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- TDS Newsletter March 2024
Hello
In March’s issue:
Table of Contents
This month, our Welcome Message is from Claire, our Service Delivery Manager
We are all glad to being seeing the end of Winter. Us as a team too – we have struggled with low staffing and often more older people are ill or in hospital during this time. We are now all feeling more optimistic and also looking forward to getting out and about with the groups into more green spaces and seeing the signs of Spring!
The staff (Dementia Support Co-ordinators) run 8 weekly groups – they are always full and often have a waiting list. It’s obvious to see the joy on members faces at the groups ..it’s instant! For some members their group could be the highlight of their week, often being their main social event if they live alone.
We’ve got increased partnerships with other organisations such as The Camerata meaning we can offer a monthly Music Café at South Manchester; Manchester Grammar School have a strong link with the Longsight group which has led to superb placement opportunities and a trip to the school – The Pyaari Yaadein group will be working in partnership with an external Arts Project and Manchester Museum to produce a creative display work for their South Asian Gallery in Spring.
All this highlights the work that goes into groups and the creative links that staff make to keep members stimulated and to keep the service moving forward.
The Carers Support (led by Anna) , the Home-visits and the Peer Support groups, The Together at Home matches and the Dementia Cafés – such an integral part of what Together Dementia Support is about to. Supporting Carers with this journey – helping Carers navigate other services, ensuring they and their family member get the support and often the finances they are entitled to plus the emotional support which is often the thing that is needed the most.
The Dementia Cafés are such a gateway for not just our services but for other services and community support in Manchester. It’s here you’ll meet other carers, TDS staff and staff from Memory services where volunteers and staff can offer games and activities for the person you care for. Plus you can book a massage!
So all this means we are a very busy service and I’m proud to be part of it.
It’s our 10th birthday this year!
2024 marks 10 years since Together Dementia Support first came into being, and our decade year looks like it’s going to be one of our biggest and busiest yet! To celebrate this milestone, we’ll be doing all sorts of fun and fundraising throughout the the year.
If you would like to help us celebrate, we are looking for Event Volunteers who can turn up to events and help on the day. This can include everything from welcoming guests, serving drinks, selling merchandise, photography or helping our people with dementia have a good time.
If you’d be interested in joining our team of Event Volunteers, our next Zoom meeting is on Tuesday 12 March at 6.30pm. Find out more on our website by clicking the button below.
Carer’s Leave: what carers need to know about new legislation
So, the Government aren’t goingto give you any more money - but they are bringing in legislation to enable carers in paid work to have up to a week off during a year to look after someone.
From 6 April 2024, employees will be entitled to unpaid leave to give or arrange care for a ‘dependant’ who has:
A physical or mental illness or injury that means they’re expected to need care for more than 3 months
A disability
Care needs because of their old age
The dependant does not have to be a family member. It can be anyone who relies on them for care.
Employees are entitled to carer’s leave from their first day of work for their employer. Their employment rights (like holidays and returning to their job) are protected during carer’s leave.
Employees can take up to one week of leave every 12 months. A ‘week’ means the length of time they usually work over 7 days. For example, if someone usually works 3 days a week, they can take 3 days of carer’s leave.
They can either take a whole week off or take individual days or half days throughout the year.
If an employee needs to care for more than one person, they cannot take a week of carer’s leave for each dependant. They can only take one week every 12 months.
If you can afford to take the time off, then you really should!
What’s on for carers at TDS
We’ve got a packed schedule for the months ahead with lots on for carers with both ourselves and our partners, Carers Manchester.
March 2024
Wythenshawe Carers Walk
Meeting 11am at The Courtyard Café
Wythenshawe Park
Contact Beth to book
Beswick Dementia Café
Tuesday 5 March, 1 - 3pm
Beswick Library
Booking not required
Carers Zoom Group
Tuesday 5 March 7 - 8pm on Zoom
Contact Anna for the Zoom joining details
Dementia Changemakers
Wednesday 13th March
1:30pm – 3:30pm
St Andrew's Methodist Church, Brownley Rd
Wythenshawe M22 0DW
Contact 0161 477 6999 to book.
