Can I ... Should I?

[nitram]

I've just looked at the link I posted, it's a far more formal set up than locally, dedicated community room, insurance, risk analysis.....

My experiences are in rooms used for staff induction/training and departmental performance reviews, visual aid equipment is available. The use is for steering group meetings involving both volunteers and PWDs, the attendance of the latter means that problems come straight from the horses' mouths.

In your post it sounded as if what you wanted was a on site PWD crèche allowing carers to shop and socialise at leisure!!

 

[Slugsta]

Afternoon all,

Sam, it sounds as if you really have the bit between your teeth - and good for you! I know that our local Tesco has a 'community room', I don't know whether this is available at all larger T stores, or whether other chains have the same kind of thing.

Nitram - I don't see that a PWD 'creche', if properly run, would necessarily be a bad thing. It would be great if carers could know they have an hour or so to do what they like.

Well I have been told today that the company who supplied our units are going to replace them and they will be refitted by the same person on Tuesday. I would love to have someone else fit them but if I do that would have to pay again. All credit to the company for doing this, I will tell you who they are if/when everything is done to my satisfaction.

It's grey and cool here today Hope you are getting some better weather!

 

[nitram]

Locally 2 ASDA, 2 Tesco, and 1 Morrisons have a room that can be used FOC.

Morrisons did have a manager whose mother had dementia, when he was moved on finding a free slot for use of their training room became harder.

All supermarkets like to be seen as supporting the community.

Anything LA is different, a library wanted to levy a charge and had a ban on using a kettle for health and safety reasons.

Proving the kettle was PAT tested made no difference, the hot water was the problem
Bringing in flasks of hot liquid was OK though!!!

 

[nitram]

"I don't see that a PWD 'creche', if properly run, would necessarily be a bad thing. It would be great if carers could know they have an hour or so to do what they like."

Even if it was organised on a rota basis so that a couple of carers stayed in the crèche while the rest had free time I think all those who could be left in charge should be DBSed. Paid carers certainly would have to be.

 

[LadyA]

DBsed?

 

[nitram]

DBS>>>disclosure barring service
was
CRB>>>criminal records bureau

Is the person fit to work with vulnerable people.

 

[LadyA]

Ah. Police vetting?

 

[nitram]

Basically yes

Personally I would not put myself in a position of organising the crèche without some formal checks.

There can always be a 'bad apple' plus PWDs can be very good at making fraudulent accusations. In any investigation the organiser would certainly be asked 'did you make any checks on the accused person/people?'. The best answer is 'yes, and they passed DBS'.


There is a basic disclosure the person can fill in themselves
https://www.mygov.scot/basic-disclosure/
although it's mygov.scot a person in another part of the UK can use it.

Only employers and licensing bodies can request a DBS check. Job applicants can’t do a criminal records check on themselves. Instead, they can request a basic disclosure from Disclosure Scotland (you don’t have to be from Scotland to do this).

It's free for volunteers

Checks for eligible volunteers are free of charge. This includes anyone who spends time helping people and is:

not being paid (apart from for travel and other approved out of pocket expenses)
not only looking after a close relative
https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check/overview

 

[Sam Luvit]

Bit random I know, but I'm just commenting to remind myself to comment further later! I'm currently babysitting 3 yr old grandson so a long reply isn't easy right now.

I've been thinking of trying to set up some form of something in my home town too, although I have no idea of how to do so so I'm following with interest.

Sam

Hi Earthgirl

Maybe we can brainstorm

I'm not shy about picking brains that might help, so chatted up the boss (lots of contacts) & have been put in touch with someone who runs a yoga group. Presently waiting to see if they will share their knowledge on regulations I have to follow

I'm going to slip on the First Aid course, as I think that would be good, if not essential. My CRB is probably just about in date, but I'll look at doing it again, also getting anyone involved to have one (expensive these days, but a good idea when dealing with vulnerable people)

I'd have to sort paperwork for emergency contact, medical info & fitness to take part. Good old health & safety

My ideas on activities so far are:

Yoga
Keep fit - beginner / stretches
Arm chair dancing
Word search puzzles - possibly laminate so they can be reused
Sudoku - easy, again possibly laminate
Adult colouring sheets - large books in £land

