Tag Archives: dementia

Musician Rick Wakeman opens Age UK fayre in Diss for the elderly and their carers

April 30, 2012   Carers, dementia, Older care

“It’s crucial local parishes and local communities and local towns support events like this.”

By REBECCA GOUGH Saturday, April 28, 2012
11:28 AM

 

  Amanda Palmer, Jen Cranshaw and Judith Head from the Denny Centre, with Rick Wakeman

No amount of wet weather could dampen the spirits of visitors to an annual spring fayre in aid of the elderly this morning (Saturday), opened by former rock-star Rick Wakeman.

 

With traditional events such as guess the weight of the cake, bric-a-brac stalls and a raffle, organisers hoped to raise as much money as possible for Age UK.

And they were not disappointed with visitors flocking to the event in Diss, as Mr Wakeman cut the ribbon.

The musician, 63, perhaps best known as keyboard player with the band Yes, who now lives with his wife in Scole, near Diss, said it was important to support local fundraisers.

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Dogs to help people with dementia

April 27, 2012   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

Dogs that make people with dementia more confident and a scent device to improve appetites are two designs that have won official approval

 

Dementia dogs can be trained to offer specialised support for people with dementia.

Five teams, £360,000 and 20 weeks to research and design a product or service to help people living with dementia. It sounds like something from The Healthcare Apprentice but the Design Council and Department of Health has unveiled five projects that they hope will significantly improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers. They calculate that the combined social return value of the project will be £500m.

Among the projects is dementia dog, a programme training specially selected assistance dogs to improve the confidence, wellbeing and support of people with dementia; online tool grouple, which helps families plan and share the care of a person with dementia; and ode, a plug-in device that emits aromas at set times to improve appetite and eating patterns.

Alongside the buddiband, and trading times, the projects were selected from more than 150 entries to be given funding and support from an expert panel including Gill Ayling, deputy director of older people and dementia at the Department of Health, and Joshua Hardie, the head of corporate responsibility at Tesco.

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In the shoes of Karen… supporting both of my parents with dementia…

April 26, 2012   Carers, Depression
Coping with Dementia — not once but twice
Posted on April 25, 2012
Last week there was a wonderful live discussion on the topic of dementia, hosted by Jessica Fuhl, on the Guardian Social Care network.  It is a subject very close to my heart, particularly having experienced both  of  my parents-in-law dying as a result of dementia. The discussion had a very rich mix of “perspectives” but for me the most powerful and illuminating comments came from family members sharing how it feels to “walk in their shoes”.

In this series of occasional “guest blogs” I am therefore very honoured to introduce you to ‘Karen’ (not her real name). Some of you will know Karen as ‘DazeinourLives’ on Twitter, posting regularly “nuggets” of information, moving insights into family life supporting both of her parents with dementia. This post was written shortly before Karen’s father’s recent death.

Background:
Karen expected to return to her palliative care nursing career once both children were at school, but her parents’ Alzheimer’s escalated. For the next three years she was their sole carer. As her Dad’s symptoms advanced, her Mum was unable to cope, even with Karen’s help. Karen  comments:
“The impact on my own complicated family became intolerable, not least for my long-suffering husband. Last Spring, Dad was hospitalised; it became heartbreakingly clear that it would no longer be safe for him to return home. Dad went into a nursing home, and we found Mum part time help at home. Mum’s mental deterioration, which she does not accept graciously, combined with her need to see Dad every day without fail keeps the pressure on…

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