Join us for a talk and signing with Elly Griffiths, the author of the Dr Ruth Galloway Novels on the 28th October. The multi-award winning crime novelist Elly Griffiths will be talking about her new book Midnight Hour which is a Brighton Mystery novel followed by a signing.
Brighton, 1965.
When theatrical impresario Bert Billington is found dead in his retirement home, no one suspects foul play. But when the postmortem reveals that he was poisoned, suspicion falls on his wife, eccentric ex-Music Hall star Verity Malone. Frustrated by the police response to Bert’s death and determined to prove her innocence, Verity calls in private detective duo Emma Holmes and Sam Collins. This is their first real case, but as luck would have it they have a friend on the inside: Max Mephisto is filming a remake of Dracula, starring Seth Bellington, Bert’s son. But when they question Max, they feel he isn’t telling them the whole story.
Emma and Sam must vie with the police to untangle the case and bring the killer to justice. They’re sure the answers must lie in Bert’s dark past and in the glamorous, occasionally deadly, days of Music Hall. But the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they find themselves in…
‘Elly Griffiths writes with a sharp, smarteye and great elegance’ – Peter James ‘Great on character and suspense’ – Val McDermid ‘Ruth Galloway is one of the most engaging characters in modern crime fiction’ – Kate Mosse
Sherborne’s independent bookshop Winstone’s has won the ‘British Book Awards South West Bookseller of the Year’ four times and was winner of the ‘Independent Bookseller of the Year’ national award in 2016. Owner Wayne Winstone is one of the three judges for this year’s Costa Prize for Fiction. This year Wayne was selected as one of the top 100 people in the Book Trade’s Most Influential Figures listing.
Why are so many of us lured to the beauty and power of the ocean? As inhabitants of a small island, we are perhaps more connected to the sea than others. The soothing ebb and flow of the waves mimics our breath, and yet that same power can also evoke dread and fear.
Inside Kim Pragnell’s studio in Iwerne Minster. image: Edwina Baines
You can almost see, hear and smell the ocean when you see Kim Pragnell’s seascapes: “To be able to both understand and appreciate the majesty of the sea, to recreate the energy and excitement, and to play with the light, colour and texture is something every artist should experience,” he says. There is a strong family tradition of painting in Kim’s family: a non-confirmed rumour relates him to the French painter Pierre Bonnard, who was a founding member of the Post- Impressionist group of avant- garde painters called ‘Les Nabis.’ However, he says his mother “spun some interesting yarns!” He has been a painter for over 40 years; his unique style, close to the Romantic traditions of British maritime art, has ensured a great following of collectors. He communicates through the use of line and tone, those essential elements that make being an artist a delight and privilege and with a firm Ruskin-type belief that drawing is the cornerstone of art, the ability to observe, investigate and draw has been the foundation of all his work.
It started with ten shillings. Kim’s art experience has been largely influenced by the work of the late 19th, early 20th century painters such as Montague Dawson, Stanhope Forbes and also the St Ives School. The Victorian artists, Ruskin and Holman Hunt, were also influential. In fact, he started painting at the age of five; at the age of ten his first client was the Dame of Sark who paid him ten shillings, which at the time was one tenth of his father’s income! “I’m learning all the time. For example, I had come to collect a large unsold painting at the end of an exhibition and a lady was studying it closely. She told me it lacked focus and needed some seagulls rising above the waves. I borrowed some paints and put in the seagulls and the same lady purchased the painting! I have learnt from that experience.”
A farmer’s son at sea
Incongruously, as a farmer’s son and living miles away from the sea, at the age of 14 Kim was signed up for 12 years in the Royal Navy. Later on, he served on seagoing tugs, cable ships and in traditional boatyards. He later pursued a career as a Theatre Designer: his time as a scene painter influenced his use of colour and light. It also provided an authority and confidence in brushwork – Kim’s mark-making is full of energy and movement and drama.
