Dementia Friends (1 Viewer)

[haganap]

Those of you that know me, know that 9 months ago I took a 6 month contract (yes you read that right) working as the Specialist Dementia Nurse in a local(ish) hospital.
The role was completely new and aimed at improving both care standards and recognition, early diagnosis and training of staff in how to work with people with Dementia.

Anyhow, My contract ends at the end of June and I've been successful in having the service rolled out across the trust and employing 2 specialist nurse's 7 days a week. I won't be taking one of the post's on full time as my brief to set the service up is done. So I don't know what awaits me now, back to working in A&E or somewhere else, who knows.

But anyhow, Ive really enjoyed getting back in to the work I love and offering teaching sessions to Consultants and Dr's on straight forward needs and diagnostic criteria for those that just never really understand the needs of those with dementia on an acute hospital ward.

Ive loved listening to the stories ive been told, including a guy telling me how he came to the UK aged 14 in 1938 from Austria Hungry with his two brothers aged 4 and 3 under his arms. Packed off by his parents (he was jewish) and never to see them again as they perished in the death camps. Smuggled across to the UK where when he arrived no body wanted him or his brothers so he ended up in a camp here in the UK looking after his brothers. Both were then taken in leaving him to actually join the UK armed forces and take part in the D-day landings and survive more horrors.
He never again saw his brothers untill he was 50 years old and they tracked him down.

It got me thinking as it often does, how lucky we are really in life. But any how, the purpose of this post and the reason why it is in hobbies is about an initiative by the Alzheimer's society that some of you may not be aware of and may infact like more information on. The initiative is called as the post heading suggests, Dementia Friends. This is aimed at people like you, yes you reading this, that can simply become a" Dementia friend" and befriend someone with dementia. Please click the link to find out more and get an understanding of whats involved.

Hope some of you might join the journey, Im sure that some of you may have loads of time on your hands


Thanks for listening. :thumb:
https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/Home/About

 

[Wildbill]

hagger's your one in a million bud:thumb:

 

[movan]

What a wonderful idea. I still visit my mum almost every day now that she has been put into a home as I couldn't care any more full time due to my own health probs.

I have become a friend to several of the people in the home who come to me and give me hugs when I arrive to visit mum. . . they just want someone who will give them a short time holding their hand, listening and trying to understand all they say when it is difficult at times. I feel pulled left right and centre as there is no-one else there and I am there to see my own mum. How wonderful if there were volunteer visitors. I really hope this takes off. I will certainly be sending the link to many people.

I approached Age UK not long ago and begged for someone to visit mum just for an hour to give me space (when she was at home with me) and they said they couldn't as visitors are limited and they choose people who will remember they have been. I was so upset. Just because people cannot remember, doesn't mean that the time spent with them isn't special to them. Good luck.

Off to forward the link now.

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[dryad]

thank you for your link, will look out for an information session in my area and hopefully become a friend to someone who needs one..
there but for the grace of.........

 

[movan]

ps I have also forwarded the link to Adult social services section at our council..... That is something that everybody could do if they cannot visit themselves it may push their social services department to look again at visitors.

 

[Chris]

Well done:thumb:

I suppose your work is helped by reading some of the posts on here

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[movan]

Big item on our local news on the television .. asking for Dementia Friends.. They seem to be doing in quite a few places so let's hope they have a good response.... and it takes off.

 

[Dawn B]

I found that taking our dog Bandit with me, when visiting mum, has cheered up a lot of old folks.

 

[haganap]

I found that taking our dog Bandit with me, when visiting mum, has cheered up a lot of old folks.

I love animal therapy. I wish I were allowed to take Tara in. The stroke unit which I work carefully with have a Therapy dog, a gorgeous Lab

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[Taran_Las]

<snip> [HI]how lucky we are really in life.[/HI] <snip>

You're right, all too often I forget that fact.:Sad:

 

[bigfoot]

I was instrumental in establishing a local branch of the Alzheimers society.Now in early retirement Vintage Radio is involved with reminiscence therapy by recording peoples lives, this helps greatly with their therapy.

 

[tick59]

JUST BEEN AN ADD ON TELLY ABOUT THIS. MUST OF BEEN LOOKING AT THIS POST. FUN!!!FUN!!!FUN!!!