Free Moving & Handling of a Person Training
Tuesday 19 March
1.30-3.30pm, Kath Locke Centre
Booking essential. Contact Anna for more information or to book your place.
Oaklands Dementia Café
Wednesday 20 March,
1.30 - 3.30pm
Oaklands House
Booking not required
TDS Legal clinic for LPAs and Free Wills
Thursday 21 March
Appointments between 10am and 5 pm
Kath Locke Centre
Booking essential
Massage for Carers
Tuesday 26 March
Appointments between 5.30 and 7 pm
Kath Locke Centre
Contact Anna to book
Wythenshawe Dementia Café
Wednesday 27 March, 1.30 - 3.30pm
St Andrew’s Methodist Church
Booking not required
Free Moving & Handling of a Person Training
Tuesday 27 March 1.30-3.30pm,
St Andrew’s Methodist Church
Booking essential. Contact Anna for more information or to book your place.
Beswick Dementia Café
Tuesday 2 April, 1 - 3pm
Beswick Library
Booking not required
Our new minibus has arrived!
After months of campaign, bid-writing and fundraising, we are so excited to announce that our BRAND NEW minibus has arrived!
Complete with tail-lift and sturdy steps with railings for easy access for all, the new minibus will be a welcome sight on the roads of Manchester with its fun and fabulous livery designed by our friends at BFH Creative.
A sincere thank you to everyone who helps make this bus a reality. It is already making a big difference to our members’ lives, ensuring safe transport for everyone.
The TDS Legal Clinic is
open for bookings
Exciting news from Together Dementia Support
We're thrilled to announce the launch of our TDS Legal Clinics, in a fantastic collaboration with Private Client Solicitors!
PCS is generously donating their expertise to offer FREE basic Will writing and amazing discounts on Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for individuals and couples.
Prices start at just £250 for a single LPA and £375 for two, with a special couple's rate at £625.
If you need a Shariah compliant Will, let us know at time of booking.
This incredible opportunity isn't just for our service users; it's open to EVERYONE!
So, if you know someone who could benefit from a free Will, spread the word!
While there's no obligation, you can choose to make a suggested donation to TDS during your appointment.
The clinics are happening on the third Thursday of each month in 2024, kicking off on February 15. All sessions will be at the Kath Locke Centre, M15 5DD.
For more info, to check out clinic dates, or to book your appointment, visit our website using the link in the first comment below, or feel free to message us here on Facebook.
Let's spread the word and help as many people as we can whilst raising funds for TDS! 💚
Next Clinic Dates
Thursday 21 March 2024(few appointments left)
10am - 5pm
Kath Locke Centre
Thursday 18 April 2024
10am - 5pm
Kath Locke Centre
Thursday 16 May 2024
10am - 5pm
Kath Locke Centre
Meet Miranda, our new Freelance Fundraising Officer
Miranda was successfully appointed our Freelance Fundraising Contract advertised in January, and is joining us until the end of May to help organise events and raise money for Together Dementia Support. She is also one of our wonderful carers, and brings with her a wealth of sector experience and brilliant ideas
Have a look at what Miranda has coming up for us in 2024…
Bunny Hop March 2024
This March we’re asking Primary Schools to organise sponsored Bunny Hops in support of TDS. All schools that register will get bunny ears for their participants as well as certificates of achievement in April. After School Clubs might also like to get involved. Please have a look at the webpage and share it with your friends www.TogetherDementiaSupport.org/hop
Crumpsall Spring Fair
Saturday 27 April 2024
Crumpsall Church have invited TDS to get involved with their Spring Fair. We will need some volunteers to help run fun activites.
Are you able to help out on the day? Contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Mary, and let her know!