Kim with one of his new ‘romantic’ paintings – Wool on the wire image: Edwina Baines
His overriding interest has always been the sea but now, miles away in Iwerne Minster, Kim has nurtured a charming cottage garden, where, in his delightfully sunny, self-built studio he is changing course and beginning to paint the local landscape. He is experiencing more excitement and emotional satisfaction – it is a return to his roots and is allowing for further experimentation, providing a more interesting palette. The seascape palette tended to be just five colours: white, Payne’s grey, raw sienna, indigo and black. He commented that it could be due to his resentment of the fact that he was sent to sea at such a young age that he has now turned his back on his dark and stormy maritime paintings. ““I’m having much more fun with these. … What drives me forward is trying to use paint to find light and depth in a painting. Painting is a bit like Bluebeard’s castle. Every door you go through brings you nearer to the truth. I’ve gone from the torment of the sea to the pastoral. To the beauty of Dorset.”
It is an interesting new venture for Kim: ‘Wool on the Wire’ is an example of his new direction: “Dorset is a spiritual place”. The softer blending of the silver-blue-green palette and dreamy effect of the style is reminiscent of the work of the 19th century French landscape painter, Jean-Baptiste- Camille Corot who said: “Though I constantly seek to imitate reality, I don’t for one moment lose sight of the first impulse of emotion. Reality is part of art. Feeling completes it.”
Kim’s ‘Down on the Stour’ shows his enjoyment in experimenting with a new and inetresting palette. Image Edwina Baines.
These new paintings will be launched at a Shaftesbury Arts Centre exhibition from 13 -19th October. A further exhibition in 2022 is planned at the Slade Gallery in Gillingham, with a new group of artists named The Dorset Romantics. Their aim is to start a new movement of Romantic painting of the local landscape, recognising that Dorset is such a special place.
The Prout Bridge Project is a small youth and community charity that makes a big difference by delivering services for people of all ages in rural West Dorset.
The Prout Bridge Project exists to provide opportunities for people of all ages in West Dorset to come together socially, participate in our community, make friends and support each other. We provide:
Youth clubs and youth work (age 8-18)
Mental health support and a free counselling service (age 16+)
Sports, art, music and community activities for all ages
Access to information, support and other services including the Food Bank, Citizens Advice and the Space Youth Project (a safe space for Dorset’s LGBQT+ young people).
The arrival of Gilbert
Following a successful Crowdfunder campaign earlier in 2021, the Prout Bridge Project went mobile over the summer with the launch of a new outreach programme. Thanks to the generosity of all who gave money and rewards to the campaign, and to the time and support of many more, we were able to buy and kit out an outreach vehicle. The van is affectionately known as Gilbert, named after the late founder of the charity Gil Streets. It means that vital youth and community work can take place in local villages and at the new Beaminster skatepark. The campaign was backed by Dorset Council, Comic Relief, Sport England’s Return to Play, Power to Change Community Business and the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership. We’d also like to mention a special thanks to Mayfair, Multiform, the Ollerod and Tangerine, along with all our local community business partners and patrons. Their valued support and input into the charity has helped us get to where we are today.
Paula Tuff, Manager, said “We are all so grateful to everyone who has supported us. We feel as through we achieved the impossible, and can now take our services out and about to isolated areas.”
Beaminster Community Centre The charity has also just reopened the Prout Bridge Youth and Community Centre in Beaminster, which has been closed because of Covid, and has launched a new Autumn programme of activities.
For further information or to support us please visit our website,facebook, Instagram, or call 07802 514171.”
This month, Shena Kozuba-Kozubska will be running her second London Marathon. It’s likely to be even tougher than the one she did 30 years ago. Running that one, she “only had a fractured skull and broken hand,” she recalls understatedly.
