WHO I AM – upcoming expressive art sessions in North Warwickshire

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activity book, Alzheimers, art, art session, Bedworth, bulkington, capturing memories, carers support, cognition, community, community support, Dementia, escapearts, expressive art, forgetfullness, library, lifestorybook, Memory, north warwickshire, Nuneaton, people with dementia, Support, Warwickshire, wcava

 

 

Over the coming months, Escape Arts will be hosting further Who I Am expressive arts sessions for people with dementia living in North Warwickshire borough.

Who I Am is a practical informal 5 week project using an activity book for sharing stories and capturing memories. Come along to the FREE sessions to discover new ways to chat and laugh together.

Book on a course if dementia is something that affects you, a loved one or is simply something you would like to be better able to support. You can choose from the following dates:

 

 

Taster session:

Friday 7th July 2017 at 10am-12pm; held at WCAVA – Newtown Centre, Nuneaton

5 week projects:

1-3pm on Mondays; 6th November – 4th December 2017 – Nuneaton Library;

Fridays at 1-3pm; 10th November  – 8th December 2017 – Bulkington Library;

Fridays 1-3pm / 19th January – 16th February 2018 – Nuneaton Library.

To book a place, contact Corinne on 07792 053757, or Email: corinnedavies@escapearts.org.uk

Below are testimonials from people who participated in previous Who I Am sessions:

“It’s been great to meet other carers and learn new ways to share our life with my husband”

“My mum has laughed and chatted for the first time in years, we have both loved this project”

“My husband picks up his work book all the time, he loves looking through it”

Visit Escape Arts Warwickshire website to find out more about their work to improve personal and community wellbeing.

More info: Why not drop-by your local libraries for dementia picture books and sources of information. The library team are always on hand to talk you through different titles and pass on feedback from other library users.

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New Buddies group set up for people with dementia living in Leamington Spa

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Alzheimers, buddies, carer, carer support, community, community support, Dementia, leam spa, leamington spa, local community, local support group, memories, Memory, memory issues, memory loss, Social Care, Warwickshire

“Some where to come to

Give a reason to come out of the house

Meeting friends

Having a chat about anything

Telling jokes and having a laugh

I learn something new each time i come

NO pressures

Hearing and telling awesome stories

Talk about anything that comes into your head”

‘Buddies’ was set up by people living with dementia and memory issues and is run by people with dementia and memory issues.

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 meet chat, share, laugh and stay involved! First hot drink is on the house.

The group meets once a week at a local pub in Leamington Spa from 2pm to 4pm on a Thursday. Next meeting will be held on:

Thursday 13th April 2017

For more information please contact – Hazel 07748383023 or Jill 07747632042

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

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.

 

 

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/

Warwickshire’s Dementia Awareness Week event – feedback

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Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimers, awareness materials, carers support, community, community event, community support, DAW, DAW2016, Dementia, Dementia Action Alliance, Dementia Friendly Communities, Dementia Friends, Dementia Portal, event, health and wellbeing, Living Well with Dementia, Nuneaton, Peer Support, Social Care, Warwickshire, warwickshire county council

 

Warwickshire marked this year’s Dementia Awareness Week by holding a Dementia Support and Services Event on Friday 20th May in Nuneaton Newtown Centre.

It is estimated that by 2025, over 11,000 people aged over 65 will be living with dementia in Warwickshire. By 2020, around one fifth (18%) of those aged over 80 in Warwickshire are projected to have dementia.

The impact of dementia can be far-reaching, but by increasing awareness and understanding of this condition we can make a real difference to improving the lives of people living with dementia and also support those who care for them.

The 20th May informal drop-in event offered a chance for Warwickshire residents to find out more about services available to support people with dementia and their loved ones, in different areas of our county.

Partners worked together to develop a full and varied programme including holding a market stall for local providers as well as offering a number of engaging taster sessions  such as story making, memory box making,  Dementia Friends or an ‘ooomph’ chair based exercise class.

