Dementia care through rose coloured spectacles

[CaPattinson]

rose spectacles

Dear Angela, I could swear I've been inside someones wonderful dream. Eutopia comes to mind. Am I being totally stupid or does this wonderland really exist? If there had been anything remotely similar near to me when mum was still here, we would have been there every day. There would have been something new to experience each visit. If this marvellous place is not being used to the full it is very sad indeed. A travesty! Your dedication is admirable and commendable. I hope you have overcome any stumbling blocks. By now you may have the success you deserve and many are benefitting. I do hope so. An update please. xxx Chris (I've just gone back and seen the picture which must have been posted as I was writing this. and I only know how to edit and not to delete, my apologies. This post is probably not relevant now).

 

[danny]

Chris,your post is more than relevant.

Thankyou for reading and posting.

Best wishes,Angela.

 

[Tender Face]

When your lady who comes every day arrives with 7 bags, nightie, spare pyjams, teddy, squidgy bunny rabbit, bottle of milk, bottle of gin, slippers, winkle-pickers, dressing gown, raincoat, sunhat, hand cream, face cream, tissues galore, make up, wash bag, favourite perfume, mirror or two – then you’ll know for sure she’s come to stay!

Sorry, if I shouldn't - but that made me laugh out loud!!!!

Danny/Angela ..... fabbo photo ... it just makes me smile ..... and Maggie’s idea of ‘Centre of Excellence’ is perhaps where you need to go with this to make it viable from a financial point of view (unless you won the Euro Millions tonight!) .... I can see what you are doing being a beacon for training for anyone involved in dementia care (have you contacted the RCN?) Have you got the facilities to extend this as some Utopian training centre?

Karen,I really don`t get the milk thing,it was a bottle,silver top.Maybe she doesn`t like semi skimmed

Blue Peter Lady? Recycling before their time? Foil top rinsed and recycled for charity, bottles washed? Next you'll be making rockets out of F***y L***id bottles!

Absolutely bravo Angela .... look forward to updates as and when you can ...

Kaz, x

 

[danny]

Back again,I do find posting on this thread very therapeutic in a strange way.

Well our guests have been and gone,from the mad clamour of getting everything ready to today when things are almost at a calm, contented level,I feel now able to reflect on how the visit went and its purpose.

Our visitor was Prof Alistair Burns,the National Clinical Director for Dementia from the Department of Health,the man now in charge of the National Dementia Strategy,with him was the NHS lead on dementia for the Southwest.I was honoured and hugely proud that they had come to spend a couple of hours with us.

They were lovely people,chatted away to our guests with dementia and their carers.Ian,our gardener/support worker gave Alistair a tour of the grounds etc.

As usual I was cake making and tea pouring.Alistair came into the kitchen and said `Right,what is the catch here?`Why have you not got a waiting list etc,its not the cost so what is the problem?`

I answered,` I really do not know,probably lack of awareness`

Several other board members from the PCT arrived later and they held a meeting in our kitchen,once all our 5 service users had gone home,and as you know that takes some doing!!!!


On leaving Alistair said that apart from a pub,our day centre ia the only other place that he has been asked to leave which was a wonderful compliment.


Later on that evening I was chatting to Ian,the gardener who had given Alistair the `Tour`.Ian said that for a politician Alistair was a pretty ok guy.I nearly spat my coffee out.I said that he wasn`t a politician but a Professor of Psychiatriy,and a pretty emminent one at that,specialising in Alzheimers,writer of many books and papers etc etc.OMG Ian said,I was almost giving him a dementia awareness talk as we were wandering around,explaining to him all about our sensory garden,our memory prompts,our person centered approach etc etc!!!!!

Why didn`t you tell me who he was,I did,what bit about Professor did you not get!!!!

We did have quite a good laugh about it,our gardener giving a lecture to Alistair Burns

The councillors are out in force next week,even more important as all the grant pots I have been applying for have gone due to all the cuts!!!!!

Had our environmental health food inspection today,passed with flying colours,just need some people to cook for!!!!!


Anyway,that will do for now.

For those who take the time to read my posts,thankyou.

 

[Verity123]

Danny/Angela

I have recently joined and read this thread, marvelling at the wonderful things you are doing in the South West. Not sure about you being 'honoured and hugely proud' I am sure your special visitors must have left feeling the same way.

I wish you every success in this venture. I know in this economic climate things are difficult in terms of grants but your centre deserves it if we are to move care forwards in the right way. If today's visit does not accelerate the process maybe you can try other ways of raising awareness/putting on the pressure- if you need support lobbying and writing to people just ask.

In awe of your achievements xx

 

[thatwoman]

Wow! It sounds as though things are moving in the right direction, albeit slowly. I hope that your Professor takes up your cause, and that the PCT get their act together. The cuts are really hard to stomach aren't they? But perhaps you can be seen as part of the big society!
I'd love to have seen your gardener doing his dementia awareness speech!
So glad that you're still out there, and at least you're up to 5 people now, so it is growing. It's always a joy to read your posts, love Sue

 

[danny]

Verity,thankyou,I may take you up on that offer

Sue,thankyou for reading and replying,your words really give me a boost

 

[Tender Face]

OMG Ian said,I was almost giving him a dementia awareness talk as we were wandering around,explaining to him all about our sensory garden,our memory prompts,our person centered approach etc etc!!!!!