07579 831 790 [email protected]
Great Manchester Run - 10k & Half Marathon
Sunday 26 May 2024
TDS has 10 places for this year’s GM 10k and Half Marathon. To get involved, runners, walkers and rollers will need to pledge to raise at least £100 in sponsorship.
We’ll have more information about joining the team soon, but if you’d like to register an early interest, please e-mail [email protected] and we’ll let you know about booking places first.
Trafford Centre Abseil
Saturday 29 June 2024
If you know a thrill seeking individual or work team who would like to have a go at abseiling the 170ft of the Palazzo Tower – point them our way!
More info to follow soon about signing up and sponsorship. If you don’t do heights but can help on the day please let us know.
July is our 10th birthday month at TDS!
Watch this space for our plans to celebrate the achievements of the TDS family in the last 10 years.
We also hope to become a charity of choice for companies wanting to support their local communities
Christmas 2024 - Back to Manchester Cathedral!
There’s only 10 months to go till Christmas!! Following the success of our first Christmas Concert, we are planning another musical extravaganza on for Sunday 15th December at Manchester Cathedral.
Please save the date, tell friends and family, and hopefully see you there.
Join the Together in Song Dementia Choir
We're thrilled to invite you to be part of our Together in Song Dementia Choir! Next Meeting: Saturday 2 March or Saturday 6 April
Time: 2 – 3.30pm
Location:
Whalley Range Methodist Church
51 Withington RdManchester M16 7EX
At Together Dementia Support, we believe in the power of music to uplift spirits and improve wellbeing. Our choir meets on the 1st Saturday of each month, and our next meeting is fast approaching! Anyone is welcome to join us and our wonderful members living with dementia, carers, volunteers and staff for a choral singalong like no other!
What to expect
Singing uplifting popular tunes, including some gospel favourites
Creating a joyous, relaxed atmosphere
Socialising and connecting with wonderful people
Boosing overall wellbeing through the power of music
Whether you're a seasoned singer or just love the idea of joining a welcoming community, our choir is the perfect place for you! No experience necessary - just bring your enthusiasm and a smile! If you’d like to join us, give us a ring on 0161 226 7186 or email admin@togetherdementiasupport.We can arrange lifts if we have enough notice, so let us know if you’ll struggle to get to the Whalley Range Methodist Church and we’ll try and arrange transport.
Trip to HOME Cinema: a relaxed performance of ‘One Love’
On Tuesday 27th of February a group of members from Together Dementia Support had a trip to see the new Bob Marley film – ‘One Love’ with their carers, staff and some of our fabulous volunteers.
HOME offered a relaxed performance which suited our members well, it meant that the lights were not turned all the way down and the sound was slightly quieter. They also offered a quiet room that we could use if needed.
This meant our members were made to feel very comfortable to view the film in an environment that was better suited to them. One of our members even sang along throughout which was wonderful to hear.
One member said that although ‘it wasn’t exactly a comedy’, he found it a very thought-provoking film and that he learnt a lot about Bob Marley. Everyone enjoyed their evening, stating it was ‘lovely to be out with friends’.
Borrow our e-Bike!
Thanks to a grant from TfGM, we have been able to buy an easy-ride electric bike.
This is primarily for us to lend to any of our members and carers who would like to get a bit more fit. All the TDS staff have tried it in and agreed that it’s super-easy to ride.
You can pedal it without any battery boost or you can have it at full power for a faster ride.
You can easily charge it from a power socket, and it also folds up so that you can transport it in a car. CEO, Sally, has been test-driving it and only wishes it would go faster!
We’d really encourage you to borrow it and try it foryourself. Alternatively, you can come to Alexandra Park on a Wednesday morning and have a lesson or two from the Bike Hive staff to increase yourskills and confidence. Get in touch with us![email protected]
0161 226 7186
SIDECAR: Quality of life for carers
SIDECAR is a tool that has been developed to measure the quality of life of people (carers) who support a relative living with dementia.
SIDECAR: Scales to measure the Impact of Dementia on Carers
SIDECAR comprises three separate scales, ABC:
SIDECAR A Direct Impact. This is the primary quality of life scale.
