It's been a while since our previous post, so I thought we were due an update on the dementia support hubs going into 2013.
Our hubs are for people with a recent diagnosis, or memory loss worries, and have a dual aim of connecting people with others in a similar situation, and inviting guests from local organisations of particular interest to carers and people with dementia.
We want to ensure people have the information they need, to adjust to life with dementia in the present and planning ahead. The groups are informal and welcoming to all.
Urmston Hub
Conservative Club, Crofts Bank Road
First Tuesday of the month (6th Nov, 4th Dec, 8th Jan etc)
1:30- 3:30 pm
Hale Hub
Hale Library, Leigh Road
Third Monday of the month (19th Nov, 17th Dec, 21st Jan etc)
1:30 - 3:30 pm
Carers Group and Post-Christmas meet
Our Friday Carers Group at Butler Court will cease from January 2013.
Instead, we are starting a floating group, to meet in various public establishments around Trafford every 6 weeks. Carers are welcome to attend all the dates, but we also extend to those who just want to come along when we are at a local venue. Carers can treat themselves to lunch if they wish.
Before our carers group gets started in earnest, we will be having a post-Christmas social, to which both people with dementia and carers are invited:
Friday 13th January, 1pm at The King's Ransom in Sale.
People will be able to buy lunch or simply come for the company. If you would like to come, please let the dementia advisers know, so we have an idea of how many will attend - on 0161 746 3944.
The 2013 Carers Meetings are planned as follows, 1 - 3pm:
Monday 11th February at Mersey Farm, Ashton on Mersey
Tuesday 26th March at The Roebuck, Urmston
Wednesday 1st May at The Moss Trooper, Timperley
Thursday 13th June at Dunham Massey Estate
Friday 26th July at Sale Water Park
Monday 23rd September at The Cottage, Hale
Tuesday 29th October at The Urmston Hotel, Urmston
Wednesday 11th December at The Hare and Hounds, Timperley
Please note, the above dates are only for carers.
As always, don't hesitate to call on 9161 746 3944 with questions or enquiries.
Forget me Not - For anyone with memory loss in Trafford
Tuesday 23 October 2012
Monday 3 September 2012
Monday 25 June 2012
Monday 28 May 2012
Tuesday 10 April 2012
Number Crunching with Dementia
A report by the Health Foundation in October 2011 has provided some estimates of potential financial savings that could be made by treatments and support for people with dementia.
This table takes a bit of time to absorb – of course the figures are estimates, and I can’t comment on the accuracy or efficacy of the sums. But they give us an idea of the amounts of money we are talking about, that is, how much each parent, spouse, grandparent, each person with dementia costs to care for.
There are several things that can be pulled from this. Firstly, the importance of seeking and accepting support early on, despite being counter intuitive to many, actually can have a positive financial effect, as well as maintaining the quality of life we expect by retaining independence and membership of our community. It also highlights the cost of complications including infections and fractures, both of which may be to some extent preventable with good information and support to people with dementia and their family carers. The complications experienced within hospital also may be reduced by good quality dementia care – which is not universally provided at the present time. Once again, dementia’s unique place between health and social care means efficiency is dependent on convergent, symbiotic practices. The report also notes that the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy will create a £1.35 billion deficiency, after the £533 million it will save, which in other words is an acknowledgement that the necessary changes in provision for people with dementia should not be squeezed or confused with altering service provision to cut costs. Schemes such as direct payments and personal budgets are therefore only going to be effective in terms of supporting people with dementia if they are not constrained and governed solely by the need to save money. The final point I wish to make (although not the final point that can be made) is the financial cost of prescribing anti-psychotic drugs needlessly and without benefit. With good quality diagnosis, early treatment and support for family carers, including knowledge of how to reduce the risk of delirium, altering the elements which can be changed, including environment and caring approaches to alleviate certain situations, higher level needs can be supported without anti-psychotic medication.
