March 2010 newsletter

Memento
Issue 22
Spring 2010
Station Approach, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8HW Tel: 01225 776481
E-mail: office@alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk Website: www.alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk
Singing for the Brain groups to start in west Wiltshire
Alzheimer’s Support has joined forces with a
national charity to bring Singing for the Brain© to
west Wiltshire.
The acclaimed singing groups were started by The
Alzheimer’s Society five years ago and have been
enthusiastically received by people with dementia
and their carers, who attend the groups together.
They have also been praised by health
professionals who say they provide a perfect
therapy for those with memory problems.
Stephany Bardzil, who is leading the project for
Alzheimer’s Support, said: “The groups are carefully
planned to meet the needs of people who often
remember song words and melodies after other
memories have faded. Our teacher will use vocal
warm-up exercises and present challenges to the
Singing
for the
Brain in
Bristol.
Picture
courtesy of
BBC
brain such as singing in rounds and harmonies.”
Our first group will meet at the Wiltshire Music
Centre in Bradford on Avon on April 19, with others
to follow in East Wiltshire later in the year.
The project is supported by Wiltshire Council. For
more information call Stephany on 01225 776481.
Alzheimer’s Support
celebrates 20 years
A YEAR of fundraising and special
events is underway to mark the
20th anniversary of Alzheimer’s
Support.
The charity was set up in a oneroom office and now employs
more than 60 people across East
and West Wiltshire.
Anna Littlechild, who still leads
the charity as Principal Manager,
was the organisation’s first and
only employee back in 1990.
She said: “ Twenty years on we
are still calling for better services
for people with dementia and
speedier diagnosis. But much has
changed for the better. Personcentred care is now the norm.
“Perhaps the biggest
Company Limited by Guarantee
development has been the
National Dementia Strategy last
year. After years in the shadows
as an illness no-one wanted to talk
about, dementia has at last
become more high profile.”
The anniversary will be marked
by a series of fundraising events
including an envelope collection
during National Dementia Week in
July.
Members of staff and as many
supporters as wish to join in will
each be asked to deliver and
collect envelopes to 20 homes in
their neighbourhood.
Our AGM In September will be a
special celebratory event with a
tea dance.
Registered in England No 3082546
£20 for 20 Years
We are asking our
supporters to help us
secure our future for the
next 20 years (and
beyond!) by each pledging
to raise £20 for our funds.
You could organise a
sponsored event, arrange a
sale, dream up an
original fundraising idea
or just send in a donation.
Look out for our pledge form
on the back of his newsletter.
You can pick up extra forms
from the office or download
them from our website
Registered Charity No 1048314
2 Memento
Inside
New projects
3
Fundraising news
4-5
Day club and service news
6-7
Mainly for carers
8-9
Local initiatives
10
National campaigns
11
Diary Dates
12
Thank Yous
12
Alzheimer’s Support exists to
enhance the well-being of
families with dementia
throughout West Wiltshire
and Kennet.
We have offices in Trowbridge
and Devizes where clients and
members of the public can get
advice and information on all
aspects of the illness.
We run activity-based day
clubs, a home and community
support service where a
specialist worker takes over
caring duties for a time, and a
range of support for carers.
Contact us on:
01225 776481 (Trowbridge)
01380 739055 (Devizes)
or visit our website:
www.alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk
Spring 2010
Alzheimer’s Support
joins group to improve
hospital’s dementia care
ALZHEIMER’S Support has joined a Dementia Strategy group that is
hoping to transform the way patients with dementia are cared for in
the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
The move follows our campaign to highlight cases where AS clients
received poor care in the hospital.
Development Manager Stephany Bardzil, who is attending the
bi-monthly meetings on behalf of the charity said: “It is encouraging
that this group exists. Its members are aware of problems in the
hospital such as poor nutrition among patients with dementia and
not enough understanding by staff of how to communicate with
patients with memory loss. What is now important is the ideas being
developed are put into practice on the wards.”
One part of the RUH where changes are already underway is
Combe Ward, a geriatric surgical ward. Measures introduced here
include better signage, activity sessions to prevent boredom and
dementia-friendly tableware, including coloured food trays to
identify at a glance patients who need assistance at mealtimes.
The group hopes to use this as a pilot for others and is introducing a
system of charter marks for all wards to work towards which set down
clear standards for how dementia patients should be treated.
Alzheimer’s Support has also been asked to help train existing ward
volunteers in dementia awareness so that they feel more able to
interract with patients.
Former carer Shirley Rhys, whose late husband Glyn died after an
eight-week stay at the RUH last year, has welcomed the moves and is
planning to meet the hospital Board of Trustees to tell her story.
If anyone would like to volunteer to help patients with dementia at
mealtimes in the RUH please contact Stephany on 01225 776481.
