February 2017

Welcomein this issueDear all,

Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to the first issue of DFA newsletter in 2017. We are very excited for what this year will bring both nationally and locally regarding dementia care. Every day we learn of new dementia friendly initiatives that are popping up in the city and we feel truly privileged to be able to share all the news with you! We would like to extend a special thank you to our partner – Life Changes Trust – for making this possible.

In this issue we focus on the importance of sharing stories: words have the power to help, to heal and to humble. They communicate, deliver information and teach. This edition features an interview with Katrina Blackwood, Healthcare Chaplain, who guides us through the work of Community Chaplaincy Listening Service and its benefits for people living with dementia and their carers.

Today, I would like to invite you to use words mindfully when speaking about people living with dementia. DEEP UK had produced a great booklet with guidelines on language about dementia. Click here to read it.

Last but not least, I am very excited because on 22nd March at 2pm I will be speaking on the ‘So Why Don’t You...!’ programme on SHMUfm 99.8fm radio about Dementia Friendly Aberdeen initiative. Tune in to find out about our journey so far in supporting people living with dementia!

If you would like your story, activity or organisation to be featured in the next edition of the newsletter, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Any suggestions relating to content or format of the newsletter are always very welcome – we are here for you.

Kaja

newsevents

interview

The power of sharing stories:an interview with Katrina Blackwood, CCL service

stories & services

Fun, Friendship & Exercise:exercise class for over 50s

No Place Like Home:housing advice

Mind For You:supported holidays

Patient Opinion:a way to share experiences about healthcare

If you know anyone who would like to be included on the email distribution list for DFA newsletter or you have any suggestions please email:kaja.czuchnicka@acvo.org.uk

Newsletter

Dementia Friendly Aberdeen Newsletter - February 2017

Did you know?

We have over 1000 Dementia Friends in Aberdeen.People who are socially isolated are 64% more likely to develop dementia.

The number of cases of dementia are estimated to more than triple by 2050.

save the date

Come and Sing

When? 10th March, 6-7.30pmWhere? Dementia Resource Centre13-19 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AAContact: 01224 644077aberdeendrc@alzscot.org.

Advances in dementia research: from the lab to the clinic

When? 13th March, 6 -7.30pmWhere? Suttie Centre for Teaching & Learning in Healthcare,Foresterhill Health Campus

Click here for more info.

Once Upon a Tune

When? 14th March, 1-3pmWhere? Living Well Cafe, Newhills Church ComplexBucksburn, AB21 9SSContact: 0793574543507935733926cafe@thelivingwellproject.org.uk

Movie Matinee: The Poseidon Adventure

When? 24th February, 1-3pmWhere? Dementia Resource Centre, 13-19 King Street, AB24 5AAContact: 01224 644077aberdeendrc@alzscot.org

newsDementia Friendly Communities in Scotland

Report

Life Changes Trust published a report on the Trust-funded dementia-friendly communities in Scotland. The report draws out learning and points of note. It includes case studies that give a glimpse into the work of the communities and the ways in which people living with dementia and carers are involved in them. The report also highlights ‘the role that dementia friendly communities have in making rights real for people living with dementia and for unpaid carers’

Click here for more information.

New Dementia Friendly Café in Aberdeen

Mannofield Church won funding for a dementia-friendly café from AVIVA Community Fund. The project aims to benefit the whole community but especially the elderly, people with dementia and their carers, and young parents. Keith Blackwood, the minister, sees the café as a safe space for building friendships: ‘It would be comforting to know that each day there was a venue for people to visit and meet not only with others in a similar position but to meet with others of all generations and wide ranging interests’

Dementia and Spirituality in Care Homes

Life Changes Trust has commissioned research work on spiritual care in care homes in Scotland. It is to be undertaken by a consortium of four organisations: Faith in Older People, Aberdeen University, Mowat Research, and Simon Jaquet Consultancy Services Ltd. The research aims to identify the range of approaches to spiritual care practice in care homes with people living with dementia, and to explore how to best build on this in the future. It will, above all, be a positive exercise – looking for examples (large and small) of the practical ways in which spiritual care is carried out in care homes.

events

Transport is a topic close to the hearts of people living with dementia and their carers.

The Upstream Conference, which ACVO team had the pleasure of attending, brought together organisations and individuals in an effort to connect people and start turning talk into action.

People from transport, health, Government, design and the third sector had gathered at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre to share ideas, promote best practice and develop a deeper understanding of challenges faced by people living with dementia in relation to transport. We heard from various speakers including Tommy Dunne (Service Users Reference Forum), Paula Brown (Arora Dementia Friendly Community), Lee Glen (Dementia Friendly Dunbar), James McKillop, Samantha Berry (OCS at Gatwick Airport), Jill Mulholland (Scottish Government’s Accessible Travel Framework ‘Going Further’), Chris McCoy (Accessible Tourism Programme), Terry Dunn (ESP Group) and Sarah Geoghegan (Alzheimer Scotland).