What this top-class horse rider had actually suffered was a massive blow to the head, resulting in near-fatal subarachnoid haemorrhage. Her horse had bolted, flinging her head-first on to some posts. Even with these injuries, Shena managed to complete the gruelling 26.2-mile race in four hours, and raised £6,000 for the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund. The charity helped her financially to get back in the saddle after she couldn’t run her equestrian school for a year.
Second near-fatal accident
Forward to 2021, Shena’s now 77 and once again recovering from near-fatal injuries. An horrific accident five years ago left this internationally renowned horsewoman and instructor from Donhead St Andrew with broken breast bone, hip, ribs, shoulder and pelvis, plus internal injuries resulting in her losing a kidney. “The entire left side of my chest was caved in and I had massive internal bleeding. I shouldn’t be here, I really shouldn’t, but thanks to the amazing action of paramedics and Somerset Air Ambulance, I survived.” All Shena can recall from that fateful day is stopping her ‘bombproof’ horse to let a car pass. She woke up four weeks later in intensive care. The horse was found nonchalantly grazing by her side, uninjured. Her story of recovery is not easy. It took three people to get her out of bed. She recalls being left in excruciating pain in a chair in Southampton hospital. She rang the call-bell and shouted but it took overworked nurses three agonizing hours to come to her aid. She had to learn to walk again after being wheelchair- bound.
18 year old Sheena with the Queen 1969 at Badminton
Horatio’s Garden
Shena was intensely grateful to be moved to Odstock Hospital in Salisbury. Here she rebuilt her strength and delighted in the fresh air of Horatio’s Garden, connected to the spinal injury unit. “I’m an outdoors person so the confines of hospital were extremely difficult for me.” Shena also had to cope with the grief of losing her sister Joanna to motor neurone disease. “Joanna had died a year and a day before my accident. My sister Danuta and I had cared for Joanna, who was an incredible woman. She’d been a prison governor in charge of the infamous Moors murderer Myra Hindley followed by a successful career in business management. “Motor Neurone disease is devastating – that’s why, as well as Somerset Air Ambulance, I’m fundraising for the Motor Neurone Disease Association as well as Horatio’s Garden. I know how much this green space helped my sister as well as me.”
A long career
Shena’s equestrian career began after she was introduced to riding at Longham stables in Ferndown when four years old. She progressed to pony club competitions and after leaving school trained at Wylie “the best and only training yard that there was at that time.” She went on to become the youngest British Horse Society Accredited instructor. At 18 she competed at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials and has worked alongside some of the biggest names in the equestrian world, including HRH Princess Anne, Olympic champions Lucinda Green, Virgina Leng and Richard Mead, our most successful male equestrian Olympian. She’s also worked with Chris Bartle, dressage champion and now eventing coach for Olympic riders. Born in Kenya, Shena has returned there to run horse clinics. She also taught Carole Annett to ride, wife of Olympic athlete, Lord Sebastian Coe. This contact came in handy when Shena wanted to enter her first marathon in 1991. “My head injury had meant I couldn’t work for a year. I was overweight so set myself the challenge of running a marathon. It was January and the race was happening in April so I called Seb and he managed to get me in!” This determined woman hopes to raise £6,000 again this year. She admits the training ‘is almost killing’ her as she still struggles to walk up hills, let alone run up them. “I swore I’d never do it again but I’ve been feeling crumpled and useless. I can’t ride and would never get back on a horse as it wouldn’t be fair to Danuta, who cared for me through my recovery. I can’t even keep horses, as just a nudge from one could send me flying as I’m still not stable. I’m really hoping I won’t get pushed over amongst the 50,000 plus runners! “I’m not strong enough to jump out of a plane or wing-walk. I don’t knit! So, I will run, or totter this time, for these crucial charities because none of us know when we or our loved ones may need them.”
A local expert from Citizen’s Advice answers a question from the public. This Month: How to cope with the upcoming £20 cut in Universal Credit.