WELCOME to our Spring newsletter, although it doesn’t feel very spring-like
as I write this on a wintry day at the end of March.
Looking ahead, 2010 going to be an exciting year for Alzheimer’s Support
as we celebrate our 20th anniversary. We are hoping to use the occasion
to raise awareness of the illness and of our services, as well as to raise some
much-needed funds.
We are so pleased to be launching our first Singing for the Brain group!
We aim to roll out more groups later this year and next, so don’t worry if
there isn’t one near you yet.
Another positive step is our inclusion on the Royal United Hospital’s
Dementia Strategy group. It is going to be a long road and financial
constraints are ever-present in the NHS, so our advice to families is to
remain vigilant, make a fuss if you need to and let us know your experience
so we can feed it back.
Many thanks to the carers who have contributed to this issue. Bill Elliott’s
review of Still Alice is on page 8 and Bev Thompson has written a lively
account of our Training Course for Carers on page 9.
Finally, please take the time to fill in the questionnaire on
using the internet that is included with the newsletter.
Your responses will help us to redesign our website later in
the year.
Enjoy the Spring,
Stephany
Memento 3
Spring 2010
Handbook to help
younger people
with dementia
YOUNGER people with dementia
will benefit from a pioneering
handbook produced by Alzheimer’s
Support.
The handbook is the first of its kind
in Wiltshire and was funded by the
Royal College of Nursing.
Project leader Anna Spear, who is
a care-coordinator for the charity,
said: “People often think of dementia
as affecting older people, which it
usually does, but younger people
can develop it too. There are far
fewer resources for them as most of
the services in place are designed
for older people and may not always
meet their needs.”
Former chef Alan Welfare was
diagnosed with CJD-related
dementia at the age of 40.
He is a member at Polebarn and
Sidmouth clubs, where his cooking
skills are often called upon.
His wife Caroline said: “There was
nothing like this handbook when
Alan was diagnosed six years ago. I
think people will find it very useful.
“Alzheimer’s Support has been an
absolute godsend to Alan and to me
as a carer and I don’t think we would
be where we are today without that
support.”
As well as creating the handbook,
the project researched the needs of
younger people with dementia.
Anna said: “It was a good process
for us to go through as a staff team
to build our expertise in this area.”
Anna Spear
above, and
left with Alan
Welfare
The 60-page handbook contains
information on the different types of
dementia, symptoms of early onset
dementia, and explains the process
of diagnosis and treatment available.
It has a major section on where to
get help and plenty of information on
financial and practical matters,
including employment issues.
If you would like a copy please call
01225 776481 or download it from
www.alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk
Taking our message on the road…
We have linked up with Wiltshire Council’s mobile libraries to take
information about our services to rural communities.
A representative of Alzheimer’ Support will be aboard the mobile
bus for a day each month for the rest of the year, answering
queries from library users and handing out leaflets about how we
can help families living with memory loss.
The routes cover the villages around Warminster, Devizes, Pewsey
and Marlborough. See our website for routes and dates.
Alzheimer café
launched in
Marlborough
MORE than 40 people attended
our first Alzheimer Café in
Marlborough in February.
The café meets on the first
Monday of every month, offering
a homemade tea and top
speakers on a range of issues of
interest to families living with
dementia.
The event is held at the Castle
and Ball hotel in Market Place.
If you would like to come
along, please contact 01225
766481 or 01672 517435.
Our evening café in Westbury,
which will be a year old in July,
was runner-up in the mental
health category of Wiltshire
Assembly’s Health and Wellbeing
awards.
For details of future topics at
both cafés, please see the diary
dates on the back page.
Do join us for
Sunday lunch
People with dementia and their
families will be able to join our
new Sunday lunch club from
September.
The club will meet in a different
pub or restaurant each month,
so people can come along to an
event near them, or attend
regularly if they prefer.
Anna Littlechild said: “As well
as provide a pleasant social
occasion at the weekend, the
events will be run by staff
experienced in dementia care,
who will be able to offer an
understanding ear and good
quality information.”
4
4 Memento
Memento
Poignant ceremony
at Colin’s golf club
It was a poignant moment when
members of Erlestoke Golf Club
handed over a cheque for £2,000.
The money had been raised for
Alzheimer’s Support at the suggestion of club member Colin Smith
who died suddenly from a heart
attack in November at the age of 72.
Mr Smith’s partner Jeanie Arkell,
(left) and Suzanne with Bernie Maltby
Mr Smith, of Southwick, had been
a tireless fundraiser for the charity
which he started to support when
his wife Patricia was ill with the
condition. When she died in 2005 he
became a trustee.
His daughter Suzanne Leigh said:
“He had a wonderful life and was
involved in so many things and so
many causes, but it was
Alzheimer’s Support that he was
most involved in.”
