Local Dementia Café relaunches with new name

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Alzheimers, carers support, Dementia, local support, memory cafe, memory loss, support group, Warwick

Local residents are being invited to the Memory Café Plus launch on

Monday 19th June at 2pm

at All Saints Church Centre, Emscote, Warwick, CV34 5NL

The Memory Café Plus team are inviting people to celebrate the launch of this ground breaking approach to Dementia support at its new venue All Saints Church, Warwick.

The Memory Café was started at The Rock Café on the Woodloes in response to local people’s desire for more support to help them live well for longer with Dementia in their own homes and communities rather than having to move to care settings. When The Rock café closed the Woodloes Tavern offered itself as a venue and as the café developed the team could see a need for more than the visiting speakers and leaflets it was offering.

They responded by creating Memory Café Plus which offers the opportunity for 1:1 support surgeries with professionals every month.

The Café aims to provide a non-official (no uniforms) place of safety and fun whilst aiming to provide information in the following areas:

• Suitable activities for carers and people living with dementia
• Access to suitable materials
• Information and access to help, financial and practical
• Exchange of experiences
• Two hours of time where carers can at least partly relax from their 24/7 roles

All of the volunteers would have attended a half day course on dementia and after running the group for two years have acquired ‘on the job’ experience.

Memory Café Plus takes place on the 1st and 3^rd Monday of the Month and every 3^rd Monday. A professional speaker will talk on an essential topic concerning living with memory loss and will be available for 1:1 consultations. Topics include, Understanding Dementia, Adjusting the Home, Benefits and Allowances.

Every 1^st Monday of the month there will be exercise sessions including chair exercises and Zumba Gold as well as art sessions led by a local artist.  

First session opens on Monday 19th June at 2pm.

If you are interested or would like more information please call  07507646030.

Warwick Memory Café relaunches with new name

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activity group, Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimers, befriender, befriending, carer, carers support, Dementia Cafe, dementia support, leamington spa, memory cafe, Peer Support, south warwickshire, volunteer, Warwick, Warwickshire

 Local residents are being invited to the Memory Café Plus launch on

Monday 15th May 2-4pm

at All Saints Church Centre, Emscote, Warwick, CV34 5NL.

Memory Café Plus, formerly known as the Memory Café, is a safe and fun place where people with dementia and their carers can meet twice a month and take part in varied and suitable activities, share experiences, receive advice and drink tea and eat cake! The Memory Café is part of the outreach work of All Saints Church, Emscote and is ran by a team of volunteers.

The Café aims to provide a non-official (no uniforms) place of safety and fun whilst aiming to provide information in the following areas:

• Suitable activities for carers and people living with dementia
• Access to suitable materials
• Information and access to help, financial and practical
• Exchange of experiences
• Two hours of time where carers can at least partly relax from their 24/7 roles

All of the volunteers would have attended a half day course on dementia and after running the group for two years have acquired ‘on the job’ experience.  The Memory Café Plus Team is looking at increase the number of volunteers and if you can think of anyone that has a heart for older adults or Dementia care please let them know about the opportunity.

Volunteer Roles include befriending, making refreshments, playing games with visitors, helping set up and clear away, supporting activities such as art, exercise and guest speakers.

Commitment: 1st and 3rd Monday of the month from approx 1pm-5pm during June – December 2017

Free Training at All Saints Church led by the excellent Rugby Dementia Training group on a date to be communicated shortly.

If you are interested or would like more information please call 07507646030.

Please find more details about the Cafe re-launch in the leaflet below:

Memory Cafe Plus Launch Invite Thursday 15th May

 

A local charity are looking for a holiday planner to support people with dementia enjoy a holiday

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Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimers, assisted holiday, Carers, charity, cherish, cherishtrust, Coventry, day out, Dementia, dementiaholiday, holiday, northwarwickshire, Nuneaton, short trip, travelling, trip, Warwickshire

A local charity are looking for a holiday planner to support people with dementia from Coventry, Nuneaton and North Warwickshire enjoy an assisted holiday.