A range of providers attended the event to promote their service offer, these included for example: Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust, Millbrook Healthcare, the Herbert Art Gallery, Citizen Advice Bureau,  Dementia Action Alliance, Warwickshire Library Service, South Warwickshire Foundation trust and a range of care homes and home care providers.

The event was well attended and a number of people commented that it was very helpful in terms of networking and finding information about dementia service provision in Warwickshire, talking to service providers about support available to individual families and participate in taster sessions, or having a health check done.

Each attendee was provided with a ‘goodie bag’ containing a number of different leaflets with information signposting people to a variety of support organisations working with people with dementia.

The event also saw the re-launch Warwickshire’s refreshed Living Well with Dementia Strategy 2016 – 2019; a copy of the Strategy is available on Warwickshire County Council’s website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/dementiastrategy.

Continued promotion and delivery of Dementia Friends information sessions will form part of the Strategy’s delivery plan. There are currently approximately 11,500 Dementia Friends in Warwickshire and our aim is to increase the number of Dementia Friends in the county to at least 30,000 in the next four years.

Dementia Friends is a national initiative run by the Alzheimer’s Society focused around raising awareness of dementia and to help build dementia-friendly communities. 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 find the nearest Dementia Friends information session by visiting: www.dementiafriends.org.uk

Please see below some photos from the event.

Contact: dementiapartnership@warwickshire.gov.uk

 

What’s on Warwickshire’s Dementia Support and Services Event on 20th May

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Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimers, awareness, awareness materials, Bedworth, Care Homes, Carers, community, community event, community support, Coventry, DAW, DAW2016, Dementia, Dementia Action Alliance, Dementia Diagnosis, Dementia Friendly Communities, Dementia Friends, Dementia Portal, dementia support, event, Health, health and wellbeing, Living Well with Dementia, local community, Memory, Nuneaton, Peer Support, Providers, Rugby, Social Care, Stratford, Warwick, Warwickshire, warwickshire county council

What’s on at the Dementia Support and Services Event

Friday 20th May 2016 – 10am – 3pm

Newtown Centre, Newtown Rd, Nuneaton, CV11 4HG

As part of Dementia Awareness Week from 15th – 21st May, Warwickshire County Council will be holding a free event to showcase the support services available to people living with Dementia in Warwickshire. Everyone is welcome, but particularly people living with dementia, including family and carers from across Warwickshire.

Meet with over 20 support services at the event including Age UK Warwickshire, Alzheimer’s Society Warwickshire, Coventry and Warwickshire Dementia Action Alliance, Fitter Futures Warwickshire and more. You can visit the stands at any time between 10am – 3pm.

Please see below schedule of information sessions which will take place at the event. Please book your place at the sessions when you arrive, places are available on a first come, first served basis.

Download the poster – please display the poster and help promote this event within your community.

For more information call 01926 413 751 or email dementiapartnership@warwickshire.gov.uk

We are looking forward to seeing you at the event!

 

 

Dementia Awareness Week 2016 Warwickshire

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Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimers, Bedworth, community, Coventry, DAW, DAW2016, Dementia, dementia awareness week, Dementia Cafe, Dementia Friends, DementiaPortalCW, Health, Living Well with Dementia, Nuneaton, Peer Support, Rugby, Stratford, taster session, Warwick, Warwickshire

Warwickshire will celebrate  this year’s Dementia Awareness Week by facilitating a Dementia Support and Services Event on

Friday 20th May 2016
Newtown Centre
Newtown Rd
Nuneaton
CV11 4HG
Drop in anytime from 10am to 3pm

As part of Dementia Awareness Week from 15th – 21st May, Warwickshire County Council will be holding a free event to showcase the support services available to people living with Dementia in Warwickshire. Everyone is welcome, but particularly people living with dementia, including family and carers from across Warwickshire.