I want something that's fun, which I hope will get people talking, so make it social & friendly

I don't want to do bingo & I think a quiz would be hard to pitch right, not everyone is from this area & not everyone watches TV, so I think I'll leave those 2 alone

I'm thinking of volunteers to help encourage & support the PWD to join in

What started as musing, has snowballed into, can I do it

 

[Margi29]

Hi Earthgirl

Maybe we can brainstorm

I'm not shy about picking brains that might help, so chatted up the boss (lots of contacts) & have been put in touch with someone who runs a yoga group. Presently waiting to see if they will share their knowledge on regulations I have to follow

I'm going to slip on the First Aid course, as I think that would be good, if not essential. My CRB is probably just about in date, but I'll look at doing it again, also getting anyone involved to have one (expensive these days, but a good idea when dealing with vulnerable people)

I'd have to sort paperwork for emergency contact, medical info & fitness to take part. Good old health & safety

My ideas on activities so far are:

Yoga
Keep fit - beginner / stretches
Arm chair dancing
Word search puzzles - possibly laminate so they can be reused
Sudoku - easy, again possibly laminate
Adult colouring sheets - large books in £land

I want something that's fun, which I hope will get people talking, so make it social & friendly

I don't want to do bingo & I think a quiz would be hard to pitch right, not everyone is from this area & not everyone watches TV, so I think I'll leave those 2 alone

I'm thinking of volunteers to help encourage & support the PWD to join in

What started as musing, has snowballed into, can I do it

Excellent idea Sam

I truly wish we lived nearer as I would be behind you all the way with this

Any chance of having a word with your local priest/ vicar ?? He may have a ' free ' room,
If no joy with supermarkets ??

Any volunteers who work in care or local hospitals or public services will have their own DBS checks all ready in place, hopefully

Can not wait for our few days away, mums confabulations grow each week

Hope everyone is ok on this thread

 

[Hibni]

Tea Service

Yes Amy, I'm wondering who would be interested in helping with something like this. age UK, Red Cross come to mind, as they do some things

Volunteering is a plus with job seekers, free labour , but I believe in teaching skills to staff ( in my previous life), so long as I can give them something maybe they will give me something worth more than cash.

At least I'm thinking about something that might help, rather than banging my head against the wall.

I'm going to take over the world lol. No profit . But, work out a model, get in the motor home & travel around helping set it up while meeting new people

First things first. Figure out what I can do

A group of us have set up a 'Tea Service' in a local church for PWD and carers although there's no reason why the carer can't leave the PWD if they are happy to do so. We sit round table with cakes on cake stands and tea cups and saucers - hence the name!

We meet weekly and each week have a different theme. The first 20 mins or so are spent eating cake, drinking tea or coffee and usually there is some form of quiz linked to the theme. The carers probably get more out of that.

There is a short 'service' slot where we sing a couple of old hymns, have a very short talk and a prayer. There's usually time after that for more tea and cake!

The helpers are divided into 4 groups so that we are only 'on duty' once every 4 weeks although some come every week. I'm there most weeks with Mum, but there have been occasions when I couldn't go and she was happy for someone else (usually OH) to take her and leave her for an hour.

 

[rosy18]

Well such a lot going on Sam. Great idea but I must say that when dealing with vulnerable adults which I did in my job as we had volunteers from every walk of life, they had to have their carers with them and the paperwork to cover all aspects including health and safety was a nightmare. You have to think of toilet facilities are they able to go by themselves. It sounds awful but if you were to help them and there was an accident there could be all kinds of repercussions. That's why a lot alzheimers included activities say the PWD must have a carer with them. A lot of work Sam but well worth it
Hope your Mum gives the luncheon club another go.
We have lots of dementia cafés here and they are quite social. Your Mum being early stage would be able to go to them on her own. Do you have any near You?
We've also got a big afternoon tea dance next Wednesday which is put on by our local council.The pwd and their carers go free any other guest it cost £10. It's normally been held at the Tower ballroom it's an annual thing, but this year it's at the Winter gardens. There's dancing a professional dance couple doing some demonstrations and then teaching a few dances for those able. A bit of singing the host whose a local guy and very funny. Lots of info available for PWD. It really is a good day on 11 till 4pm.I've got Joan coming with me and my neighbour who is really good with Mum so hopefully we will have a good day.
Mum does have uti knew it but still had to wait for antibiotics. Started them today.

