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Why we started StaySafe.support and Stay Safe Week

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On the 1st October 2019 we were delighted to hold our Annual Conference for StaySafe.Support – on the United Nations Day of the Older Person and accompanied by Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. 

Why we started StaySafe.Support and Stay Safe Week
StaySafe.Support
Carolyn Cripps OBE Fit for Safety, Barry Nee CIO Care UK, Paul Goulden CEO Age UK London,
Emma Hammett RGN First Aid for Life
StaySafe.support
Robert Pinchen Institute of Consumer Affairs, Lou Baxter Scott MBE Friends Against Scams, Carolyn Cripps OBE Fit for Safety, Trevor Royal Hospital Chelsea Inpensioner,
Emma Hammett RGN First Aid for Life, Errol Taylor CEO RoSPA

It was a truly fabulous day with expert guest speaks from Age UK London, RoSPA, National Trading Standards Scam Team and National Trading Standards eCrime Team and Care UK. More photos and speaker videos will be uploaded shortly on www.staysafe.support

What is StaySafe.Support?

www.staysafe.support is a free information and resource website signposting older people and their family, friends and carers, to the wealth of available expert advice and support – ranging from safety in the home to avoidance of scams – under one easy to use umbrella site. It brings together materials and guidance from key organisations and experts to make it easier for older people and those who care for them to access vital knowledge when they need it, helping to ensure their safety and wellbeing and ultimately avoid hospital admissions arising from preventable accidents.

Dame Esther Rantzen has given her support to our initiative: : “It is really important that older people are given the confidence to be able to enjoy life without fearing accidents or swindles which make them and their families anxious about their safety. This is a really wonderful project and I wish it every success“.

And Hugh Pym – the BBC Health Correspondent, joined us at the launch: “There is so much pressure on the NHS and Social Care System and with winter approaching; any initiative that can help people look after themselves and their families is very important.”

Who is involved? 

The initiative has been established and funded by Emma Hammett RGN and Carolyn Cripps OBE in partnership with Age UK, RoSPA and the Trading Standards and e-crime team. 

Why did we start it?

Carolyn Cripps OBE, co-founder of Stay Safe for Older People was inspired to start Stay Safe as: “having worked with numerous organisations and Executive Committees as trainer and consultant – from the educational committees of the London Home and Water Safety Council, National Home Safety Committee, RoSPA and Age UK – I was well aware of the wealth of expertise available to help older people. However, all these organisations work disparately and Stay Safe for Older People www.staysafe.support has enabled unique co-working sharing and collaboration to bring a holistic outlook to help older people in a way that has hitherto not been possible.

We sincerely hope that this incredible collaboration will lead to increased awareness of the resources available and consequently a major reduction in victims of frauds, scams and accidents – not only benefitting older people and those who look after them, but also to society, social services and the NHS as a whole. “

Emma Hammett RGN, co-founder:  “When older people are scammed or have an accident it knocks their confidence and they become vulnerable. They often stop going out, become isolated and frail and too frequently end up in hospital. Being aware of potential hazards getting prompt, expert, information when you need it, can prevent these incidents in the first place and help people move forward, saving the older person and all involved in their care from the utter devastation that can occur when things go wrong.

Having looked after older people both in a professional capacity and as a family member people simply don’t know the extent of the information and support available and it is almost impossible to find it. There are loads of incredible organisations working in isolation; our hub uniquely brings them all together in an easily accessible website to signpost older people and those who care for them to the wealth of invaluable information when they need it. Having access to these resources and being properly informed will prevent numerous avoidable accidents and frauds occurring in the first place.”

The initiative has the support of Bournemouth University’s Professor Keith Brown, one of the UK’s leading experts on financial scam prevention among vulnerable people. He says: “Our research has shown the impact of being scammed can have devastating effects not only on the individual’s confidence and independence, but their family and communities, the health service and society as a whole. Often the fraud is the catalyst and can often result in the victim requiring residential care or admission to hospital. This is why I fully endorse the vital support offered by Stay Safe for Older People empowering people with resources and information to help them feel safe, supported and able to cope.”

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Matthew Ryder, Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement highlighted the broader contribution initiatives such as Stay Safe for Older People can make towards the creation of age-friendly cities. Speaking at the launch, Matthew Ryder said: “Stay Safe supports our mission to make London a city where everyone can thrive and focuses our attention on improving the lives of older Londoners by providing support, interactive workshops and of course, Stay Safe Week.”

Stay Safe Week – #StaySafe 1st week of October – is a culmination of all the key articles, information and advice for older people and their carers – shared collaboratively by all the partner and supporting organisations to raise awareness and massively increase the number of those reached.

Please look out for tweets, facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn posts during the 1st week of October and share them with your audience using the #staysafe.

With major thanks for all your support and encouragement.

Please also send through information about your organisations and initiatives so we can share it on StaySafe.support and help spread the word. 

Written by Emma Hammett from First Aid for Life   https://firstaidforlife.org.uk/

Emma Hammett
Author: Emma Hammett

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