We were delighted to see Sarah Geoghegan, Dementia Advisor for Aberdeen, who reflected on dementia awareness sessions delivered to the staff and the interest of the management in involving people affected by dementia in reviewing airport services.

The conference was a great event and we were happy to be a part of it.

Click here for more information.

Upstream Conference

The Carers Support (Scotland) Act 2016 Workshop

Without carers and their expertise, support for so many people in Aberdeen would just not exist.

On 2nd February ACVO team attended The Carers Support (Scotland) Act 2016 workshop where we heard from Claire Cairns (Coalition of Carers in Scotland) and Heather Tennant (NHS). We have learnt about the work surrounding the Carers Act nationally and locally, including Adult Carers Support Plan, Breaks from Caring and Hospital Discharge. Together with other third sector organisations we took part in discussions that are to inform Carers Strategy for Aberdeen.

If you are a carer or involved in cares issues and would like to help shape the strategy please contact Dorothy Askew: DAskew@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Dementia Friendly Aberdeen Newsletter -February 2017

an interview with Katrina Blackwood,

Healthcare Chaplain, Community Chaplaincy Listening

service

Community Chaplaincy Listening (CCL) is a listening service provided by NHS Grampian’s Healthcare Chaplaincy Department. It gives people an opportunity to come and talk to somebody about the problems, concerns or challenges they are facing.

Could you please tell me a little bit more about CCL?

CCL is a listening service. It’s about storytelling – people can talk about whatever they want about their life and talk through the challenges they face. When someone comes to CCL we are actively listening to what they are saying – we let them take the lead in the storytelling. It’s also about reflecting back some of the things they are sharing with us. Our job is to unravel and untangle threads, and help people talk through what is challenging them so that in time they are able to find ways to cope with the situation they are in.

Where? Aberdeen Community Health and Care Village,50 Frederick Street,AB24 5HY

When? By appointment

Contact: 01224 655555or speak to the main reception staff

Dementia Friendly Aberdeen Newsletter - February 2017

Is sharing stories and being listened to the main benefit of the service?

Yes, but we also make sure that we refer people on if required. So if we realised that they need more than being listened to and need something more constructive like counselling or therapy, we would always direct people to their GP to help them find the right service. We are very person centred. We try to help people to work out what their needs are rather than us telling them.

Could you just talk me through what the appointments look like? If I was having a difficult time in my life and came to see you here, how would it work? So I come through the door and…

It’s about putting people at ease as they come through the door. The thing that I always like to do is tell people ‘well-done for coming’. Because it’s a really hard thing to walk through the door, when you don’t know the person and all you know is that maybe you are needing that help or you are needing somebody to talk to.

Oh, that’s lovely. Sometimes the first step is the hardest… And then?

I always outline the session, to let people know that it’s a 50 mins appointment but they can come as often as they want, and I explain the difference between listening and counselling. I always mention that it is confidential. I also talk about the importance of being listened to – all chaplains and CCL Listeners receive clinical supervision where they can talk about what we see and hear as a part of our job. It’s letting patients know that we recognise how important it is to talk to someone. I point out that we do not talk about religion and spirituality unless they wish. There are a few details taken and I note the main reason why they came and what we talked about. I always say that they can read my notes at any time. Then, it’s over to the person - start when you what to start, tell me what brought you here. It’s just about them getting their story out there.

Is it always the same person that they would see?

Yes, usually. Unless there was a long term sickness or something like that it would tend to be the same person.

Dementia Friendly Aberdeen Newsletter - February 2017

Can people come with any problems that they have?

Absolutely. A word that sums up what people often come with is loss. I think loss is a good word because with low self-esteem you may have lost something, a part of you; when you are bereaved someone has been lost; if you have been made redundant you have lost your job. There are so many things in our lives that are actually losses. And sometimes it’s about reflecting with a person on the nature of losses in their life – it shifts the way somebody looks at something. These are the main things that people come with. But it can be anything, such as illness and adjustment, stress, work related issues or family/relationship issues.

People come with complex issues. What kind of training do chaplains and volunteers have?

It’s a very good training. The topics include grief, trauma and abuse. But the most important part is the listening practice. It is an opportunity for a listener to practice active listening in a safe space. We are not training people to listen, we are taking people who have already had that skill and it just helps them to put it in the CCL context.

Are the volunteers trained to work with people with dementia?

CCL is very much patient led and it requires responding to what people are saying to us. It’s very individual to every person and every session. With all the training that volunteers receive, I would like to think, people feel confident in listening to somebody who has dementia.