Angela .... when we talk about 'grass roots' up it didn't have to be specifically gardeners!!!!! Well done, Ian .... Was it you mentioned training in hospitals should include the cleaners, the cooks etc? Absolutely anyone and everyone involved directly and indirectly with 'care'. Ian sounds like an absolute superstar and I bet he made a fabulous impression! (And credit to you that all the staff are so dementia aware!) It gives yet another flavour of the whole ethos of the place and just so sorry I am not nearer and can't see it for myself ... but remain inspired 'from a distance'.

What an absolutely wonderful update Angela ... not many people have the courage to work from 'needs' upwards ...... this is a stunning, stunning update .... that 'Centre of Excellence' plaudit must be coming soon, surely?

Absolutely thrilled for you and awestruck at your initiative and resolve ...

Karen, x

 

[danny]

Hi Karen,I so wish you were nearer.

The problem is now that the gardener is practically a geriatrician he no longer wants to do the gardening

 

[Tender Face]

The problem is now that the gardener is practically a geriatrician he no longer wants to do the gardening

Sounds like he needs to be switched to the 'Tour Guide' Department anyway!!!!!

Glad I'm not nearer - I don't do gardening!!!!!

Not trying to detract, Angela - honestly - your updates move me so much ....and are always at the back of my mind as inspiration (not that I could ever achieve anything like the project you have!)

Love, Karen, x

 

[danny]

Well another month has flown by and I am absolutely exhausted.

The days of one or two people have now gone and on two days of the week we now have eight people.Visitors and student nurses are in and out,our cognitive therapy group is in full swing.

Our activity afternoon funded by the PCT for people under 65yrs starts next Sat and our evening memory cafe starts next week!!!

I should have lost 2 stone but I have put that on with all the food and cakes here,I have never seen people eat so much!!!!

I am learning something everyday,already dispensed with most of the paperwork,apart from the essentials!!!!

We have people coming with every type of dementia you can think of and all ages from 50 to 96!!!!

Everyday is different,everyone is different.


It is extremely tiring,we do alot of one on one work and apart from the manager I will not have any one else full time,to keep the momentum going it is far better to have staff coming in for short shifts for a few hours at a time.

I absolutely enjoy everyday,everyone has a story and a tale to tell and it is facinating.Of course we have the problems as well,but they are only a tiny part of the day.

Our worse problem is ten ladies looking for their handbags at lunchtime!!!!!!!!

Hope you all don`t mind me posting here now and again but I want to keep a mini diary and it has evolved on here.

PS. If anyone wants to be a virtual activity organiser get in touch!!!!!Matching up individual people who like individual things takes me hours!!!!

 

[Contrary Mary]

Angela, what an achievement!!!!

Not thinking of moving to Essex are you

Mary
x

 

[Izzy]

Wow - sounds fab. What a success. Well done. x

 

[danny]

Forgot to put a couple of pictures on,consent has been given by all parties to put photo on here.

The young girl is my daughter Sophie


And yes it was fish and chip day,the cook was having a day off

 

[Helen33]

Dear Angela,

You have been through such a lot this month it's no wonder you're shattered. I like the idea of short shifts - it would keep the momentum No sign of the dog I see

If I lived closer, I'd love to help with the activities. I'm particularly good with toss the balloon

Hope you manage to get some proper rest.

Love

 

[danny]

Thanks Izzy and Mary.

Helen, I saw your picture of balloon tossing

The dog is well and truly in the dog house

 

[Grannie G]

It all looks lovely Angela.

 

[thatwoman]

Well all I can say is, "Told you so!" You couldn't have something that good and it not get used. It just needed people to find out about it! I wonder if it sounded almost too good to be true, because you certainly had everything on my wish list!

The photos are lovely. You can be very proud of what you're
achieving. May it go from strength to strength!

I'm looking forward to next month's instalment: can't imagine what you'll do next, but I want to know.

Now go and get some rest before the next onslaught,

Love Sue xxx

 

[danny]

Sylvia thankyou for posting.

Sue,thankyou for following my thread,it means so much.

I don`t think that all of you on here realise how much I have learnt from all of you,you are all helping me in your own little ways

 

[Tender Face]

Fish and chips on plates with knives and forks?? Good grief!

I recall mum (and her buddies at her ‘Dementia Cafe’) reporting how well fish and chips went down instead of the normal ‘lunch’ .... bought in on special occasions (I think the occasion was it was Friday!) When mum could no longer manage a knife and fork – what brilliant ‘finger food’ straight out of the wrapping (I think that was part of the fun and enjoyment for her that it didn’t discriminate her from others who could still manage ‘table skills’ when she had lost them!)

Oh for the days before ‘health and safety’ prevented them being wrapped up in old newspapers ... now there’s a ‘themed lunch’ – or activity .... A3 prints of old newspapers ... to wrap up a ‘finger food’ treat (or allow those ‘posh’ guests to dissolve into decadence and delve into the pickled gherkins without a pickle fork! ) .... provide discussion points for hours later (or just an interesting table decoration!)

Themed lunches or whole days ... with slide shows from volunteer local historians, associated crafts for those who could manage ..... dressing up ..... (or down if it’s Lancashire themed and clogs!!!) ... those able involved in the prep ..... a whole ‘themed experience’ for everyone to enjoy at their own level but all have a sense of taking part in the occasion .....

I’m interested in this Angela: “to keep the momentum going it is far better to have staff coming in for short shifts for a few hours at a time.”

I can sense in your environment at this point in time that works – but in others ‘continuity’ of staff (stability, routine) seems vitally important .... just an observation ..... I wonder as your project grows and ‘guests’ may become attached with ‘familiar figures’ will this need to change too?

Stunning update, Angela – always excited by hearing what you are doing .... and great to see how quickly you are creating such success for everyone.

Love, Karen, x