Let’s Talk About Care – new podcast launched featuring Gyles Brandreth and Esther Rantzen
A new podcast from leading reviews sites carehome.co.uk and homecare.co.uk has launched on issues relating to care.
The podcast features Gyles Brandreth in its first episode. Other episodes so far include Wendy Mitchell who talks about living with early onset dementia and Esther Rantzen, who discusses loneliness and carebots.
The Let’s Talk About Care podcast is hosted by Jill Rennie, Sue Learner and Angeline Albert. They have regular guests on the show from various backgrounds, including experts, policy makers, those working in the industry and celebrities who have stories to tell about care.
Sue Learner, editor of carehome.co.uk and homecare.co.uk and Let’s Talk About Care co-host, said: “The idea of the podcast is to shine a light on different areas of the care sector and give people support and information as the podcast shows there are always others out there going through the same experience. Whilst it is a serious topic, there’s also a lot of humorous and heart-warming stories to tell and we are hoping to inspire people.”
Co-host Jill Rennie and news editor of carehome.co.uk and homecare.co.uk, said: “We were delighted to have Gyles on to kick off our first episode and he certainly delivered an entertaining show. He spoke eloquently on the power of poetry and keeping your brain active – I’m certainly going to be digging out my old poetry books to memorise a line or two!”
Episode one features writer, broadcaster and former MP Gyles Brandreth. He has experience of navigating the care system having supported his mother in her care decisions as she entered her nineties. He talks about his new book of poetry Dancing by the Light of the Moon and his campaign to get everyone to memorise poetry off by heart again saying it can help people with dementia.
Episode two features Wendy Mitchell, who is living with early onset dementia. She has written a book Somebody I Used to Know and in the podcast she reveals the battles she goes through on a daily basis and how she has always been a “glass half full person” which helps her through difficult days.
For her, her “biggest fear is not knowing who my daughters are. I don’t know, it may be tomorrow so I focus on the present and enjoy the now”.
Episode three features broadcaster and campaigner Esther Rantzen, who talks about how technology has its limits when it comes to care – doubting care robots, robopets or Alexa can banish the loneliness facing too many elderly and disabled people this Christmas. She also that says “as a Jew”, allegations of anti-semitism in the Labour party “worries me”, England should have an “older people’s commissioner” like Wales and the right to die is a “human right”.
Angeline Albert, news editor of carehome.co.uk and homecare.co.uk and Let’s Talk About Care co-host, added: “The painful loneliness and ageism suffered by too many of the country’s elderly is exacerbated by a lack of political will to find solutions for social care. This is laid bare in our podcast with Esther Rantzen, founder of The Silver Line helpline, in her poignant reminder that older people and the disabled just want to ‘feel part of the human race’”.
You can listen to the podcast Let’s Talk About Care on Spotify and apple or at www.carehome.co.uk/podcast.
