Hello

In this month’s newsletter…

1. Welcome message from our CEO, Sally

2. Our April highlights

3. The Casey Commission

4. Great Manchester Run

5. Debate About Diet

6. Eli Lilly Appeal About Dementia Drugs

7. Dates for your diary

8. What we’ve been Reading, Watching and Listening to

Welcome Message from our CEO, Sally

Welcome to our April Newsletter – and thanks for reading it!

March was another busy month with staff running a Carer Training course, trialling a Male Carers’ Group, the trip to the Lowry, as well as the usual groups and carer visits.

Our Fundraising Manager, Imogen, is busy setting up events for later this year and she and Sally are working harder than ever to secure more grants to keep all our services running. We’ve got exciting plans for Dementia Action Week (18- 25 May) so do keep an eye on our website, Facebook and Instagram pages for details.  We want to raise awareness of the achievements of our members with dementia but also campaign for better funding for dementia services.

Unfortunately, because of the difficult funding climate and inflation, we’re having to raise the prices of our Friendship & Activity groups and individual services a little from May 1st.  Please look out for an e-mail from us or a letter in the post about this.

On a cheerier note, we’ve been shortlisted as a finalist in the UK Dementia Care Awards 2026 for our services to carers.  These awards aren’t as prestigious as BAFTAs or Oscars – but we’re still chuffed  that our nomination was thought to be strong.  We’ll let you know how the interview and final judging goes…..

And you can’t help but feel hopeful and a little cheerful if you see the buds on the trees bursting and the green leaves opening out.  Even when humans are behaving badly, nature still gives us many lovely surprises, don’t you think!

Our April Highlights:

• Together At Home
  Social Work student, Grace, has struck up a lovely relationship with one of our older ladies, called Amtul, even though they don’t share a common language This relationship encourages all of us to realise that, if we slow down, listen and watch carefully, and take turns to lead and follow the activity, giving non-verbal encouragement, we can enjoy meaningful moments and shared experiences Grace said:  “Even simple activities become meaningful when they are done with focus, patience and genuine engagement.”

• Male Carers Evening
  We had our third Male Carers Social Event. Two staff members met-up with 5 male carers at the end of the March in Chorlton cum-Hardy. These male carers events provide the space for them to gain advice, share experiences and to talk about their situation with others that understand. It also allows them to be part of a community of male carers, and offers a space to have a joke and laugh so they can forget about their caring responsibilities for a little while.

  Barrie E: I arrived to find a group of ‘partners’ where straight away the feeling of camaraderie was so natural. To broach many experiences, we had when young(er) brought laughter & relief to be able to allay our great loss by degree. I look forward to the next soiree.

  
  Carers Training

  Jo and Paula ran a 4 week online carers training throughout March with a core of 8 carers attending each week. 

  The feedback was good, all the carers enjoyed it and even though everyone's situation was unique to them, they all learned something new to help them with their caring journey.

• Eric & Ernie

  Paula & Mike accompanied a group of 17 carers and their loved ones to the Lowry theatre for a dementia friendly lunchtime showing of the show Eric and Ernie last week. 

   

  Not only was it a fabulous show but the Lowry theatre staff and volunteers went above and beyond to make sure the theatre and the show was accessible to all. 

   There was lots of laughter and everyone enjoyed their outing. 

• Cognitive Stimulation Therapy

  Anne & Dan Dan recently attended a day’s training workshop on Cognitive Stimulation Therapy – this is a scientifically based framework for delivering stimulating activities for people living with dementia in a fun and inclusive way. They met some other healthcare professionals, carers, and former carers, and were all challenged to join in some role play to give them all flavour of the techniques! Anne & Dan look forward to practising them for real with their lovely members in our Friendship and Activity Groups.
  

The Casey Commission

The Casey Commission

In 2024 Baroness Louise Casey was asked by the Government to review social care in England. Louise Casey has a reputation for being fearless and able to challenge and bring about change. Although her full report won’t be ready until 2028, she has already called for some immediate changes: asking the Government to scale up dementia trials, appoint a new Dementia Tsar, and set up a new National Safeguarding Board to protect vulnerable adults.

Having met lots of people affected by dementia and other illnesses, she is scathing about the injustice faced by people who rely on social care.