The entire report can be found here: http://www.health.org.uk/public/cms/75/76/4181/2703/Spotlight_Dementia%20Care.pdf?realName=55ojeV.pdf
Estimated costs of care for people with dementia and potential savings (found on p33 of The Health Foundation’s report, linked above)
Estimated Costs
|
Potential For Savings
| |
Direct healthcare costs £8bn a year in UK.
Memory clinic service for early diagnosis: £220m a year in England.
|
Cost saving after six years if use of memory clinics for early diagnosis leads to 20% or more reduction in need for residential care.
| |
Anti-Alzheimer drugs: £720 per patient per year (assume £60 per month).
Excess bed-days in acute hospital: £1,400 per week.
Clinical leader to implement dementia care pathway in every acute trust: £3m a year in UK.
|
12% reduction in need for residential care in people with mild to moderate dementia treated for six months or longer.
£117m if length of stay is reduced by seven days for every inpatient with dementia admitted for fractured hip, chest infection, urinary tract infection or mini stroke.
£700m if length of stay reduced by two days for every inpatient with dementia by providing psychiatrist-led multidisciplinary assessment, or intermediate care. Assuming 25% of people aged 60+ admitted have dementia, and excess bed cost is £200 per day.
£38m from seven day reduction in hospital admissions from use of hospital at home scheme
£400 per patient whose length of stay is reduced by two days from use of psychiatrist-led assessment of all elderly patients admitted to hospital
| |
Inappropriate use of medication: £84m a year for 140,000 people in England given antipsychotic drugs who are unlikely to benefit and may be harmed by them
|
£84m a year from stopping inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs (assume £600 for one year’s treatment per patient)
| |
Social Care
|
Long-term residential care: £9bn a year in UK.
Community social service costs: £2.4bn.
Home care: £150 per week.
Day care: £90 per week.
Residential care: £500 per week, £26,000 per year
|
18% fewer people needing residential care after two years with care management to coordinate health and social care.
£14,000 reduction in costs of residential care from psychosocial care given to carers (200 day delay in need for residential care).
|
Costs to the patient, family and other informal carers
|
Costs of informal care: £12bn a year for UK.
£270 per patient per week if carer time estimated at minimum wage
|
£1,280 saved per patient over three months from an occupational therapy training service for carers
|
As always if you require any information on supporting someone with dementia in Trafford, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0161 746 3944.
Friday 30 March 2012
New Group Starting
Quick reminder for our first peer support group on Tuesday:
1st Tuesday in the month from 3rd April
Urmston Conservative Club, Crofts Bank Road, Urmston
1:00 - 3:30 pm
Open to anyone with memory loss / dementia diagnosis and supportive allies.
There will be a newsletter coming out in the near future, and because of the impending rise in postage costs, we are planning to e-mail out to anyone who is happy to receive it electronically.
If we don't already have your e-mail address, and you would like an electronic copy, drop us a line at dementia.adviser@ageuktrafford.org.uk or call on 0161 746 3944 with your details.
1st Tuesday in the month from 3rd April
Urmston Conservative Club, Crofts Bank Road, Urmston
1:00 - 3:30 pm
Open to anyone with memory loss / dementia diagnosis and supportive allies.
There will be a newsletter coming out in the near future, and because of the impending rise in postage costs, we are planning to e-mail out to anyone who is happy to receive it electronically.
If we don't already have your e-mail address, and you would like an electronic copy, drop us a line at dementia.adviser@ageuktrafford.org.uk or call on 0161 746 3944 with your details.
Thursday 22 March 2012
Home Care Road Show
At our last memory event, we promised to arrange an opportunity for people to meet and find out more about home care agencies in the borough.
We hear lots of stories about home care experiences - there are good examples as well as problems - and often people are unsure about what they can ask for, what they should expect, and who they can talk to about the care they receive. This is particularly true for people with memory loss / dementia who may be reliant on support for their day to day wellbeing. Carers also often have phone calls from so many people they can feel in a fog as to who is responsible for what, and who they can call to resolve issues.