Outgoing Lady Captain Bernie
Maltby said : “Colin often came to
the club with an Alzheimer’s patient
to play just a few holes. It was the
way he lived his life, helping other
people all the time.”
Spring 2010
November 2009
A record year
for fundraising
OUR fantastic team of fundraisers
and supporters have raised a
record £80,000 this year, bringing
our total fundraising income to
£164,000 including grants from
trusts and foundations.
Fundraising manager Lesley
Crawford said: “It is amazing that
despite the recession, community
groups and individuals have
given more than they ever have
before. We are grateful for every
donation, large or small.”
Songways choir in Trowbridge
gave £150 towards the running
costs of our new Singing for the
Brain groups
Hester
and Mike
Henebury
( left) )
raised £125
by running
the Bath
HalfMarathon
Icy February may not be the
obvious time to go for a dip, but
our intrepid supporters braved
the waters at Devizes Pool, raising
Melksham Lions donated £200
around £400.
after a hearing a talk on the work
of Alzheimers Support
The Rotary Club of Wessex
raised £617 at a Bavarian
A quiz night at the Prince of
Evening in March
Wales pub raised £124, while
Bath’s Wednesday Girls lunch
£2,000 was donated by local
club sent in £150
company NECSol, in memory of
Mr Fred Elliott
Thanks to The Lamb in the
Strand pub in Trowbridge which
Carewatch donated £500 to
has chosen Alzheimer’s Support
buy a new cooker for Polebarn
as its charity of the Year for 2010
club
See p12 for a full list of donors
Legacies allow the good work to live on
Alzheimer’s Support was given an unexpected
financial boost thanks to a legacy from a generous
benefactor.
We were left nearly £25,000 in the will of the late
George Hubert Hey of Semington. As well as family
bequests, he left money to six other charities.
Fundraising manager Lesley Crawford said: “This is
a great boost to us. Of course people must
remember their own family first, but nowadays
more and more people who support a charity
decide they want that good work to carry on after
they have died. We would be very grateful if more
people thought about helping us in this way.”
One man who has already decided to do that is
Mr Jan Brand of Heytesbury. He has included a
legacy to Alzheimer’s Support in his will after the
charity supported his mother during the last years
of her life.
He said: “I will never forget how much I
appreciated the help Alzheimer’s Support gave my
mother. When you go to a solicitor and write a will
there is an opportunity to leave a legacy and for
me Alzheimer’s Support was the obvious choice.”
Alzheimer’s Support is a member of the national
Remember a Charity Campaign. Find out more at
www.rememberacharity.co.uk
Memento 5
Spring 2010
Team AS train for the big run
STAFF at Alzheimer’s Support’s head office in Trowbridge
are in training for the prestigious Asics 10-kilometre charity
run in London.
Emer Worth, Maria Apps, Stephany Bardzil and Lesley
Crawford hope to raise more than £800 between them in
the event on July 11.
Also taking part are Louise Spear, daughter of care coordinator Anna Spear, and James Bishop, son of trustee
Priscilla Bishop.
If you would like to sponsor Team AS, please go to
www.justgiving.co.uk/Team AS
New fundraising
group gets going
in Marlborough
WHEN Teri Snape’s mother died of
dementia she wanted to do
something to help others coping with
the disease.
She contacted Alzheimer’s Support
and, when she discovered there was
no fundraising group in Marlborough,
offered to start one herself.
Teri, a registrar whose job involves
marrying people throughout
Wiltshire, said: “I wanted to get
involved because I wanted to make
sense of what had happened to me
and what is happening to other
people. Somebody has to do
something to help make things better
for so many people who are coping
with this on their own.”
Teri’s fundraising plans include a
summer party with a grand raffle and
hog roast at Lockeridge in June, a
’cross-channel’ swim in Marlborough
and taking part in the Pewsey
carnival in September.
She said: “I want to do things that
are fun and different and will get
younger people involved as well. My
son and his friends are brilliant
swimmers so for them a 21-mile
swim is a really good challenge. It is
also good for them to think about the
Our Current Goal
£130,000
Teri pictured with her late mother,
Yvonne Grew
needs of older people, but have
some fun whilst they are doing it.”
Fundraising Manager Lesley
Crawford said: “We are delighted to
have Teri on board and she has
some excellent fundraising ideas and
bags of enthusiasm.
“It is a lot for one person to take on
so it would be great if there are other
people in the area who would like to
get involved. “
If you would like to join Teri to form
a fundraising group for the
Marlborough area, please contact
Lesley on 01225 776481.
Thank you to everyone who has helped to raise funds for us.
Your time and your donations are invaluable to our work.
Coming up
A UNIQUE collection of memorabilia is going on show on May 30
with proceeds going jointly to
Alzheimer’s Support and Wessex
Cancer Trust.