Cherish Dementia Holiday Trust provide organised holidays and day trips to people with Dementia and their carers. So far, they have organised two day trips, one in the summer and one just before Christmas. They are also running two holidays each year one in the Spring and one in the Autumn.

Cherish was founded by Janet Wright, a former occupational therapist, who realised how beneficial assisted holidays and day trips can be for people with dementia and their carers, by giving them a hassle free break from their day-to-day routine.

An interesting opportunity has arisen for someone with a background in travel, charity or health and social care, and who would like to do some sessional work in the Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull area.

Cherish Dementia Holiday Trust are looking for an organised and personable individual who is sensitive to the needs of people with dementia and their carers to help organise two five-day holidays and one or two day trips over the next year.

This could be a very enjoyable and satisfying role for an organised person in good health who may have recently retired, or is looking to work extra hours, involving visiting hotels and day venues, negotiating price, planning itineraries, paperwork, budgeting and accompanying the couples on their holiday or trip.

Please email Janet Wright at cherish-dementia-trust@hotmail.com for further information. If you would like an informal chat, please email your number to Janet and she will give you a call.

 

Thyme to Be project for carers living in Coventry and Warwickshire

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activitiesforcarers, Alzheimers, Carers, carerscoventry, carerswarwickshire, community, Coventry, Dementia, exercise, free, garden, gardening, LD, leisure, MH, olderpeople, rytonorganics, Warwickshire

Thyme to Be is a new project, funded by the Bupa Foundation.

The Project will start in February with an open day being held on:

Tuesday, 21 February 2017 –

11:00am to 3:00pm

at: Ryton Organic Gardens

Wolston Lane
Coventry
CV8 3LG

The open day will offer an opportunity to showcase a wide variety of garden and nature based activities available at Ryton Organic Gardens with a focus on the use of gardening as a meaningful activity to provide sensory stimulation, exercise and fun.

• refreshments will be provided
• transport and replacement care can be provided by the Carers Trust Heart of England (limited availability)
• it’s free!

Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. To book a place please contact Ryton Organic Gardens by email or phone to secure a place.

 

Contact Phone: 024 7621 7747

Email: cbond@gardenorganic.org.uk

 

For more details about this project please visit: http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/events/thyme-be-open-day

A new weekly Buddies Group for people with dementia is being set up in Leamington

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Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimers, communitygroup, communitysupport, Dementia, leamington spa, livingwellwithdementia, Memory, Peer Support

Buddies Group is for people with Memory issues or Dementia. The aim of the group is to meet others in similar circumstances who want to share their experiences of living with memory loss and have their voices heard.

Come along to meet, chat, share experience, laugh and stay involved. The group will be meeting weekly in Leamington. First hot drink is on the house!

First meeting will be held in the New Year on

Thursday 19th January 2017 – 2pm to 4pm

For more information please contact Hazel on 07748383023 or Jill on 07747632042 –

Members of DEEP

 

Songs, books and memories at Atherstone Library – 8th December

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activity, Alzheimers, atherstone, Carers, cognition, communicating, community, community support, creative arts, Dementia, expressing emotions, library, memories, Memory, mental-health, singing, singing for the brain, singing sessions, Warwickshire

Atherstone Library will be hosting their second singing session for people with dementia  on 8th December.

Singing with people who have dementia builds on the fact that people with dementia can recall words of songs and melodies after other memories have faded. Singing can help people with dementia communicate and provides opportunities for people to express, explore or reflect on their emotions.  Some studies have shown that engagement in creative activity can help people to build a resistance to stressful situations that prevent them dealing with progressive health changes.

The condition of dementia is associated with profound and prolonged adjustment, for the people living with the condition and those closest to them. These adjustments relate to changes in an overall sense of wellbeing, communication (i.e. speaking and expressing needs and emotions), living in the world with others (relationships and social life), cognition and understanding – making sense of world and making decisions, organisation and structure, skills and physical abilities.

Through the music, confidence, mood and self-esteem are boosted.  But singing can also help to develop muscle mobility in face, throat and chest, which can collectively strengthen voice production, improve lung activity and capacity and improve posture.