We have therefore arranged an event, detailed below, to provide an opportunity for anyone looking to put care in place, or who already receives it, to find out about home care and ask the questions they have.
Home Care Roadshow
Tuesday 24th April
Urmston Library, Crofts Bank Road, Urmston
10:45 - 1:00 pm
The event is informal, free to attend and hot drinks will be available. Please feel free to invite anyone who may be interested or who would benefit as 16 home care providers in Trafford will be joining us.
If you have any questions, as always, please don't hestiate to contact us on 0161 746 3944.
We hear lots of stories about home care experiences - there are good examples as well as problems - and often people are unsure about what they can ask for, what they should expect, and who they can talk to about the care they receive. This is particularly true for people with memory loss / dementia who may be reliant on support for their day to day wellbeing. Carers also often have phone calls from so many people they can feel in a fog as to who is responsible for what, and who they can call to resolve issues.
We have therefore arranged an event, detailed below, to provide an opportunity for anyone looking to put care in place, or who already receives it, to find out about home care and ask the questions they have.
Home Care Roadshow
Tuesday 24th April
Urmston Library, Crofts Bank Road, Urmston
10:45 - 1:00 pm
The event is informal, free to attend and hot drinks will be available. Please feel free to invite anyone who may be interested or who would benefit as 16 home care providers in Trafford will be joining us.
If you have any questions, as always, please don't hestiate to contact us on 0161 746 3944.
Monday 12 March 2012
Table Tennis Olympic Celebration
Sport for all. You should be glad we decided against the hurdles.
Hope to see you there.
Wednesday 7 March 2012
Door Step Safety and Cold Callers
Trafford Trading Standards came to talk about reducing the risk of becoming victim to doorstep traders and cold telephone callers at our Newhaven group. Whilst acknowledging that there is currently no failsafe way of preventing people with dementia from being vulnerable, there are some steps that everyone can take to reduce the risk and the stress and anxiety associated with it.
1. Keep your door on a chain, and get in the habit of putting it on. If you are unable to verify the person’s identity there and then, it is OK to say you will call their company to arrange for them to return when you are happy for them to.
2. If you’re expecting someone you have not met before, give them a password that no-one else will know.
3. Memo minders can be useful for some people with mild short term memory loss. As well as reminding you, for example, not to sign anything on the spot, hearing second voice in the home can make callers unsure if you are alone.
4. A sticker in the window informing callers they are not welcome should deter genuine traders. Trading standards produce a sticker with their contact number on the side visible to you so you can call to report any problems.
5. Register with the telephone preference service, and the mailing preference service. These make it illegal for companies to make ‘cold’ calls, or send unsolicited mail. It gives you a mechanism for reporting and consequently dealing with, unwanted contact which you may otherwise feel powerless against. It does not stop companies calling who you have had contact with in the past, if you have given permission for them to call.
6. Charities – and trading companies - with whom you have dealt previously should remove your details from their contact list at the first time of asking. If you continue to have problems, Age UK Trafford or Trading Standards can assist.
7. Any person, not just someone with dementia, can be swayed by a friendly sales person. Learn to refuse firmly and confidently and not feel guilty, and don’t hand cash over to anyone.
8. Arranging for a trusted person to hold Lasting Power of Attorney. This means that if the time comes that you have reduced mental capacity to manage your affairs, your appointed person can act on your behalf, which is very difficult otherwise due to strict data protection and fraud prevention laws.
9. Don’t hesitate to report problems to Trading Standards – if they know that someone is about to be taken advantage of, they can take action to prevent this. Remember that if it is happening to you, it is probably going to happen to someone else in the neighbourhood too. The more Trading Standards are aware of, the more they can prevent. If a crime has been committed, or is about to be committed, the police can also act. Silent phone calls are also illegal and can be reported – the number can be traced even if it was withheld.
