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.
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.
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
We have had a number of queries recently relating to the issues that traders - in all guises - cause to people with dementia and their carers.
We have arranged an open event with Trafford Trading Standards. At Kempton Court, off Ascot Avenue, Sale, M33 4GU
Tuesday 24th January 2012 from 2:00 - 4:30pm
They will be able to supply information about their services in Trafford and answer any questions about security for people with dementia.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please don't hesitate to call Age UK Trafford's dementia service on 0161 746 3944.
Not only are people with memory loss more vulnerable to scams and confidence tricksters, but impaired judgement can mean that legitimate traders - including utility companies, charities and door step sellers - cause a bigger problem, because they are more visible, more numerous and more likely to appeal to people who may have heard of them or used them previously.
We are bombarded more than ever with persuasive images and messages - and most people are able to use judgement in dealing with these, which means we can ignore them, tell someone we are not interested or know when something is not genuine. When someone has impaired social judgement - a particular presentation of some dementias affecting the frontal and temporal lobes, but can also result from a less tangible combination of memory loss and altered insight or mood in other dementias - they may be more vulnerable to persuasion.
There are no easy solutions, because the risks are so wide ranging and many companies and charities are advertising legitimately. Even a doorstop seller with a social conscience may not detect that the person they are talking to has dementia as they may present perfectly well in the short, amiable conversation. You also cannot assume that someone with dementia is not able to decide to donate to charity or buy something - as always it is recognising when something has gone beyond informed decisiveness - when a quirk for something becomes problematic. When desire to support charity becomes an unaffordable response to automated requests.
Stickers requesting no cold callers at the door, and services such as the telephone and mailing preference lists should reduce contact from considerate and law abiding sellers, but in effect means that contact is then more likely to be from unscrupulous traders or scamsters, and the risk of loss higher. There is then the question of reporting those who flout the preference-service laws, and resolving issues where money is lost and contracts signed - stress that most carers would rather live without.
Trading Standards in Trafford have a communication system whereby anyone signed up receives information about known scams and rogue traders operating in the area, and it may be that greater use of communication within communities is the best way to reduce the risks.
We'll be closed between Friday 23rd December and Monday 2nd January but back on Tuesday the 3rd bright and early.
We have one place left on our carers' Christmas Lunch at the Swinging Bridge in Urmston.
We need to fill this as soon as possible to get our orders in.
Friday 16th December
12:00 midday - should be time to leave to pick up loved ones from day support (if not I can put your pudding in a box and deliver it to your doorstep)
Swinging Bridge, Traffford Boulevard, round by the Trafford Centre, off junction 10 of M60 (more precise directions available)
Three Courses for £14.99 choose from:
Starters - Carrot, Honey and Coriander soup; Chicken Liver Pate; Mushroom, Blue Cheese and Garlic Bruschetta, Prawn Cocktail or Melon
Mains - Turkey; 10 oz Rump Steak with Mushroom & Brandy sauce; Salmon Fillet with Tomato, Basil and Caper sauce; Stilton, Shallot and Walnut Tart; Duck and Pork Sausages with Juniper & Red Wine Sauce
Desserts - Christmas Pudding; Belgian Waffles; Profiteroles; Mince Pie Ice Cream; Ice Cream
If you would like to come please call Lise on 0161 746 3944 as soon as possible.
We also have places left on our coach to Manchester Christmas Markets on 13th December. We will be leaving Urmston Manor Avenue car park at 11:30 and returning by 3:30. Drop and pick up Manchester at the Slug and Lettuce on Albert Square. No travel cost involved, again please contact Lise on 746 3944 if you're interested.
For our next peer support meetings, we welcome a visitor from Trafford Voluntary Community Action.
Lynsey Cottle works with people to find out what their experiences of health care services in Trafford have been, and encourage suggestions of how any problems, barriers or negative experiences can be improved upon. Lynsey feeds back to both the local Primary Care Trust and Local Authority and takes a proactive approach to eliciting change for the better.
If you have memory loss or a diagnosis of dementia, or care for someone with dementia, and would like to have a say in your local services, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact Lise on 0161 746 3944 or come along to one of our groups below.
Newhaven Extra Care Tuesday 29th November 10:00 - 1:00 Tulip Drive, Timperley
Butler Court Wednesday 7th December 1:00 - 3:30 Lacy Street, Stretford
As always please don't hesitate to call if you have any questions.
A recent conference for carers in Altrincham sought carers' views on the relationships between health and social care providers and the carers themselves. The key issue was one of information; how it is communicated, how much, how comprehensive, how timely.
The problem is that caring is not something that necessarily happens by choice, nor does it have a definite 'start' point, at which people know what is happening, what they need to know and where they can go to find it. Information is therefore often passed on by chance, and possibly after a period of difficulty which may have been helped or prevented by having information in advance. Families often find themselves in situations that are life changing - a diagnosis of a condition that may not be cured, or which may be degenerative, an acquired injury - and reliant on someone, a medic, social worker, etc - to anticipate what they need to know.
It would seem logical that in this age of information and communication - never before have we been able to impart knowledge so quickly to so many people - provision of information would improve as means of communication also develop. However the downside of ease of communication is that quality cannot always be assured, neither can appropriateness of information, and it is this need for good quality information, given in the right way at the right time that means skill of judgement must be employed by those in the professions of care.
When looking at dementia, the difficulty of appropriate information provision is magnified due to the variety of presentations across three or more generations. This is not unique to dementia - every illness is subject to individual circumstance - but the interaction of social and medical factors, the differences in severity at which people ask for help, the variable diagnoses which implicate different treatment pathways, the different responses from people with dementia and carers in coping with a diagnosis, mean that dementia poses a particular challenge for agencies involved.
Carers at the conference asked whether information about all available services could be posted in one place - which sounds like a stonking idea, until you think about the number of different services that people want to access, which come and go as funding is provided and stopped, and staff, volunteers and entrepeneurs move on, venues and costs alter, regulations change. To keep this information comprehensive and up to date would require significant attention, and to enable people to access information that is appropriate for them and not misleading, and accessible to all at the time they want it, means an element of human interaction is necessary. This is what makes information provision so difficult, as practitioners we can't guarantee to seek out everyone who wants help - the population affected by dementia is fluid and sufficiently numerous that those who accept contact and support straight away are going to be more visible to services than those who are initially reticent.
The nature of caring is such that a reluctance to receive support doesn't indicate that everything is ticking over nicely - and it may be that a misapprehension has led to this reluctance, so avenues for accessing information need to be open, visible and gently assertive over time to ensure they can be accessed at any time.
We can only hope that changes to service provision won't damage our abilityto manage this information provision in such a way to enable as many people as possible to access what they need, at the right time.
It would seem wrong to talk about information and not point people to key websites in Trafford.
www.ageuk.org.uk/trafford Age UK Trafford's local website
www.trafford.gov.uk/myway Adult Social Care in Trafford
http://www.traffordcarerscentre.org.uk/ Supporting all carers of adults in Trafford
http://www.traffordwellbeing.org.uk/ Details organisations helping people in Trafford