Worried man sitting at table with bills and laptop while his wife and daughter sitting on sofa. Shutterstock
Q: “I keep reading that Universal Credit is going to be cut. I struggle to get by as it is and I’m really worried that if I lose £20 a week, I’ll get into serious debt. I’m already behind on some of my bills. What can I do to avoid things getting worse?”
A: Firstly, depending on your situation, you might be able to ask to have your Universal Credit paid differently – these are called ‘alternative payment arrangements’. This might be an option if you’re in debt or rent arrears, among other things. To apply for an alternative payment arrangement, call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644
Behind on the bills
If you’re behind on some of your bills, the first step is to make a list of how much you owe and add up how much you need to pay each month.
You now need to prioritise your debts. We have advice on our website to help you do this. Some bills can cause you more problems than others: Rent or mortgage arrears, council tax and energy bills are your priority debts – there can be serious consequences if you don’t pay them. Get in touch with the organisations you owe money to (these are known as your creditors). They might be able to help by letting you pay smaller amounts or taking a break from payments. Many organisations have put in place protections for people who’ve struggled to pay their bills during the pandemic. The government-backed Breathing Space scheme could also give you extra time. If you’re eligible, you could get 60 days where your creditors can’t contact you, take action to make you pay, or add interest and charges to your debt. You’ll need to get advice from a debt adviser first – they’ll check all your debts to see if they’re covered by the scheme.
Finally, it’s always a good idea to have a budget – take a look at the budgeting tool on our website and make sure you’re getting all the income you’re entitled to.
Ask for help.
Everyone’s circumstance is different, particularly when it comes to managing personal finances. If you need more specific support or don’t feel able to manage your situation alone, contact your local Citizens Advice or call our debt helpline: 0800 240 4420. Other organisations providing free debt advice include Stepchange and National Debtline.”
On January 11, 1895, the Western Gazette published a story about strange goings-on in a Dorset village. The paper described ‘considerable excitement’ at Durweston ‘in consequence of the supposition that one of its cottages is haunted’.
The cottage was one of a semi- detached, white-walled pair that stand high on the hill above Durweston. They have been a familiar landmark for 170 years and can be seen to this day from the A350 and the trailway between Blandford and Stourpaine. The events that caused the stir began on December 13, 1894, when widow Mrs Best heard knocking and scratching sounds in various parts of her cottage. The strange noises recurred several times over the next few days, gradually increasing in volume until next-door neighbour Mr Newman could also hear them.
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Bizarre occurrence
The village blacksmith said the sounds were ‘as heavy as sledgehammer blows’. Mrs Best, aged about 60, had recently taken in two orphaned sisters from the workhouse, Annie, aged 12 or 13, and Gertie Cleave, who was four. Annie was in poor health. A doctor described her as ‘of a markedly consumptive tendency’ and ‘hysterical’. As December wore on, even more bizarre occurrences took place. Small stones flew through the windows, breaking the glass, then returned of their own volition through the clean, round holes they had made. On December 18, Annie saw an old boot fly from the garden and strike the back door, leaving a muddy mark. Gamekeeper Mr Newman saw beads strike the window while a ‘quantity of little shells’ and two thimbles travelled horizontally 5ft off the ground. ‘They came very slowly and when they hit me I could hardly feel them,’ said Mr Newman. ‘The thimbles struck my hat.’ Other moving objects included a slate-pencil and a hasp. After the old boot returned, Mrs Best threw it outside and Mr Newman put his foot on it and commanded: ‘I defy anything to move this boot.’ ‘Just as I stepped off, it rose up behind me and knocked my hat off; there was no-one behind me,’ said the incredulous gamekeeper. Other witnesses included Durweston’s rector, the Rev W M Anderson, and schoolmaster, Mr Sheppard.