10. Trafford Consumer Alert Network is an early warning system operated by trading standards – a message is sent to anyone registered by phone, text or email, about cons and scams operating in the local area. You can then pass the message on to your friends and neighbours who may be vulnerable.
11. Some telephones have a caller display screen – all mobile phones now have this, and you can buy land lines with them. You can then choose not to answer calls if you don’t know the number. You can also purchase a blocker that will stop specific numbers from calling if they are problematic, but these have a higher cost.
People with dementia are at risk regardless of whether they live alone or with someone – after all, no supporter can be around them 24 hours a day, and continued independence is accompanied with risk. Establishment of good habits early on, taking preventative steps rather than waiting for something to happen and being prepared by putting power of attorney in place can all reduce the impact of problems.
Useful Contact phone numbers and web sites
Trafford Trading Standards
Tel. 0161 912 1377
Age UK Trafford Dementia Advice Service
T: 0161 746 3944
E: dementia.adviser@ageuktrafford.org.uk
Telephone Preference Service
Tel: 0845 070 0707
Mail Preference Service
W: http://www.mpsonline.org.uk
The Information Commissioners Office
Tel: 030 3123 1113
W: www.ico.gov.uk
Friday 24 February 2012
Imperial War Museum Trip
Age UK Trafford Dementia Peer Support 6th March
We are going to the Imperial War Museum at Salford Quays on Tuesday 6th March, and extend invitation to anyone with dementia and any carers, old or new to peer support in Trafford.
The itinerary follows, of course if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us on 0161 746 3944. We would also love to know if you wish to come so that we know who and how many people to look out for.
12.30 Meet at the main entrance of the museum
12.30-14:30 Look around the museum at leisure
14:30- 14:50 "Blitz on Britain" - A member of the museum staff will show various pieces of memorabilia from World War 2, with the chance to handle some of the pieces for ourselves. Bring your own memories and stories to share if you were there.
14:50-15:45 Cup of tea/ coffee in the cafe, sit down and socialise.
The cost of entry to the museum is free, however refreshments will need to be paid for individually.
If you cannot make it for 12:30 but would like to come later, just let us know so we can look out for you.
We are going to the Imperial War Museum at Salford Quays on Tuesday 6th March, and extend invitation to anyone with dementia and any carers, old or new to peer support in Trafford.
The itinerary follows, of course if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us on 0161 746 3944. We would also love to know if you wish to come so that we know who and how many people to look out for.
12.30 Meet at the main entrance of the museum
12.30-14:30 Look around the museum at leisure
14:30- 14:50 "Blitz on Britain" - A member of the museum staff will show various pieces of memorabilia from World War 2, with the chance to handle some of the pieces for ourselves. Bring your own memories and stories to share if you were there.
14:50-15:45 Cup of tea/ coffee in the cafe, sit down and socialise.
The cost of entry to the museum is free, however refreshments will need to be paid for individually.
If you cannot make it for 12:30 but would like to come later, just let us know so we can look out for you.
Thursday 9 February 2012
Training, Events and Speakers
New Peer Support group
We are continuing to develop peer support across Trafford, and from April will be starting a new group in Urmston. Details are as follows:
Starting on Tuesday 6th April, we will meet on the 1st Tuesday of each month.
From 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Urmston Conservative Club, Crofts Bank Road, Urmston.
The group is open to anyone with memory loss or dementia and their close family member / carer. Those recently diagnosed are particularly welcome, but we will not turn anyone away if they have been diagnosed for longer but who would benefit from support.
Although the dementia advisers are on hand to provide a source of information and guidance on various topics of relevance, the most important people at peer support are the 'peers' themselves, who understand best what someone else in that situation is going through. As well as a social opportunity, you will be in a supportive, informal environment, where it is OK to speak your mind about your experience of health and social care services, how you are feeling, and what can be done to improve the lives of people with dementia. The groups are free of charge to attend.