The Nostalgic Get-Together, an
annual event in Petersfield, Hants,
has received national publicity
thanks to a double page spread in
the Daily Mail.
This year the event is being held
in memory of Betty White, who
died of Alzheimer’s disease in
January. Her daughter Liz Storey
said her family were friends of the
owner of the collection, John
Digby Lovell, and always helped
out at the show.
She said: “John is the most
genuine, kind man. His first
thought when Mum died is what
could he do to help.”
Family and friends of Mrs White
have already raised £1,500 in
memoriam.
WILTSHIRE musician Chris Stone is
planning to release a song about
his mother who had dementia. All
proceeds from the sale of the CD
will go to Alzheimer’s Support.
Chris’s concert in November raised
£1,000 for the charity.
SWIMMERS are needed for a cross
channel attempt — in Marlborough Leisure Pool. We have
exclusive use of the pool for two
hours on May 16 and 24 swimmers
are needed to clock up the 21
miles. Call Lesley if you can help.
6 Memento
Spring 2010
Reflexology, knitting and singing at Sidmouth Club
MEMBERS and carers at the Sidmouth Club got a handson demonstration of the benefits of reflexology.
They were visited at the club by experienced
reflexologist Karen Newton who talked about the benefits
of the therapy before some hands-on work with carers
and members.
Karen, who is the wife of club manager Grant Newton,
has practiced reflexology for 25 years. She has her own
practice and clinics in Bradford on Avon and Melksham.
She said gentle massage and touch was relaxing and
therapeutic, but also a good form of non-verbal
communication. “It was a great atmosphere with carers
and staff partnering with club members to try some of the
techniques,” she said.
The workshop was just one in a series of special events
at the club. Earlier in the year carer Wendy Hiscocks
delighted members with a lively singing session, and
events coming up include a reminiscence day with
Wiltshire Heritage, a show by Devizes Theatre, prose and
poetry sessions with Wiltshire Libraries and even a belly
dancing event.
Grant said: “We are trying to do something different
every month, to involve the local community in the life of
the club as much as possible and to bring carers in to
take part in the various things that we do here.”
Above: Connie Thorne enjoys reflexology with Karen Newton and left,
Pam Nazer with the blanket she
knitted at the club. It, and several
others, have been donated to the
RSPCA’s Cats and Dogs Home in
Bath
Aiming high to make Frank’s dream come true
Our Home and Community Support Workers aim to offer clients the chance to do what they
want to do. So when Frank McKim decided what he really wanted was see an A380 land at
Heathrow airport, Philip Horton knew what he had to do
IT SEEMED like Mission Impossible.
“Can we get to see an A380?” Frank, a plane
buff, asked.
So what's an A380 ? It's the largest passenger
aircraft in the world, a double-decker capable of
seating up to 850 passengers, and there aren't
many of them in service yet.
And it was mid-winter; not ideal for plane spotting.
Consulting Google resulted in consulting PlaneMad.com – the website for plane enthusiasts.
Research revealed a couple of long haul flights
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, leaving
around noon and 1pm from Heathrow. However,
the observation lounge there was closed after 9/11,
and many other spotting places around the
perimeter were patrolled by airport security who
discourage parking to watch.
A grassy triangle at the end of ‘Myrtle Avenue’
was given as the only place for enthusiasts to
observe long haul take-off and landing. Setting off
from Wiltshire on a wet mid-February morning the
omens seemed poor. Amazingly the weather
cleared to bright
sunshine en-route,
Myrtle Avenue
and the grassy
patch were where
they should have
been, and there
was room to park.
Walking across
the grass with
Spotted: the elusive plane
chair, sandwiches
and binoculars we
joined a serious enthusiast and asked if there were
any A380s about. “Yes, just over the fence and it's
manoeuvring.”
That one whooshed overhead, en-route to
Singapore, to be followed by another, going to
Dubai, ten minutes later. Only two fly per day and
we saw them both.
Now Frank would like a trip to see them landing,
undercarriage down, coming in lower and slower.
Mission really impossible.
By Philip Horton
Memento 7
Spring 2010
Artist
Clare
Brown
(right)
with
deputy
manager
Helen
Stimpson
and club
members
Picturecourtesy
The
Wiltshire
Times
Club discovers the
wonders of wool
MEMBERS of Polebarn Club got
creative with wool in a series of
workshops over the winter.
The Wonders of Wool project
was funded by Wiltshire Council
as part of its Participatory Arts
Workshop programme (PAWS).
Jenny Mayne, who manages
the day club, said: “The Friday
group members here found the
sessions very stimulating and
working with the textures and
bright colours is therapeutic as
well as enjoyable.
“The staff have also enjoyed
learning new skills which they will
be able to use with other
members during the week.”
The sessions with textile artist
Clare Brown included the
traditional skills of felt-making,
weaving, knitting and crochet.