In a speech on 5 March she said social care needs a complete reset equivalent to Beveridge’s reforms in 1948.  She said that there is currently a reliance on cobbled together underfunded services relying on low-paid care workers, a lack of ownership and accountability, and a deep divide between health and social care which leaves families to navigate alone.  

Casey stated that a national conversation would be needed to seek backing from the public who pay for health and social care through their taxes. 

The Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:  

“Dementia is the UK’s leading cause of death—so why isn’t it a national priority? Every year we delay prioritising dementia costs lives and costs the UK billions.   

Baroness Casey and the Independent Commission have met with many people with lived experience across the country and people working in the sector. They are also asking any member of the public to share their own experiences and ideas. You can do so via this link: 

Debate About Diet

Many of us think about how we can reduce the likelihood of developing dementia or how to delay it. At one of our groups there was also discussion about whether we should give our members with dementia biscuits to eat.

So what does the science say?

A healthy, balanced diet—particularly the Mediterranean diet—can significantly reduce the risk of dementia by supporting brain health and lowering inflammation. Key dietary approaches include eating leafy greens, berries, fish, and nuts, while minimizing processed foods, red meat, and added sugars, according to the National Institute on Ageing. 

Physical health factors that reduce risk or delay dementia

• Risk Factors: Diets high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt can lead to high cholesterol and blood pressure, increasing vascular dementia risk.

• Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight prevents type 2 diabetes, which is linked to vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s.

So, should we provide biscuits for people with dementia to eat? Or should we give fruit or vegetable sticks etc?

Some people with dementia will no longer eat a balanced meal and may not eat much at all. Sometimes our priority is to get them to have more calories so tempting them with any snacks or drinks that they like is the priority. And we need to make those foods attractive and easy to reach. It’s great to offer healthy options and to eat those foods with pleasure yourself – so that they might copy. So, whilst we should all try to eat and drink more healthily, the priority to get the person with dementia to eat and drink enough each day probably wins.

Eli Lilly Appeal About Dementia Drugs

A drug company has successfully challenged a decision that blocked its Alzheimer's treatment from being available on the NHS.

Eli Lilly, the maker of a drug called Donanemab, appealed against a ruling by NICE (the body that decides which treatments the NHS should pay for). NICE had originally decided not to recommend the drug, but has now been forced to take another look.

Donanemab is designed for people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease — those with mild memory and thinking problems — and works by targeting a protein in the brain linked to the condition. It's intended for a specific group of patients based on their genetic profile.

As a result of the appeal being upheld, a NICE committee will meet again to reconsider two things: the cost of giving the drug by drip (infusion) in NHS settings, and longer-term data on how well it works. The drug company said that NICE hadn’t considered the full cost of NOT giving the drug – the cost of families caring for the person with Alzheimer’s

Chris Stokes, Eli Lilly's UK and Northern Europe head, called it "a big moment in the battle against Alzheimer's disease" and urged NICE to be flexible in how it weighs up the evidence, so that eligible patients can access the treatment on the NHS "as quickly as possible."

Dates for Your Diary: Upcoming TDS Events

Dementia Action Week 18 - 25 May 

Keep an eye on our website and social media as we unveil an exciting programme of activities.

Derbyshire 3 Peaks Challenge

TDS have secured a guide to take intrepid fundraising walkers across the Derbyshire 3 peaks on 8 August. Please save the date more details will be given out soon. email [email protected] to register your interest.

Memorial Walk

TDS Choir

We will be meeting next on 11 April at our new venue St Edmonds Church Hall, Alexandra Road, M16 8EZ please email [email protected] if you’d like to join us we are always happy to welcome new members.

What we’ve been Reading, Watching and Listening to:

Just Checking Monitoring Technology

A simple, internet-based system that uses sensors around the home to allow professionals to observe people’s movements, to help assess their health and wellbeing. Lots of carers say to us that they don’t know if their loved is having a shower or not, this technology can report back if something like the shower is being used. There are no cameras or microphones. An assessment with social services is required.

One of our staff came across these library books for young children, about dementia

They all portray loving relationships between a grandparent developing dementia and the child. These books could be a good way to help a child understand what ‘ dementia’ means and to encourage them to express their feelings about it.