Carers Group
A quick reminder also that our carers group is now meeting on the 3rd Monday of each month at Wellington House, Sandy Lane, Stretford, from 1:30. All carers welcome to attend.
Imperial War Museum Outing
If you feel unsure about coming to our group, why not join us on our next afternoon out? On Tuesday 6th March we will be meeting at The Imperial War Museum at 12:30 where you can join us on a guided exploration of objects from the second world war, and find the cafe for a cup of tea and a chat.
Please don't hestiate to contact Lise or Joanna on 0161 746 3944 for further information.
Doorstep Safety
Our Newhaven group will be joined by Trafford Trading Standards on Tuesday 28th February. We are continuing to receive questions and concerns about the number of door step and telephone traders, particularly those who are persistent and are quite clear that these issues are to be taken seriously. Genuine traders and charities should be respectful of requests to remove your details from contact lists, and people should not feel reluctant to flag up when calls and requests for money are continued. Join us at 10 am on 28th February, Newhaven Extra Care, Tulip Drive, Timperley.
Memory Event
We are holding our next memory loss event at Urmston Library on 23rd February, 10:30 - 3:00. We will be joined by researchers from the University of Manchester who are interested in finding out how people with dementia can continue to be cared for at home, instead of moving to a care home. A buffet lunch will also be provided. If you wish to attend, please contact us on 0161 746 3944 to put your name down and a full agenda will be sent to you nearer the time.
Dementia Awareness Training
We also have places left on our Dementia Awareness Training days. Our facilitator, Eileen Kane, is an experienced nurse, carer and educator in the issues surrounding dementia care and always provides a lively, interesting and informative day. This training is open to those currently caring for someone with dementia and Age UK Trafford volunteers, and will run from 10:30 - 3:00 with lunch provided. There are limited places on the following dates: 16th March, 20th March and 21st March. Please contact Elaine Barton on 0161 746 9754 if you wish to attend.
Cancer Speaker
We have a cancer awareness talk at our Newhaven peer support group on 24th April. Trafford Carers Centre caseworkers will be joining us from 10.00 to provide information and an opportunity to ask questions about cancer generally. All welcome.
Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP)
Members of our Butler Court group will be joining peers from all over the North at an event to celebrate the DEEP project which was led by the Mental Health Foundation. The project was all about discovering the work that people are doing to ensure people with dementia are playing an active role in their local groups as well as influencing decisions on local dementia service provivion. Hopefully the development of a national network will make us, and the voices of people with dementia stronger. We will be going to Stockport County Football Club on the 13th March to fly the flag for Trafford's Peer Support Network.
Trafford Spending Consultation
Don't forget Trafford Council's consultation on their proposed changes to social care provision in line with funding cuts is open until 27th February, so if you have yet to offer you thoughts on the proposals, you can do so via Age UK Trafford on 0161 746 3944 or directly to the council on 0161 912 1219.
I think that is all for now, but please don't hesitate to call us or email to dementia.adviser@ageuktrafford.org.uk with any queries or questions. In particular, if there is a specific topic which you would like to know about, let us know and we will see what we can do.
We are continuing to develop peer support across Trafford, and from April will be starting a new group in Urmston. Details are as follows:
Starting on Tuesday 6th April, we will meet on the 1st Tuesday of each month.
From 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Urmston Conservative Club, Crofts Bank Road, Urmston.
The group is open to anyone with memory loss or dementia and their close family member / carer. Those recently diagnosed are particularly welcome, but we will not turn anyone away if they have been diagnosed for longer but who would benefit from support.
Although the dementia advisers are on hand to provide a source of information and guidance on various topics of relevance, the most important people at peer support are the 'peers' themselves, who understand best what someone else in that situation is going through. As well as a social opportunity, you will be in a supportive, informal environment, where it is OK to speak your mind about your experience of health and social care services, how you are feeling, and what can be done to improve the lives of people with dementia. The groups are free of charge to attend.