Following the two men’s arrival, Mrs Best put the girls to bed in Mr Newman’s house and lay down beside them. Loud rappings were heard on the walls in different parts of the room, along with occasional scratching sounds. Despite checks to ensure no-one was playing tricks, the ‘loud and continuous’ sounds continued for much of the night. By using a specified number of raps for ‘yes’, Mr Sheppard asked the ‘agency’ if it would communicate by writing on a slate. This was not just any old poltergeist but one with intelligence. It was clever enough to answer a series of questions as to where the slate should be placed, declining every location apart from the windowsill. The presence’s first attempt on the slate resulted in a few meaningless scratches but after Anderson and Sheppard asked it to try again, it produced curves that were ‘beautifully drawn’ with firm, bold lines ‘such as no child could produce’. When the exercise was repeated twice more, the words ‘MONY’ and ‘GARDEN’ appeared on the slate. When Annie and Gertie stayed with the Cross family elsewhere in Durweston, the poltergeist went with them. Scratching and tapping sounds were heard even when the girls were asleep and plaster fell on their heads. Before many witnesses, the presence again rapped out answers to questions. Then came perhaps the most intriguing event of the whole saga – it tapped out a well-known tune. Fred Cross requested several more ‘comic, School and sacred songs, which were all answered by raps on the head of the bedstead for each single note’. ‘The only tune we asked for which was not rapped out was The British Grenadiers,’ he said. The sisters were split up soon after and the story has a tragic ending. Annie, who was thought to be the conduit for the poltergeist, went initially to Iwerne Minster and then to London, where she died of tuberculosis. What happened to Gertie is unknown.
Books on ghosts abound but there are very few on poltergeists, a rarer and more specific phenomenon which usually involves furniture and other objects moving around, sometimes with considerable violence.
Poltergeists also tend to be associated with a particular person and rarely last more than a few weeks or months. Ghosts, on the other hand, occur at a specific location, are often seen by many people and can go on for years or even centuries. In a new book, paranormal investigator John Fraser contends that while ghostly sightings are almost impossible to prove, poltergeist phenomena can be empirically verified. Fraser – former vice-chair of the Ghost Club and a leading member of the Society for Psychical Research – invites his readers to join his quest to discover the truth behind this complex and contentious subject. His journey embraces poltergeist cases ancient and modern, famous and little known, and includes his own investigation of The Cage, a medieval jail at St Osyth, Essex, where 13 witches were imprisoned while awaiting their trial in 1582. Fraser personally interviewed two dozen witnesses, including owner Vanessa Mitchell, who was driven out of her home by the poltergeist activity.
Master Saddler Lisa Hoskins from Kington Magna won the prestigious Open Bridle class for a Bridle suitable for Cross-Country riding.
“To win at the National Saddlery Competition is always a great achievement, something to be proud of after all the work and effort” said Lisa “I love making bridles, especially ones with ‘bling’ browbands!”
Hard work and high standards
The Award recognises those who uphold the highest standards of leathercraft skills. Lisa has won the Open Bridle Class of the National Saddlery Competition three times, and has also won The Alf Batchelor Award for Best Piece of Bridlework. Recently, she has judged at the competition too.
Not just saddles.
As a Master Saddler and Qualified Saddle Fitter, Lisa’s work varies hugely from making a dog collar to fitting and flocking saddles and putting zips in boots. Lisa enjoys her trade, but confesses that saddle fitting is among her favourites. “It gets me out of the workshop, and I get to meet some lovely people and horses; many clients have become good friends.”
Louisa Adjoa Parker is a writer and poet of English – Ghanaian heritage who lives in Dorset. Louisa has been highly commended by the Forward Prize; twice shortlisted by the Bridport Prize; and her grief poem, Kindness, was commended by the National Poetry Competition 2019. Louisa gained wide local attention in the summer of 2020 with her poem Dear White West Country People.
1. What’s your relationship with the Blackmore Vale (the area, not us!)? I have lived in West Dorset since I was 19 – North Dorset has always been the beautiful neighbour I can pop over and visit!