The group rounded off the
project by creating a large wall
hanging incorporating all their
work.
Thanks to our community-minded taxi drivers
TAXI drivers in Trowbridge and
Devizes have provided great
support — in very different ways.
Drivers for Textacab in
Trowbridge proved invaluable
when a gentleman they knew
from Polebarn Club went missing
from his home in Trowbridge.
When told that he may be trying to make his own way to the
club they alerted all their drivers
and found him safe and well in
Trowbridge. When the same
thing happened later the same
week they brought him home for
a second time.
Meanwhile drivers for Devizes
Taxis are carrying collection
envelopes in their cars, so
customers can make a donation
to the charity if they wish.
Above: Devizes Taxis’ Marcus
Hopgood, Annette Harrison, club
member Pam Nazer and manager
Grant Newton picture Wiltshire Times
Support workers
brave snow and ice
to see clients
ALZHEIMER’S Support workers
struggled on through January’s
snowy weather to make sure
no-one was left alone in their
homes during the icy snap.
Day clubs in Devizes and
Trowbridge were forced to close
because of the dangers of
bringing members in by car, but
staff went to great lengths to
ensure people were visited in
their own homes.
Brenda McDonald, who is in
her 70s, travelled more than
seven miles into Melksham to
visit a client whose husband had
run out of essentials, while Susan
Dixon was one of the few to get
through to a virtually cut-off
village on the outskirts of
Devizes.
Services Manager Gill FrereSmith said: “We phoned
everyone who was due a visit to
make sure they were alright.
Quite a few visits were
cancelled and of course we
were careful not to put our own
staff at risk, but we managed to
get out to everyone who was on
their own or particularly
vulnerable.
“We have a fantastic team of
support workers here who were
determined to make sure everyone was okay.”
One client wrote: “Just a note
to say thank-you for maintaining an excellent service
through the appalling weather
we have had recently. Much
appreciated”
8 Memento
Specially for carers...
CARERS groups have welcomed
a new Carer’s Credit which
promises to protect state pension
rights for more people.
From April this year people
caring for a total of 20 hours or
more per week will be able to
apply for Carer's Credit. It
replaces the Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) which was
only given to those caring for 35
hours or more.
It will also benefit carers who
look after someone who refuses
to claim disability benefits or who
finds it extremely difficult
because of their condition eg
people with a mental illness.
Carole Cochrane, chief
executive of the Princess Royal
Trust for Carers, said: “We are
delighted that more carers will
be able to build up full pension
entitlements.”
Spring 2010
Join the carers panel
and have your say
CARERS in Wiltshire are invited to take part in the Carer’s Voice project
run by Wiltshire Council.
The aim of Carer’s Voice is to enable a representative group of
carers to share their views and experiences on services and issues, in
order for agencies to improve their services.
The panel includes men and women who care for adults and
children with a range of caring needs. Some members are in paid
employment, others care for someone all day every day, and the
majority of those on the panel spend more than 40 hours a week on
caring duties.
The panel works by asking participants to fill in questionnaires about
the services they receive.
Sarah Pearce, new co-ordinator of the panel, is looking for more
people to take part. To find out more contact Sarah on 01225 718315
or email her on sarah.pearce@wiltshire.gov.uk
Book Review
Still Alice
by Lisa Genova
WE HAVE three free bed and
breakfast mini-breaks available
for people with dementia and
their carers.
Several of our clients have
already stayed at the bungalow
(pictured above) overlooking the
estuary in Topsham, Devon.
Owner Sallie Rutledge, who has
a great deal of experience in
dementia care, provides three
hours of care to give the carer a
break, and can act as a guide to
the area.
There is a two-night stay
available on April 20-22, and two
more three night stays to be
arranged later in the year. The
breaks are funded by Wiltshire
Council.
If you would like to book a
break, or for more information,
call 01225 776481.
This is the first book I have read
with dementia as its theme, writes
Bill Elliott.
Alice is a 50-year-old professor
of psychology at Harvard University when she starts to have
memory lapses. Highly educated
and successful, with a husband
who is a biologist at Harvard
Medical School, she is surrounded
by friends who can contact
eminent doctors and specialists
for opinions and treatment.
This environment allows Alice’s
early onset Alzheimer’s to be
recognized at an early stage. As
the illness takes its terrible course
we follow Alice’s initial confusion,
her internal struggles to deny,
deal with and finally accept the
situation, as well as the effects on
her family and on her hard-won
career and personal status.
Alice had the advantage of
knowing the people and ways to
get immediate help. This makes
her story more poignant but
contrasts with my personal
experience of medical almost
disinterest and lack of knowledge
that can result in the loss of
important time before diagnosis.