Carers Group
A quick reminder also that our carers group is now meeting on the 3rd Monday of each month at Wellington House, Sandy Lane, Stretford, from 1:30. All carers welcome to attend.
Imperial War Museum Outing
If you feel unsure about coming to our group, why not join us on our next afternoon out? On Tuesday 6th March we will be meeting at The Imperial War Museum at 12:30 where you can join us on a guided exploration of objects from the second world war, and find the cafe for a cup of tea and a chat.
Please don't hestiate to contact Lise or Joanna on 0161 746 3944 for further information.
Doorstep Safety
Our Newhaven group will be joined by Trafford Trading Standards on Tuesday 28th February. We are continuing to receive questions and concerns about the number of door step and telephone traders, particularly those who are persistent and are quite clear that these issues are to be taken seriously. Genuine traders and charities should be respectful of requests to remove your details from contact lists, and people should not feel reluctant to flag up when calls and requests for money are continued. Join us at 10 am on 28th February, Newhaven Extra Care, Tulip Drive, Timperley.
Memory Event
We are holding our next memory loss event at Urmston Library on 23rd February, 10:30 - 3:00. We will be joined by researchers from the University of Manchester who are interested in finding out how people with dementia can continue to be cared for at home, instead of moving to a care home. A buffet lunch will also be provided. If you wish to attend, please contact us on 0161 746 3944 to put your name down and a full agenda will be sent to you nearer the time.
Dementia Awareness Training
We also have places left on our Dementia Awareness Training days. Our facilitator, Eileen Kane, is an experienced nurse, carer and educator in the issues surrounding dementia care and always provides a lively, interesting and informative day. This training is open to those currently caring for someone with dementia and Age UK Trafford volunteers, and will run from 10:30 - 3:00 with lunch provided. There are limited places on the following dates: 16th March, 20th March and 21st March. Please contact Elaine Barton on 0161 746 9754 if you wish to attend.
Cancer Speaker
We have a cancer awareness talk at our Newhaven peer support group on 24th April. Trafford Carers Centre caseworkers will be joining us from 10.00 to provide information and an opportunity to ask questions about cancer generally. All welcome.
Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP)
Members of our Butler Court group will be joining peers from all over the North at an event to celebrate the DEEP project which was led by the Mental Health Foundation. The project was all about discovering the work that people are doing to ensure people with dementia are playing an active role in their local groups as well as influencing decisions on local dementia service provivion. Hopefully the development of a national network will make us, and the voices of people with dementia stronger. We will be going to Stockport County Football Club on the 13th March to fly the flag for Trafford's Peer Support Network.
Trafford Spending Consultation
Don't forget Trafford Council's consultation on their proposed changes to social care provision in line with funding cuts is open until 27th February, so if you have yet to offer you thoughts on the proposals, you can do so via Age UK Trafford on 0161 746 3944 or directly to the council on 0161 912 1219.
I think that is all for now, but please don't hesitate to call us or email to dementia.adviser@ageuktrafford.org.uk with any queries or questions. In particular, if there is a specific topic which you would like to know about, let us know and we will see what we can do.
Thursday 5 January 2012
Upcoming in 2012...
Happy New Year to everyone, now we have blustered in to 2012 in decidedly gale-force style.
It seems an appropriate point to give a general overview of how the year is looking so far.
Morning Coffee
In Lieu of a Christmas-week meeting at Newhaven, our Timperley group are meeting at the Bowdon Hotel, Langham Road, Altrincham, WA14 2HT around 11.00 for a coffe and a catch up. Everyone welcome to join us.
