Tag Archives: carers

The magical melodies bringing back memories Alzheimer's stole

August 20, 2013   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

OLGA LOWE should have so many memories after starring alongside Richard Burton in Where Eagles Dare, working with Harpo Marx and high-kicking with Carmen Miranda.

By: Jane Symons

 As Gary King sings the opening bars of Love Me Tender, Olga recalls the words and joins him
She entertained troops during the Second World War, was on stage with Sid James when he died of a heart attack in 1976 and has even been part of an EastEnders love triangle.However, Alzheimer’s has stolen Olga’s past and left the 93-year-old trapped in a twilight world where there is no concept of time, let alone of those extraordinary times gone by.She is still able to recognise her husband Keith Morris but she cannot always recall his name.

She has no idea who the prime minister is and the name Kate Middleton means nothing. To her it could be the Thirties, when she toured the US as a showgirl, or the Swinging Sixties when she appeared in The Avengers.

Yet at the Gallions View nursing home in London where Olga lives that fog of forgetfulness begins to lift as soon as Elvis impersonator Gary King steps into the dementia unit and starts his set, which she matches word for word.

Read More

Mayor says thank you to unpaid family carers

August 19, 2013   Carers, Downs syndrome

Carers recognised at afternoon tea with Mayor of Harrow

5:08pm Monday 19th August 2013 in News By Bruce Thain

Carers sip tea with mayor Carers sip tea with mayor

Carers from across the borough were thanked for their hard work by the Mayor of Harrow with an afternoon tea.

Mayor Nana Asante welcomed unpaid carers who look after family and friends in need for afternoon tea at the mayoral parlour.

More than 40 carers and some of the people they care for were given a history of the borough and the council before sitting down to tea, cake and took part in a raffle.

Councillor Asante said: “This day came about as a result of carers’ week when I met a lot of carers and saw the fantastic work they do.

Read More

Jeremy Hunt plans sale of confidential patient medical records to private firms

August 18, 2013   Carers, health

Confidential medical records may be offered to private companies for as little as £1, according to plans drawn up by officials.

Twinkle toes: Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been revealed to be a keen lambada dancer - There's culture, Jeremy - and there's 'sensual hip swivelling'

Jeremy Hunt wants to see a data revolution in the Health Service. Photo: REUTERS

2:20PM BST 18 Aug 2013

The new General Practice Extraction Service will consolidate NHS patient records sent to a central database by GPs around the country.

The project has been described by campaigners as an “unprecedented threat” to medical confidentiality, and doctors do not have to inform patients that their records are being passed on.

The records will include details of medical conditions and patient identifiable information including a patient’s NHS number, postcode and date of birth, reports the Daily Mail.

Private firms such as Bupa are able to purchase the records for research by applying to the Health Service.

Read More