What makes this book different,
is that it is written from the point of
view of the person with
dementia. The reader is inside
Alice’s mind, thinking her
thoughts, yet with an awareness
and detachment which allows us
to see the mistakes and lapses
she doesn’t. What she does see,
heartbreakingly, is other people’s
reaction to her condition.
First-time author Lisa Genova
has a PhD in neuro-science and
her scientific knowledge underpins the book. Yet what really
stays with you is the emotional
journey which is conveyed subtly
and effectively.
I would recommend this book
to all. It will have an added
poignancy for those, like me, who
care for someone with dementia.
Still Alice is published by Simon And Schuster
and is available in paperback at £8.99.
We have a copy to borrow in our head off ice
in Trowbridge
Memento 9
Spring 2010
Carers groups launched in Trowbridge/BoA and Melksham
A fledgling carers group is underway in the
Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon area.
The group has been set up by care co-ordinator
Jackie Ransome to meet the needs of existing
carers. It will meet on the same day as the wellestablished ex-carers group, so both groups can
get together to share experiences and socialise.
Jackie said: “The new group will have a speaker
one month and a social occasion the next, and
we will get together with the ex-carers from time to
time as everyone knows each other.”
The ex-carers group, which meets for lunch once
a month, is now being co-ordinated by Chris
White. Both groups meet on the first Wednesday of
each month, and venues vary.
A new group is also being set up in Melksham, as
a spin-off from the training course for carers
described below. Ex-course members will be
invited to monthly events with speakers on
alternate months.
‘Sharing experiences made
us feel less alone’
Carer Bev Thompson attended Alzheimer’s Support’s recent
Training Course for Carers at the Leigh Park Hotel in Bradford on Avon.
Here she gives her verdict on the course
CARING is the one job for which there is no formal training. So a training course for carers two hours a
week for six weeks seemed a good way of finding out more about what has become my full-time job.
At the first session consultant Dr Jill Emerson explained
the different types of dementia and what to expect from
each. She also answered questions about the methods of
diagnosis and procedures used locally.
On week 2 dementia consultant Elizabeth Bartlett gave
useful tips on dealing with unusual behaviour. We all had
our own examples! She stressed that people behaved
differently according to their personalities and the type
and extent of the dementia. As well as responding to
individual queries her general advice included not to
confront or criticise the person, to maintain eye contact,
to keep calm, reduce demands and focus on positive
behaviour and achievements.
On week 3 solicitor Elizabeth Webbe explained some of
the financial and legal aspects of caring, including powers
of attorney and the importance of wording in wills.
Earlier, Rhian Bennett from Wiltshire Council did her best
to explain the complex world of carer’s entitlements,
including carers assessments and direct payments.
The following week clinical psychologist Paul Whitby
showed us a relaxation exercise which had the required
effect as we nearly fell asleep! He also explained the
importance of keeping fit and well as a carer, keeping
stress levels low and above all not trying to be perfect.
Safer Moving and Assisting on week 5 turned out to be
an unexpected highlight of the course. Trainer Chris
Brownfield explained how to move people without injuring
ourselves in the process. His humorous delivery made for
an entertaining and informative afternoon.
On Week 6 a longer meeting opened with Sue Hunt
from Wiltshire Farm Foods who let us taste some sample
menus.
Next, Gill Frere-Smith, services manager of Alzheimer’s
The Leigh Park Hotel
Support, explained the many forms of support the
organisation provides before the final speaker of the
course, Jill Mitchener, of the Order of St John’s Trust care
homes.
She is leading a push to make the trust’s homes in
Wiltshire more dementia-friendly, with innovations
including a dementia conference for staff and outward
bound holidays for residents with dementia.
At the end of the course we were all presented with a
certificate.
None of us knew what to expect when we walked into
the course on that first afternoon. But it was so
welcoming. We all made some good friends and sharing
information and experiences made us feel less alone.
Due to high demand we are running another
course from June 10 to July 15.
For details please contact 01225 776481.
Our Carers’ Training Courses are funded
by Wiltshire Council.
10 Memento
Help to come home
from hospital
HOME From Hospital is a pilot
project set up by Ridgeway
Care and Repair and Wiltshire
Council.
The aim is to stop people
staying in hospital longer than
they need to just because they
haven't got the right care and
support at home.
Under the scheme, which is
free, a hospital discharge caseworker liaises with patients and
hospitals, including the Great
Western Hospital in Swindon and
the RUH in Bath, to make
sure people have everything
they need to return home.
For instance, the worker will :
♦
Make sure homes are
clean and safe to return to
♦
Stock up with basic food
supplies
♦
Organise home heating
and safety checks
♦
Organise home care to
help with washing, dressing,
housekeeping, shopping,
collecting prescriptions etc
♦
Help with benefit claims or
grant applications
♦
Organise minor home improvements and repairs, such
as fitting Lifeline alarms, grab
rails, level-access showers and
stair lifts.