Carers Group
Our carers group at Wellington House will now be on the 3rd Monday of the month from 1:30 - 3:30 starting from 16th January. We are looking to arrange pampering sessions in conjunction with our partners at Trafford Carers Centre, as well as giving the chance to talk openly about your caring role. The monthly dates are:
16th January, 20th February, 19th March, 16th April, 21st May etc
Doorstep Safety
We also have a session focussing on door step safety at Kempton Court in Sale on 24th January, from 2:00 - 4:00, everyone is welcome, and Trading Standards will be on hand to provide advice and tips on enabling the person with dementia to stay safe at home.
We are also hoping to arrange another peer support holiday and currently generating and following up possible ideas, so do let us know if you have one!
Table Tennis Day
With the flame of the Olympics fast approaching, and being in a host borough no less, it would be a shame not to have a bit of sporting fun of our own. Although we'll leave the 110 metre hurdles to the pros, with the firm belief that neither memory loss nor 'age' should be a barrier to physical activity, we are planning to host a peer support table tennis tournament to see who has the sharpest backhand in Trafford...get practising and watch this space for further information.
Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP) Update
In September of last year, the Butler Court group helped complete a survey as part of DEEP, run by the Mental Health Foundation. Nationally they received over 140 completed surveys and are arranging a get-together for people with dementia to attend, meet each other and learn about the work of different groups, and not least unite in the quest to amplify their voices. The detailed feedback from the questionnaires will be sent in February, more information to follow.
And Finally, don't forget if you wish to respond to Trafford's proposals for saving £5.9 million this year and £42 million by 2015, visit their website at http://www.trafford.gov.uk/ or contact the dementia advisers as below.
As always we are here to talk,
See you soon,
Lise & Joanna
Age UK Trafford
tel. 0161 7463944
www.ageuk.org.uk/trafford
@dementiaadviser on Twitter
It seems an appropriate point to give a general overview of how the year is looking so far.
Morning Coffee
In Lieu of a Christmas-week meeting at Newhaven, our Timperley group are meeting at the Bowdon Hotel, Langham Road, Altrincham, WA14 2HT around 11.00 for a coffe and a catch up. Everyone welcome to join us.
Carers Group
Our carers group at Wellington House will now be on the 3rd Monday of the month from 1:30 - 3:30 starting from 16th January. We are looking to arrange pampering sessions in conjunction with our partners at Trafford Carers Centre, as well as giving the chance to talk openly about your caring role. The monthly dates are:
16th January, 20th February, 19th March, 16th April, 21st May etc
Doorstep Safety
We also have a session focussing on door step safety at Kempton Court in Sale on 24th January, from 2:00 - 4:00, everyone is welcome, and Trading Standards will be on hand to provide advice and tips on enabling the person with dementia to stay safe at home.
We are also hoping to arrange another peer support holiday and currently generating and following up possible ideas, so do let us know if you have one!
Table Tennis Day
With the flame of the Olympics fast approaching, and being in a host borough no less, it would be a shame not to have a bit of sporting fun of our own. Although we'll leave the 110 metre hurdles to the pros, with the firm belief that neither memory loss nor 'age' should be a barrier to physical activity, we are planning to host a peer support table tennis tournament to see who has the sharpest backhand in Trafford...get practising and watch this space for further information.
Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP) Update
In September of last year, the Butler Court group helped complete a survey as part of DEEP, run by the Mental Health Foundation. Nationally they received over 140 completed surveys and are arranging a get-together for people with dementia to attend, meet each other and learn about the work of different groups, and not least unite in the quest to amplify their voices. The detailed feedback from the questionnaires will be sent in February, more information to follow.
And Finally, don't forget if you wish to respond to Trafford's proposals for saving £5.9 million this year and £42 million by 2015, visit their website at http://www.trafford.gov.uk/ or contact the dementia advisers as below.
As always we are here to talk,
See you soon,
Lise & Joanna
Age UK Trafford
tel. 0161 7463944
www.ageuk.org.uk/trafford
@dementiaadviser on Twitter
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