2. What was the last movie you watched? Would you recommend it? People Just Do Nothing: Big in Japan! People Just Doing Nothing is one of my favourite TV shows. I love the writing, the characters, the cringe comedy, even their story as actors. It was my first cinema trip for nearly two years, and it was a brilliant film. I’d recommend watching the TV shows first though!
3. What was the best thing before sliced bread? Books and the printing press, without a doubt!
4. It’s Friday night – you have the house to yourself, and no work is allowed. What are you going to do? Netflix and some prosecco! If we had a bath, I’d be in it, but we don’t at the moment. Soon, hopefully!
5. What would you like to tell 15yr old you? Oh. Okay. Well I had a tough childhood and a difficult adolescence. We moved to Paignton to be near my grandparents when parents split – I was 13, and sadly within a few weeks my granddad died. It was a tough time, and I really struggled as a teenager – especially being mixed race in Devon. I saw no-one who wasn’t white. I struggled to make sense of myself, I got into drinking, smoking, all the typical teen things. So I’d say to 15 yr old me: “No matter what people say, you’re not fat. You’re notugly. Things will get better. Life is tough, it’s going to be challenging. But there will be lots of joy too. Hang in there, and just keep going.”
6. What’s your secret superpower? Resilience. I’ve been through a lot of tough times, but I’ve learned to cope – and also to recognise when I’m not coping so well, and to look after myself.
7. What shop can you not pass without going in? I do love clothes, I love to take a look at what’s happening with the latest fashions. Oh, actually I really love a good health food shop. If I see one I’m in.
8. Chip Shop Chips or Home- baked Cake? Oh this is hard. These are hard! I like both. I’m trying to cut carbs (I know, I’m so boring), but I love to bake cakes at home with ground almonds. This is really tricky… okay, I’ll go for cake. No chips. No, cake. Chips. Cake! Then I can put what I want in it.
9. If you were sent to an island for a year and could only bring three things, what would you bring? (the island has a magical power source and a laptop waiting for you) I’m going to choose a book, a duvet and headphones. But don’t ask which book. Far too hard for me to choose!
10. What in life is frankly a mystery to you? Why humans do the things we do. I really really struggle to understand it. I think that we have this amazing capacity to do great things, to be so kind and compassionate; and yet so often that just gets lost, and we behave in awful ways. I really don’t understand why. Humans are imperfect, and make mistakes, but how do people turn on others so easily? Why don’t we learn?
11. What’s your most annoying trait? Hmm. I talk a lot? Some people might find that annoying. Actually, it’s probably that I’m over-sensitive to noise, I’m sure that’s annoying to a lot of people. Especially my husband. Lots of noises irritate me – even someone eating can put me on edge. That’s probably very hard to live with!
12. The best biscuit for dunking? I’m one of those mildly annoying people that’s given up gluten and refined sugar. I haven’t actually had a proper biscuit for years. But I can still remember how much I loved a chocolate digestive dunked in a mug of tea.
13. Who’s your celebrity crush? Right now it’s going to be the entire People Just Do Nothing cast!
14. What book did you read last year that stayed with you? A state of fear by Laura Dodsworth. She challenges the reader to think and interrogate what’s been going on since last March, and offers an alternative narrative which is incredibly well researched and beautifully written.
15. Your top three most- visited, favourite websites? Clothes sites – including Cos and H&M. I’m trying to be more ethical and they seem committed to sustainability. Netflix! I get involved with the comedies and dramas, I really escape into stories (probably why I became a writer), I love choice, and I love binge watching! Spotify – I have loads of playlists and love a wide range of music!
16. Favourite quote? Movie, book or inspirational – we won’t judge. Oh. My favourite one is sweary, I can’t say that! Hmm. I think it has to be ‘This too will pass’. I know, it’s hippyish. But when I’m struggling, it’s good to be reminded this isn’t going to be here forever. I find it can be reassuring and powerful.