Patients must be 60 or over, or
18 if they have a disability.
For more information about the
scheme or for a referral form,
call Natalie Milburn on 01380 73
55 55.
Spring 2010
Your chance to take
part in clinical trials
PEOPLE with Alzheimer’s disease in Wiltshire may be able to help research
into the condition by joining local NHS research trials.
The trials are being supported by the South West Dementia and
Neurodegenerative Diseases Network, (DeNDroN) which is hosted by Avon
and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership and
in turn supports research sites in the South
West including Bath, Bristol, Devon,
Gloucester, Swindon.
The trials help to develop new treatments,
or to build evidence about the safety and
efficiency of existing treatments.
Most involve checking the effects of a
specific medication, but some look at other
types of therapy or quality of life issues for people with a diagnosis and family
members.
Taking part in a research trial could involve a visit to a clinic or being visited
at home, medical examinations, sometimes including a blood sample, and
questionnaires for the individual and family members.
It will always involve giving written consent which can be withdrawn at any
time, although there are procedures in place so that individuals who cannot
consent for themselves can still take part in a trial if it is of benefit to them.
Trials that you may be able to contribute to include:
DeNDRoN 037 Dependence in Alzheimer’s disease in England (DADE)
A study of the impact of patient dependence on others on costs and
caregiver burden. This trial involves one-off questionnaires.
DeNDRoN 031 A year-long safety and efficacy study evaluating a
medication called Dimebon in patients with mild-to-moderate
Alzheimer’s disease on donepezil.
DeNDRoN 038 A study to assess the usefulness of an injection called
Flutemetamol for identifying subjects with Amnesic Mild Cognitive
Impairment who will convert to probable Alzheimer's disease.
For further information about any of the studies or general information about
research contact: Kudzai Mugweni or Abi Wright on 01225 476430 or email
Abigail.wright@awp.nhs.uk
Telecare project ‘changes lives’
PEOPLE with dementia in Wiltshire have benefited from a Telecare
pilot project which has been run by Selwood Housing (West Wiltshire)
and Ridgeway Housing (Devizes) on behalf of Wiltshire Council.
Telecare offers a wide range of sensors and hi-tech gadgets which
allow people to live independently in their own homes. The
equipment is fitted free of charge up to a total cost of £1,000, and
most homes can be kitted out well within this budget.
Nicky Kinge, who leads the project for Selwood Housing, told a
dementia conference organised by Wiltshire Council that the
scheme had transformed the lives of many people who were now
able to remain living independently at home. To find out more
about the Telecare project contact Nicky on 01225 715715.
Memento 11
Spring 2010
Study shows dementia is still the ‘poor relation’
RESEARCH by the Alzheimer’s Research Trust shows
that dementia is still the ‘poor relation’ to other
conditions when it comes to spending on both
treatment and research.
According to the figures published in February,
for every pound spent on research into dementia,
£12 is spent investigating cancer and £3 on heart
disease.
It showed that while £590m (or £295 per patient)
is spent on cancer research each year, just £50m
(£61 per patient) is spent on dementia research.
The report, which was prepared with experts from
Oxford University, said that 822,000 people were
suffering from the condition in the UK. That is 17 per
cent more than previous estimates.
It also estimated that the annual cost to the
economy is around £23bn, much of that in social
care costs and unpaid care costs.
Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the
Research Trust said: “The true impact of dementia
has been ignored for too long. This report shows
that dementia is the greatest medical challenge of
the 21st century.”
The report also revealed the diagnosis gap
between the expected number of people with
dementia and the numbers on GP registers.
In England it is believed only 31 per cent of
people with dementia have a diagnosis.
National campaign
to raise awareness
CARERS in Wiltshire have welcomed a
national media campaign to raise public
awareness of dementia.
The campaign by the Department of
Health has included TV advertisements
featuring people with dementia declaring:
“I have dementia. I also have a life.”
The campaign follows a MORI poll which
found one in three people would avoid
someone with the condition, and more
than half said they did not know enough
about dementia to help someone who
has it.
Anna Littlechild said: “The tone of this
campaign is spot on. Dementia doesn’t discriminate and neither
should we.
“We would not wish to play down the difficulties of living with
dementia. But many people with a diagnosis can still do so much
and the more they are accepted and understood by others in
society, the fuller their lives can be.”
Carer Phyllis Filmore whose husband Maurice has vascular
dementia, said raising awareness of dementia was long overdue.
She said: “It is a good thing to educate people. We have not
experienced any discrimination as such as Maurice comes across as
a cheerful happy man who says hello to people, and it is not until you
talk to him for a while that you start to realise there is something
wrong.”
Mr Filmore is a member at Sidmouth Club in Devizes. A former
structural engineer who discovered a talent for art in retirement, he
spends most of his time at the club painting.