As a creative and social activity, singing regularly in a social environment could support the well-being of people living with dementia and the people closest to them and help them deal with life changes.

Have fun together sharing memories with favourite songs,  as well as books and pictures at Atherstone Library. The next singing session will be held on:

Tuesday 8^th December at 2.30pm

Atherstone Library, Long St, Atherstone, CV9 1AX.

To book a place please contact Atherstone Library on 01827 721675.

 

 

Warwickshire’s NEW Living Well with Dementia website

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carers support, Dementia, dementia awareness, Dementia Cafe, Dementia Diagnosis, Dementia Friendly Communities, dementia information, Dementia Portal, dementia support, dementia website, Health, information, information portal, online support, services, support services, website

We wanted to let you know about exciting developments to enhance Warwickshire’s Living Well with Dementia website – previously, The Living Well with Dementia Portal.

The Living Well with Dementia Portal (website) was first launched in 2012 and has received much praise. As part of Warwickshire’s refreshed Living Well with Dementia Strategy (2016-2019),  WCC Public Health, Communications and Strategic Commissioning, People Group have been working with a local website developer – Formation Media, to enhance the website to maximise its use by people across Warwickshire. The new website will make navigation through the webpages easier and includes new features including a support and services map to enable people to search for dementia services in the local area. Developments have been based on local consultation and best practice guidance.

The new website can be accessed through the following URL:

https://dementia.warwickshire.gov.uk/

The website can be used by anyone who would like to know more about dementia – this includes people with dementia, carers, family and friends of people living with dementia, individuals, groups and organisations who would like to know more about becoming dementia friendly and practitioners supporting people with dementia.

 

If you have any feedback on this website, please send your comments to dementiapartnership@warwickshire.gov.uk

Becoming a Dementia Friend in Warwickshire

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Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimers, awareness materials, Bedworth, Carers, community support, Dementia, Dementia Diagnosis, Dementia Friendly Communities, Dementia Friends, Health, health and wellbeing, Living Well with Dementia, Nuneaton, Peer Support, Rugby, Stratford, Warwick, Warwickshire

In Warwickshire, there are estimated to be approximately 7,600 people living with dementia and this is likely to rise to over 11,000 people with dementia in the County in the next ten years. The fact is that most people will be affected in some way by dementia during their lifetimes.

Raising awareness of dementia, creating dementia friendly communities and supporting people to live well with dementia are key aims of Warwickshire’s Living Well with Dementia Strategy (2016-2019).  To support people to live well with dementia and to raise awareness and understanding of the condition, Warwickshire County Council and partners are aiming to create 30,000 Dementia Friends across Warwickshire by 2019. Our local target will also contribute to the national target: to create 4 million Dementia Friends in England by 2020.

Dementia Friends aims to change the way people think, act and speak about dementia. The initiative is led nationally by the Alzheimer’s Society and is based on the principle that people with dementia can live well with a little help from other people and there are now over one and a half million Dementia Friends in England. Becoming a Dementia Friend is about understanding a bit more about dementia and the small things that can help people with the condition. You don’t need to already know someone with dementia to become a Dementia Friend.

You can become a Dementia Friend through one of the following ways:

1.Attending an hour long public Dementia Friends Information session. Everyone who attends a session and wants to become a Dementia Friend will get a Dementia Friends badge and information card. You can book a place on a public session by visiting the Dementia Friends website www.dementiafriends.org.uk and searching for a local session.

Or 2. Groups may want to hold a Dementia Friends Information session for their group, perhaps as part of their regular meeting. Sessions last for one hour. If you would like to find out more about arranging a session for a group please email: Keeley Waldron at the Alzheimer’s Society  Keeley.Waldron@alzheimers.org.uk

Or 3. Become a Dementia Friend through the digital route – watch a short video on the Dementia Friends’ website www.dementiafriends.org.uk  Go to ‘Watch our online video’; Enter your details and watch the video to become a Dementia Friend. Then enter your Warwickshire work or home address to get your FREE Little Book of Friendship and your Dementia Friends badge through the post. It takes just five minutes.