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[Minxy]

We have a friend, actually a former work colleague who was an audio-visual theatre technician for nearly 40 years, and who retired in 2011 at 65. His mum has dementia and unfortunately he's developed it too, we found out earlier this year but it didn't come as any surprise as he's been forgetting things etc for a while. He's fully aware of what's happening and fortunately it doesn't appear to be upsetting him - has just accepted that it's something he'll have to get used to living with so doesn't get down which is a very good attitude to have. :thumb: When he's with us he constantly forgets stuff and asks the same question again and again as short term memory is the first thing to go. His wife is a saint and I just don't know how she manages not to kill him at times ... he's always had his cantankerous moments over the years which hasn't changed oh: but it must be hard work for her having to keep reminding him of stuff and re-answering the same questions time and time again.

He's going to 'memory' sessions and has just had another one but he's worse so has been referred back hospital for some scans etc ... I told him it was to see if his brain was still there! We have always joked around with him so will continue to do so as he's still the same (awkward sod ) person he's always been, just a bit more 'dotty' than before!

 

[Minxy]

As an aside to this post, please can I ask everyone to look into having their own 'power of attorney' documents done (you can do it yourself on-line) ... if you leave it until you are deemed not able to make decisions for yourself it is too late to do one and that has MAJOR consequences! :Sad:

 

[movan]

As an aside to this post, please can I ask everyone to look into having their own 'power of attorney' documents done (you can do it yourself on-line) ... if you leave it until you are deemed not able to make decisions for yourself it is too late to do one and that has MAJOR consequences! :Sad:

I would go one further, Minx. . . . I would say that you should sign your house over to the kids once you retire because as sure as anything if dementia hits you and you are put into a home, they will take it off your parents to pay for their care.... it has happened to me and so nil inheritance barring a small amount from the house they are not allowed to touch. . . At seven hundred pounds a week for the care home it soon goes. Other people in the home who have never worked for a private pension or bought a flat/house receive the same care free. . .

Sorry, this changed direction a bit.

Animal therapy is brilliant.:thumb:

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[yorkshirepudding]

Yes, it' say terrible illness which cannot be imagined by anyone not closely involved. Even those who work in the health sector cannot fully imagine the impact it has on those involved. Well done Haganap for working to redress this situation.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

I would go one further, Minx. . . . I would say that you should sign your house over to the kids once you retire because as sure as anything if dementia hits you and you are put into a home, they will take it off your parents to pay for their care.... it has happened to me and so nil inheritance barring a small amount from the house they are not allowed to touch. . . At seven hundred pounds a week for the care home it soon goes. Other people in the home who have never worked for a private pension or bought a flat/house receive the same care free. . .

Sorry, this changed direction a bit.


Animal therapy is brilliant.:thumb:

I agree , totally unfair . But it's the same old . Those that save get penalised , lose out. Then those that spent everything , lived in public rented housing, get the same help and treatment for nothing. Not fair. At all.

Hang on , is that why there's so many oldies , wanting to full time in motorhomes ? Sell up , spend it whilst you can enjoy it......? Ahhhh I get it now

 

[haganap]

I would go one further, Minx. . . . I would say that you should sign your house over to the kids once you retire because as sure as anything if dementia hits you and you are put into a home, they will take it off your parents to pay for their care.... it has happened to me and so nil inheritance barring a small amount from the house they are not allowed to touch. . . At seven hundred pounds a week for the care home it soon goes. Other people in the home who have never worked for a private pension or bought a flat/house receive the same care free. . .

Sorry, this changed direction a bit.

Animal therapy is brilliant.:thumb:

There is actually a cute way around this. Sadly too late for you Joy, and not something I would advocate on a public forum, but nevertheless something worth knowing. If anyone wants to discuss it with me when meeting (before I relax ) please do so.

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[LucyCaitlynW]

I'm currently caring for my bro in law with early dementia but will def become "a friend" and pass on link.

Lucy

 

[Bebe]

Dementia can also affect children, especially some with special needs. Some children have been introduced to alcohol in the womb and through no fault of their own have memory loss. The Foetal Alcohol spectrum disorder can affect children's memories and these poor children go through life with a constant struggle. With help from our friends many people will benefit. I had already seen this video and had shared this you tube video on Facebook. Hopefully it will be shared by many and a lot of unfortunate people will benefit with a little help