SIDECAR B Indirect Impact.
SIDECAR C Support and Information.
The project wanted to find out if SIDECAR is a useful tool for carer support organisations. The University of Bradford and TDS wanted to explore how the tool might be used by us to support Manchester carers better. TDS have been involved in the project since last summer and it is now coming to an end. We feel the tool is a valuable means of identifying where carers needs are and how we can best support them. Not only have TDS staff benefitted from using SIDECAR, as it has guided our support but so too have carers as it’s helped them to recognise some of the ways that dementia has impacted them. Acknowledging that
‘I often feel I want to escape my caring responsibilities’ and ‘I would like it if others tried harder to understand the situation I’m in’ can be liberating as it means you’ve named something that has been niggling you. Perhaps then you can talk to your worker, or a friend, about those feelings.
The impact and feedback we have had from our carers has been very positive and, once the data has been collected, we will share it with you all. Looking at the results, it is clear that staff have been able to identify carers in need of practical support and those who are finding the emotional/psychological impact overwhelming.
We expect that we will continue to use this assessment tool. We might be able to show you carers, as individuals, that you have progressed from a time when you were feeling particularly low or lacking in confidence
Responsive Behaviours
Anna and Jo recently did some training about ‘responsive behaviours’ in people living with dementia.
Anna shares her learning below:
What are responsive behaviours?
To be able to understand and respond to responsive behaviours first we must
identify what the term means. Behavioural and Psychological symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) is an umbrella term for neuropsychiatric disorders such as apathy, depression, aggression.
A subsection of BPSD is Responsive Behaviours; behaviours believed to be as a response to something or a need, rather than an integral part of the dementia.
They could be a response to:
An unmet need.
A stimulus in surroundings maybe sound orovercrowding.
A psychosocial need such as lack of purpose orloneliness.
The approach or actions of others.
Sundowning; behaviours that occur at specifictimes of the day, generally late afternoon.
To be able to identify and supporta responsive behaviour, it is important to set a baseline to rule out anythingmedical and to understand what behaviours are usual for the PLWD. The person could regularly do any of thefollowing:
Be anxious: pacing, being restless, appearingfearful
Walk constantly: getting lost, looking forsomething
Become agitated as the day light fades, wanting to go home or get home for children.
Eat inedible items.
Be aggressive, both verbally and physically.
Have delusions and hallucinations.
When addressing behaviours, it’s advisable to not prioritise more than 2 or 3 behaviours at a time. You shouldthink about the risks of each behaviourto ensure you tackle the most important one first. Obvious risks are: roaming, getting lost, imminent physical harm,suicidal thoughts, self-neglect
So, if responsive behaviours relate to unmet needs, what are your relative’s needs? Most of us have 6 needs. The acronym PIECES might help you to remember them
P physical comfort/discomfort: such as pain, hunger, constipation
I intellectual– something to do or to stimulate you
E emotional– feeling loved, valued, hopeful
C capability: can the person achieve something that they value? Too easy, too difficult
E pleasant and comfortable environment: lighting, smells, temperature etc.
S social or spiritual meets being met, consider cultural needs.
For those of us without dementia, we canusually get our needs met by our own efforts or by asking others. For people with dementia, they might not beable to work out how to meet their needs and, often, they can’t tell peoplewhat they need. Family carers have to bethe detectives!
You might want to speak to your TDS Dementia Support Co-ordinator more about your relative’s behaviours, or to one of the Admiral Nurses. And if you figure out what’s bothering them and come up with a solution, please let us all know. We learn so much from each other!
Donate to our eBay shop
Sometimes we receive Christmas gifts that are lovely but not what we want or can use. Don’t despair! At TDS we can put them to good use by selling them in our eBay shop.
It’s a win win. We make money for a good cause, someone somewhere gets a lovely item and you can rest content in the knowledge that you are helping others with your gift (and helping to save the planet too - Reduce: reuse: recycle)
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