Or 4. Larger organisations can register with Dementia Friends, to access a suite of resources and information aimed at helping members of the organisation understand dementia and how it may affect a person. Registering will also enable you to keep a record of the number of staff who have signed up as a Dementia Friend. You can find out more on the Dementia Friends website www.dementiafriends.org.uk  Go to ‘Register your Organisation’.

If you use twitter, please let us know that you have got involved:

@DementiaCandW                               @WCCPublicHealth

Please show your support by becoming a Dementia Friend.

Healthy Lifestyle on Referral

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Alzheimer's Disease, Bedworth, Carers, community, Dementia Friendly Communities, exercise, exercise class, exercise for people with dementia, fitness, Health, health and wellbeing, keeping fit, Living Well with Dementia, Nuneaton, referral, Rugby, staying fit, staying healthy, Stratford, swimming, walking group, Warwick

Fitter Futures Warwickshire deliver their ‘Physical Activity/Healthy Lifestyle on Referral’ service for anyone living with dementia (early-mid stages), in Warwickshire. This service offers a 12 week personalised physical activity programme delivered by exercise referral qualified instructors.

Keeping active is very important but can be particularly beneficial for people living with dementia. There are many benefits of staying active which include: improved mobility, increased cardiovascular heath, improved strength/stamina, better co-ordination and weight control. Exercise can also be very rewarding, allowing people to realise their potential, achieve goals and have a sense of accomplishment.

In addition to the above a group class or exercising with a friend can help increase self-esteem and reduce the feeling of loneliness and isolation. If you have a friend or family member that is living with dementia, physical activity could be a great way to spend some quality time together doing something positive.

The Physical Activity/Healthy Lifestyle on Referral service is available at a range of leisure centres across Warwickshire, all of which offer a discounted membership to anyone that gets referred. If a leisure centre is not the preference, you may be entitled to a home based exercise programme or even get referred to the local walking group or a community based class.

All of the exercise instructors have had training to help increase their understanding of dementia and how to help people achieve their potential.

To be eligible to take part in the Fitter Futures Warwickshire scheme you need to be registered with a Warwickshire GP and have one of the qualifying conditions (living with dementia, early-mid stages).

To get access to the service you must be referred by a Healthcare/Social Care Professional or Pharmacy. Once referred the Fitter Futures Team will get in contact to get you started.

Fitter Futures Warwickshire is coordinated by NB Leisure Trust and commissioned by Public Health, Warwickshire County Council.

For more information about the criteria, prices and other services available through Fitter Futures Warwickshire please visit our website https://fitterfutureswarwickshire.co.uk/

Dementia Words Matter

Tags

Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimers, DEEP, Dementia, Dementia Action Alliance, Dementia Challengers, Dementia Diagnosis, Dementia Friendly Communities, Dementia Friends, Dementia Words, Living Well with Dementia

There is still frequent use of the term ‘sufferer’ in the media when referring to people with dementia.

The language we use to talk about dementia influences how people with dementia are viewed. Derogatory words perpetuate fear and stigma and are contradictory with the aspirations of people wanting to live well with dementia.

Dementia Words Matter (http://www.dementiaaction.org.uk/dementiawords) is a nation-wide campaign aimed at raising public awareness on the importance of using appropriate language when referring to people with dementia.

“Dementia Words Matter” is a DEEP (The Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project) guide, written by people with dementia. It sets out the words and descriptions of dementia that people would prefer are avoided.

Member organisations of Dementia Action Alliance, and other non-member organisations, are encouraged to join this campaign to take action about the use of language associated with dementia, by committing to the three Cs:

• Check words and descriptions used in your printed materials against the DEEP Guide
• Change any words and descriptions that people with dementia have identified as ones to avoid
• Challenge words which you recognise as our ‘curl up and die’ words whenever you see or hear them –  in newspapers, on TV, on websites and in conferences and meetings. And pass on the challenge to others to take forward in their own settings.

To find out more about Dementia Words Matter campaign, or to sign up, please visit http://www.dementiaaction.org.uk/dementiawords