• Find out about local support and services by visiting stands from a range of services
• Free taster sessions
• Free goody bag
• Meet new people
• Enjoy free refreshments
• Opportunity to become a Dementia Friend
• Free car parking and location near the bus station
• Demonstrations of the Living Well with Dementia Portal

More information about stands and taster sessions is available on the Living Well with Dementia Portal: www.livingwellwithdementia.org

You can request a copy of the poster from Warwickshire County Council to help promote this event within your community  by emailing dementiapartnership@warwickshire.gov.uk

For more information call 01926 413 751 or email dementiapartnership@warwickshire.gov.uk

North Warwickshire Borough is on the way to becoming dementia friendly

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Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimers, aviva, borough, challenge, community, community support, cycling, Dementia, dementia awareness week, Dementia Cafe, dementia friendly enviornment, Dementia Friends, free, leisure, north warwickshire, Peer Support, race route, swimming, Warwickshire

North Warwickshire Dementia Friendly Community held their inaugural meeting on 17th March to launch their approach and share commitment to becoming a dementia friendly community. The meeting was well attended and proved to be very successful. Partners included, for example, North Warwickshire Borough Council, Arley Community Centre, Guideposts carers support service and Age UK.

The dementia friendly communities programme focuses on improving the inclusion and quality of life of people with dementia so they could remain valued, connected and involved members of their local community. The programme was launched in line with the Prime Ministers challenge on dementia in July 2012.

North Warwickshire Dementia Friendly Community have already proved they are progressing the initiative locally, and managed to achieve the following:

• Atherstone Leisure Complex are offering free swim vouchers for people living with dementia and their carers during Dementia Awareness Week. This entitles the person with dementia and their carer to go swimming for free at the centre, during the week commencing 16^th May;
• Following a premises environment check from the Alzheimer’s Society, a number of changes have taken place at the Atherstone Leisure Complex centre. These changes have included new flooring, removal of clutter, new signage, staff training and improved lighting;
• A North Warwickshire event is being held on Wednesday 18th May at the Volunteers Centre in Atherstone to promote the range of activities being offered to people with dementia living in North Warwickshire. There will be an opportunity for community groups/organisations to attend to promote their service and offer activities. Activities will include, for example, musical sing-a-long, memory boxes or oomph session (a gentle seated exercise session). Please contact Martin Horner on 01827 717073  if you wish to book a space to promote your services;
• A Dementia Friends session is being held on Thursday 19th May at Atherstone Leisure Complex. People can sign up to the course at https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/ or contact Becky Evans via details provided at the bottom of this article. If any groups or organisations would like to organise a Dementia Friends Session, please contact Keeley on Waldron@alzheimers.org.uk;
• There are plans to start a number of dementia cafés in the community and local care homes, for example, a dementia café is due to start on May 6 (afternoon) in Water Orton.

On another note, the Aviva Women’s Tour (a prestigious world cycle race) is coming to North Warwickshire in June. Stage 2 of the event is actually starting in Atherstone on Thursday 16th June. To help create a carnival atmosphere we are asking all community groups/organisation, schools, nurseries, and children centres from across North Warwickshire borough, to decorate some bunting. We will provide the fabric, and we are asking everyone to decorate an individual piece of bunting which we will collect and join together. This will be used to decorate the route.

For more details please contact:

Becky Evans

Community Development Officer, North Warwickshire Borough

Tel: 01827 719346

Email: BeckyEvans@northwarks.gov.uk

 

 

 

Warwickshire Reminiscence Action Project – reminiscence therapy and training in dementia awareness

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Carers, Carers Week 2016, community, community support, event, free training, reminiscence, Stratford, Stratford on Avon, WRAP

Warwickshire Reminiscence Action Project are a voluntary run organisation supporting people with dementia and their families in Stratford upon Avon area. WRAP have over 20 years’ experience in reminiscence therapy and provision of support through a series of training options.

http://www.reminiscence.org.uk/

On Wednesday 8th June, WARP will be hosting a Showcase Event of services available in in Stratford-upon-Avon to highlight that “People Matter” in this year’s Carers week.

The event will provide an opportunity for the public to meet with the many organisations that provide care and support in the community.