Slugsta got my fingers crossed that your cupboards get fitted correctly this time. What a worry for you.

Margi it's not easy with the confabulations. My Mum talks but it just doesn't make any sense at all.
I think our get together will do us all good. ((Hugs))

 

[Lavender45]

Sam I think it's a wonderful idea you've had.

I came across these the other day

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0...uring+book&dpPl=1&dpID=51s8RGHLk9L&ref=plSrch

They are reusable painting by numbers books. I appreciate they might be a bit basic, but I think the reusable element is fabulous. X

 

[Sam Luvit]

Sam I think it's a wonderful idea you've had.

I came across these the other day

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0...uring+book&dpPl=1&dpID=51s8RGHLk9L&ref=plSrch

They are reusable painting by numbers books. I appreciate they might be a bit basic, but I think the reusable element is fabulous. X

Thank you, I'm looking at all sorts of things, figure children's activities will be best for this.

I was thinking of laminating word search puzzles to see if that will work. That way I could make a lot & they could be reused!!

Got to work the logistics first

 

[rosy18]

Well got up at 5.30am to shower and actually get myself ready to go to my cousins funeral.Was all ready and Mum woke at 7am perfect so I could get breakfast, get Mum ready carers arriving at 9am and I could venture out for the first time on my own in several years.
I went into the kitchen to start breakfast and then heard an almighty bang only to find my Mum sprawled on the bedroom floor she had got out of bed on her Own!
Mum was crying with pain and fear so called for ambulance and a paramedic arrived checked Mum over and then lifted her up like she was a feather. No bones broken but very sore. I said I would keep Mum at home and monitor her as she has got UTI and is very disorientated. Still had one carer Joan come round dial for 6 hours which was needed to get Mum
up on and off toilet as she really is sore and I'm just hoping she's not going to feel worse tomorrow as can sometimes be the case.
So obviously couldn't leave Mum so never made the funeral.
Maybe I'll try again when you're over here Sam
Are you still brainstorming I think you've got the bit between your Teeth!

 

[Margi29]

Well got up at 5.30am to shower and actually get myself ready to go to my cousins funeral.Was all ready and Mum woke at 7am perfect so I could get breakfast, get Mum ready carers arriving at 9am and I could venture out for the first time on my own in several years.
I went into the kitchen to start breakfast and then heard an almighty bang only to find my Mum sprawled on the bedroom floor she had got out of bed on her Own!
Mum was crying with pain and fear so called for ambulance and a paramedic arrived checked Mum over and then lifted her up like she was a feather. No bones broken but very sore. I said I would keep Mum at home and monitor her as she has got UTI and is very disorientated. Still had one carer Joan come round dial for 6 hours which was needed to get Mum
up on and off toilet as she really is sore and I'm just hoping she's not going to feel worse tomorrow as can sometimes be the case.
So obviously couldn't leave Mum so never made the funeral.
Maybe I'll try again when you're over here Sam
Are you still brainstorming I think you've got the bit between your Teeth!

So sorry your mum has had a fall please watch your back Rosy, maybe at the moment could you get extra care due to your mums fall ??

Take care, I've pm you x

 

[Slugsta]

I'm so sorry to hear about your mum's fall Rosy I'm so glad that she hasn't broken anything but suspect you are right in saying that she might be even more sore tomorrow. I agree with Sam - please take care of your back (I am a prime example of what happens when you don't!).

 

[Margi29]

Hi all

It's just on a loop

Mums deteriorating with disease, no UTI

Hard, I keep losing more of my lovely mum each week, and it's heartbreaking

My sister is away for next ten days and mum is very up and down. The confabulations are amazing
Have took mum her favourite lasagna round today ( I'm on nights for next two )
My daughter was round and doing mums hair, she is so good with mum and patient with her. But even my daughter looks beaten

Hate this bl**dy disease with a vengeance

 

[Slugsta]

(((Margi)))

 

[LadyA]

Hugs from me too Margi. (((.)))