Mrs Filmore said: “It is something he loves to do and he is very proud
of his work. It is an area that he can still achieve in and that gives
him a real boost.”
Online petition calls
for national debate
COMMUNITY Care magazine
has launched an online petition
calling for the issues surrounding
dementia to be a major part of
the General Election campaign.
The Dementia Declaration
reads: “We demand a full
debate on the issue of dementia
during the General Election
campaign, recognising the
increasing numbers of people
with the disorder and the need
to make improving their care an
explicit priority when allocating
resources in future.”
If you would like to add your
name to Community Care’s
petition, go to
www.ipetitions.com/petition/
dementia-declaration/
12 Memento
Spring 2010
Dates for your diary
.
ALZHEIMER CAFÉ WESTBURY second Thursday of
each month from 7pm to 8.30pm at Fullingbridge Farm
£20 for 20 Years
Pledge Form
Name ________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________
_______________________________________________
Telephone: ____________________________________
I pledge to raise £20 for
Alzheimer’s Support in 2010
I will raise the money by:
……………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………
Signed ________________________
Date __________________________
If you are a UK taxpayer, the value of your donation can be
increased at no cost to you. This enables us to do more with
your donation.
Gift Aid mandate (please tick)
This is to confirm that I wish Alzheimer’s Support to treat all
donations I have made for the past six years as Gift Aid
donations. I understand that I must pay an amount of income
tax or capital gains tax reclaimed by the charity.
Please return this form to Station Approach, Trowbridge, BA14 8HW
May 13 Help for Carers with Mary Platten, Carers
Support West Wiltshire
June 10 A Financial Healthcheck with Hazel Brown,
Wiltshire FAB Team
July 8 The Future—what Research has to Offer with
Prof Roy Jones, Director of RICE
ALZHEIMER CAFÉ MARLBOROUGH first Monday of
each month from 2pm to 3.30pm at the Castle and Ball
May 10 Living Healthily with Lorraine Conduit, Memory
Clinic Nurse
June 7 Creating a Life Story, with Paul Batson, Drama
Therapist AWP
July 5 Assisted Living and Telecare with Gill Roberts
of Ridgeway Housing
FUNDRAISING EVENTS
May 1 May Fair, Trowbridge
May 3 May Fair, Devizes
May 15 Bric a Brac sale, Devizes
May 16 Channel Swim, Marlborough Leisure Pool
May 22 Store Collection, Devizes Sainsbury’s
June 12 Bric a brac sale, Devizes
June 26 Summer Party Lockeridge village hall
July 4 — 11 - Envelope Collection
CARERS’ SUPPORT GROUPS (venues vary)
Westbury/Warminster, fourth Friday of each month
Devizes Melksham Carers Group, third Monday
Kennet Carers Group, third Thursday
Trowbridge/Bradford on Avon, first Wednesday
Thank You to all our friends for grants and donations gratefully received
Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire PCT, Royal Airforce
Benevolent Fund, Henry Smith Charity, Rank
Foundation, Dunhill Medical Trust, Sobell
Foundation, Albert Hunt, Childwick Trust, Steele
Charitable Trust, Westlon Trust, Devizes Town
Council, The Friends of Warminster Hospital,
Westbury and District Hospital League, Friends of
Trowbridge Hospital, Community Foundation for
Wiltshire and Swindon, Great Hinton Ladies Club,
Kobler Trust, Co-operative Community Fund, Garfield
Weston, Royal College of Nursing, Fulmer Charitable
Trust, Bradford on Avon Town Council, Marlborough
Town Council, Westbury Town Council, Devizes
Town Council, One Stop Stores, Lions Club Devizes,
Company Limited by Guarantee
Mr & Mrs Ritchings, Mrs Dawson, Chris Pope (Scouts
group), Trowbridge Town Council, Provincial Grand
Lodge of Wiltshire, Moonraker Lodge Devizes, St
Mary’s School Calne, Mrs Ewan Hilleary, Mrs Hilary
Anderson, Joyce Rodgers (Wednesday Girls), Chris
Stone, Mrs Anthea Blackford, Clive Burrows, Marlene
Jones, Margaret Fitch, Stuart Brown, Mrs Hughes, Mr
White, Miss Tucker, Daphne Ruddle, Housekeeping E
Team at Center Parcs, Hilary Spellar, Gaiger Bros
Ltd, Avon Valley Runners, Prince of Wales Dilton
Marsh, Peggy Grey, Broade Forde Lodge, Mr Boult,
Lions Club Melksham, Rowdeford School, Albatros
Group Holdings Ltd, Susan Mortimer, Erlestoke Golf
Club, Steeple Ashton Shop, Samantha Woolford.
Registered in England No 3082546
Registered Charity No 1048314