him up, and the pigs with the devils in them rush for the cliffs.
I’m not much of a religious man but I like a good story. The last of my pigs
went over the cliff this morning. I told them about my account in the Caymans.
“The devil is in the detail” they said. But the devils are in the pigs. I know that now.
The whole time right up to the time I collapsed I hadn’t felt right with myself.”
He concludes: ..”We’re free men at last, myself and the ex-demoniac.”
I have read these poems several times over, and each time I am more aware of the images, cadences and layers of meaning which enrich with re-reading. And as Jonathan Tulloch of The Tablet says in his review: “These poems are at once tender, yet uncompromisingly tough.” Don’t worry. I haven’t mentioned them all! There are forty nine in the book. It is a great read: funny, sad, poignant, unbearable, inspiring, comforting and nourishing food for thought.
Pippa Bonner, a Trustee and member of GOG Management Committee
If you would like to hear more about Fr Michael’s writing and his experience of working with people with dementia and their carers in hospital and in his life as a parish priest you have a chance soon!
On Saturday 12th September at St Aidan’s Parish Hall, (31 Baildon Road, Shipley BD17 6AQ) Growing Old Grace-fully (GOG) are holding a day on dementia: “Welcoming People with Dementia”.
This day is planned for all those involved with caring for people with dementia or who minister to people with dementia. If you are a Eucharistic Minister or in the SVP and want to learn more about dementia and how to make a visit to someone with dementia easier and more meaningful for both of you, this day may help! Liturgists too may find this useful for planning prayers and services which people with dementia might attend.
Fr Michael is speaking alongside Rev. Gaynor Hammond, a Baptist Minister, who has encouraged churches to become more dementia friendly and has written a number of books full of practical ideas to help parishes, including “Help, We have Dementia!” and “Growing Dementia-Friendly Churches.” Brian Allen, retired NHS Chaplaincy Team Leader reviewed Gaynor’s latest book in the Winter 2014 edition of Christians on Ageing magazine and commented “Gaynor’s commitment to the task of enabling churches to become more dementia friendly shines through her life and work and is well exemplified by this attractively presented booklet.”
If you would like to discuss how Growing Old Grace-fully might help support older people in your parish then please visit our contact page here and get in touch.