17. What’s the best evening you’ve ever had? Recently I went to see a band called Laid Blak in Lyme Regis. It was just the most fun – being able to dance, in a room full of people, seeing young people having a good time, a couple of cheeky glasses of wine… Just being with people who are happy. I think all my good evenings have involved all those things; people coming together and having a good time.
18. Favourite crisp flavour? Salt and Vinegar, without a doubt. (The first spontaneous answer in a year to this contentious question! Well done. Ed)
19. You have the power to pass one law tomorrow, uncontested. What would you do? I would declare that everyone had to be kind. Just be kind to other humans. It seems to be something we’ve lost, and social media makes it easy to be horrible and not think about the consequences of our actions. So I’d pass the law to make everyone act compassionately and with empathy.
Louisa’s poetry pamphlet, She can still sing, was published by Flipped Eye in June 2021, and she has a coastal memoir forthcoming with Dorset’s Little Toller Books.
Independence is important to all of us – but as we reach a certain age or develop a medical problem and the threat of a care home looms, it becomes a jealously guarded treasure.
The ability to stay in your own home is beneficial for all sorts of reasons. Now, there’s a new technology being tested in Dorset and you don’t even need to be able to use the internet to take part. But does it work, asks Rachel Rowe.
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So who is Lilli?
Dorset Council is working with a technology company called Lilli on a three month trial using assistive technology in homes. Having been completely unnerved by an Alexa device in a friend’s home recently, I’m sceptical – and like most people, wondering where my information is going. Dorset Cabinet Lead Member for Health Cllr Piers Brown explained: “The Lilli technology consists of some very discreet sensors that are placed around a person’s home. They simply detect movement around the house. The data collected from the home is transmitted to a team of occupational therapists working in the social care department at Dorset Council. Using artificial intelligence and cloud technology, the team are able to monitor trends and overall health with that person.” I’m still left wondering whether this is all a bit too intrusive but I’m reassured by Piers. “The sensors are very discreet. You barely know they are there. It’s not like one of the pendants that older people are given to wear- and then of course are not wearing it when they fall over.” All the data is handled securely by Dorset Council and the project has to undergo a rigorous assessment to ensure a person’s information is handled in confidence before it can start. The technology does not ‘observe people’, it simply detects movement – or a lack of it. And one of the things that fascinated me was how it can detect a problem before it happens.
It’s all in the hips
Fractured hips are one of the biggest causes of someone over 50 losing their independence. They result in decreased physical activity, losing the ability to go out and socialise, having to move to residential care – and research shows one in three adults aged over 50 dies within 12 months of suffering a hip fracture. And that’s before anyone starts talking about the cost to the NHS and hospital bed occupancy. But what if that could be prevented? That’s where technology like Lilli comes in. When the occupational therapy team are monitoring the data, they can pick up when someone’s balance is deteriorating and do something about it before they fall. A therapist could introduce a few exercises to help that person, or place an appliance in the home to support them.
Staying out of care homes
The Lilli technology can also detect a urinary tract infection (UTI) before it happens just by monitoring the number of times someone uses the loo. Given a simple UTI in an elderly person causes dementia-like confusion and can lead to them falling at home, there are huge opportunities for the occupational therapy team to intervene and deal with an issue almost before it has happened, preventing admissions to hospitals and most importantly, keeping people healthier and more independent in their homes. Often, someone about to be discharged from hospital just needs a little support to stay independent. Instead of needing a care home bed they can go straight home to the comfort and familiarity with the Lilli monitoring arrangements.
Dorset Council is currently recruiting 100 people for a three month trial
Staff will identify people suitable and participants will have a choice of taking part. You don’t need to be able to use the internet or even have a computer to have the Lilli technology in your home. Piers is clearly an enthusiast. “The technology enables us to design reablement (temporary care to help a convalescent get back to normal and stay independent) care around the person. It makes a meaningful difference to someone’s life.” With the ability to improve quality of life by keeping people safe in their own homes and improving health, the new technology makes it an exciting time for reablement in the county.