WRAP Carers Week 2016 Showcase Event

For details about this event, please contact Mike Strophair, WRAP secretary on Tel: 01789 778431

Here is information on training courses currently provided by WRAP:

Reminiscence Awareness Course

WRAP believes that this is the course for all who are caring for someone, especially if they are caring for individuals who are living with dementia or have other disabilities and of older age.

Learning outcomes for the day are geared to communication skills and knowledge of how Reminiscence Therapy improves wellbeing in participants and staff. Dementia Awareness is also discussed within the day’s programme which is activity based through group work.

This course is Level One accredited with the Open College Network, West Midlands.

“All who work with people on the Dementia journey should attend this course”
– previous delegate

Next Reminiscence Awareness course dates:

Wednesday 27th July 2016

Tuesday 20th September

Where: Briar Croft, Alcester Road, Stratford-upon-Avon

Time: 09:30 – 16:00hrs

Cost: £89.00

Please contact WRAP to book.

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Looking After A Loved One Support Programme (LAALO – previously CISP)

LAALO is an informal, people-friendly information and support programme for people looking after a loved one who is in the early stages of the dementia journey, regardless of the type diagnosed. The programme is free to attend and runs for two hours, one day a week, for eight weeks – all we ask is that you make a commitment to attend as many sessions as you can.

During the programme you will:

• learn about the different types of dementia
• receive help with finance and legal issues
• find out how reminiscence promotes wellbeing for your loved one
• discover techniques for coping with stress
• meet with Guidepost Trust representatives and others

Places on the programme are limited to ten, if the next programme is full, you will automatically be placed on the waiting list.

Next LAALO programme:
Date:  Thursday 28th April
Where:  Wellesbourne Village Hall
Time: 10:00 – 12:00hrs
Cost: FREE
Please contact WRAP to book.

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Reminiscence Therapy OCN Level 2/3 Course

If you wish to become proficient in delivering Reminiscence Therapy workshops, this is the course for you.

The Reminiscence Therapy course is an eight week training programme that involves some distance learning. It takes place at a venue of the learner’s choice, working with people who are volunteers for the duration of the training, supported by a WRAP tutor.

The programme starts with an information giving meeting which involves the trainee, the manager of the establishment where the training is to take place and the trainer, contracts are then exchanged and preparation meetings booked, volunteers recruited and all other necessary administration is carried out.

Access to WRAP’s extensive resources are provided via our resource library based at Stratford Hospital on a weekly basis.

The course is Level Two accredited with the Open College Network, West Midlands.

In addition a “life review” can be undertaken together with a written paper to achieve a Level Three pass. Both the Level Two and Three passes are dependent on a successful evaluation and observation at the end of the training period taking place. (See Fair Assessment PolicyOpens in a new window.)

As part of the package trainees will also receive a WRAP Reminiscence Manual and Trainee Record Book in addition to other supporting material.

Next Reminiscence Therapy programme:
Cost: £500
Please contact WRAP to discuss.

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Bespoke Inter-Generational Training

WRAP also provides bespoke group training workshops for organisations. The staff team have experience of working in schools and with community groups that provide for those of older age. This type of inter-generational work is successful in bridging the cultures of today and those of yesteryear. WRAP has recently worked in Bidford on Avon on a project that looked at the topic of remembrance. Linking with the Jolly Tea Pot Cafe and its members, young people from Bidford recorded on film the members concepts of today’s youth and how they could work together. The remembrance part of the project involved those who where on the front line and those on the home front. The participants carried out workshops in the local school and children created Anderson shelters out of furniture and sheets. They also created a war-time meal and asked questions and listened to the experiences from the survivors.

Other workshops included poetry, music and games, that culminated in the young people taking part in the remembrance Sunday parade and the laying of poppies on the war memorial.

Other work has been with pupils from Alcester High School who have been working on a memory board that has been funded by Balfour Beatty Construction through the Prince’s Trust. It was presented to the community of Alcester.

Please contact WRAP for details.