1 in 6 older people may be taking anti-depressants, says survey

RESEARCH recently conducted by older people’s charity, Independent Age, has shown that one in six older people may be taking medicine for depression.

The findings come from the charity’s annual survey, which is conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the lives of the people the charity supports and the issues affecting them. Many respondents also said they had experienced factors linked to depression in the last 12 months.

"Independent Age wants to tackle the problem by recruiting more volunteers to help counter the isolation that puts many older people at risk of poor mental health, loneliness or depression. We currently have a network of 1,200 volunteers, throughout the UK and Ireland, who make regular visits to the older people we support. The friendship they provide can be just as important as financial assistance, especially to those who live alone. Over 1,000 of our service users however, do not currently have a volunteer to visit them and this is something we would like to address. We would very much like to recruit more volunteers in your area." said Katya Chatterjee from IndependentAge.

The research marks one part of Independent Age’s Action Week that runs from 28 September to 4 October 2009, which is a national effort to improve awareness of older people’s needs, recruit more volunteers across the country, and raise funds to assist the charity’s work, so I’d be really grateful if were able to mention it.

For more information go to:- independentage.org.uk.

PHONE SCAM HITS AGAIN

A Home Watch member received a phone call last week. This call has been happening for some time now, as we have reported in the past on here. This time however the caller started the conversation by "My name is Rahj, and I am calling to inform you of a new Government initiative, enabling you to reduce or eradicate any debt."

At this point the person receiving the call told him she wasn't interested, but he persisted and asked for personal details, name, address and bank details etc. After ending the call the member dialled 1471 and found the number registered was 0301.

On contacting BT on 0800 661 441we discovered that this number was an untraceable International call from an unidentified country. BT are making every effort to trace the caller. These people can be very persistent and will possibly make further calls to your phone number.

Crime Prevention advice is as always do not give any personal details to anyone if you receive any unsolicited calls.

Remember, Remember the 4 November!

HAVE you turned digital yet?  To keep your TV service, you will need to convert your TVs to digital before your area’s switchover date. Remember that the North West will be turning digital on 4 November 2009.  Winter Hill's TV transmitter will go fully digital on that day.  It that serves Liverpool, Merseyside, Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and North Staffordshire.

Peter Andre at Album Signing In ASDA
Photographs by Ian Fairbrother

ASDA in Bootle on Wednesday, 23 September 2009, had Peter Andre at Book Signing his new album called Revelation.  These are a few snaps taken at the event.