Have you had people with dementia attending your sessions?

Yes, I have. But dementia wasn’t the main thing that they were coming to talk about. Often, people are saying ’Oh you’ve got this therefore you must be like this, you must struggle with these types of things’. But actually they might struggle with something completely different. If dementia was the main thing they wanted to talk about, again, we are not medical experts, and we could help them with finding and working through what they find most difficult about it. Maybe they might need to talk out loud about things that are bothering them. But it can be that they want to talk about that their children’s marriage just broke up.

Dementia Friendly Aberdeen Newsletter - February 2017

I was also wondering if you have had any carers coming to CCL?

Carers do come. They often talk about the mixed emotions they are experiencing and the challenges they are facing. Sometimes, carers don’t want to share these thoughts with their loved one because they don’t want to place a burden on them. They also don’t want to burden any relatives or friends around them, because they feel that they have to appear to be in control. Here, they can be vulnerable and express weakness.

How can CCL sessions help carers deal with these issues?

There is an important part in recognising that some things can’t be changed and finding a way to accept them or cope with them in a new way. Also, sometimes a carer might not want to think about the possibility that the person they are caring for maybe needs to go into a home at some point. The listener can help them to explore this issue at their own pace and in their own time. It’s not about telling them what to do; it’s about exploring their feelings about the situation.

What has it been like to be a Listener and helping people in this way?

It’s a privilege to be a Listener and to feel that you can be there for people when they are struggling. It can be difficult and challenging and that’s why having clinical supervision and being a part of Values Based Reflective Practice group within chaplaincy helps. We want to be the best listeners that we can be for the people that come to us.

You mentioned that it can be hard to take that first step and come to a CCL session. What would you say to someone who is having a hard time but hesitating whether CCL is for them?

I would always ask people if they wanted to meet beforehand. If someone needed a hello, I would say ’look, come to the Health Village, we can sit and have a coffee together. I can tell you what it’s all about and when the time is right we can have a deeper conversation’

Thank you very much – CCL sounds like a wonderful service.

Caf4e & Company Lunch Club is looking for friendly and enthusiastic people to join their team of volunteers! Volunteers can choose to be involved in providing transport, practical tasks (washing up, etc) or hosting tables/socialising.

To find out more please get in touch with Grace: grace.caf4e@outlook.com, 07920 554 261

Caf4e & Company Lunch Club is looking for volunteers

CCL service is also available in following GP practices

Cove Bay Health Centre: Tel 0345 337 1170

Danestone Medical Practice: Tel 01224 822866

Elmbank Group, Foresterhill Health Centre: Tel 0345 337 0710

Rubislaw Place Medical Group: Tel 01224 641 968

Whinhill Medical Practice: Tel 0345 337 6201

Where? The Warehouse Health Club20 Mearns St, Aberdeen, AB11 5AT

When?every Mondayat 10.30am

Contact:01224 571457

chris.cantrill@theware-househealthclub.com

Fun, Friendship & Exercise

Chatting on comfy coffee-coloured couches is the routine start to the Over 50s, Rehab & Alzheimers exercise class at the Warehouse Health Club.

On a Monday morning attendees gather in the foyer to catch up with each other and their instructor, Chris Cantrill, before moving on to the physical activities. Last week I had the pleasure of joining this lovely group for an hour of great fun.

The class involves stretching, weights, steps and general mobilisation exercises. There is a great variety of activities and no chance of boredom. All movements are performed to golden classics including ‘Pretty Woman’, ‘Money Money Money’ and ‘She’s Like the Wind’. It’s a Monday morning party and both sing-along and funky dance moves are encouraged!

Exercise brings many benefits for people living with dementia and their carers. It improves physical fitness which can help people maintain independence for longer, reduces the risk of falls by improving strength and balance and increases self-esteem. Moreover, recent studies have shown that physical activity may improve memory and slow down mental decline.

The gains from the class are not only physical. Many of theattendees have formed strong friendships and support each other through tough times. ‘I used to come with my husband’, one of the ladies told me, ‘but he is no longer able to do so. I love this class though and I still come every week.’

What makes this class unique is the story of its inception. It was set up seven years ago by Kerry Smith, the owner of the Warehouse Health Club, who experienced caring for a loved one living with dementia. She wished to support those going through similar life experiences. She definitely succeeded – the class is a safe space where people can have fun, make friends and keep fit.

Dementia Friendly Aberdeen Newsletter - February 2017

No place like home

Does your accommodation not fit your access needs? Does your property require adaptations?

No Place Like Home is a new housing advice free service from DPHS Aberdeen for anyone struggling at home due to disability or an age related illness including those living with dementia. A trained staff member can visit you at home or in hospital and provide information on social and private housing options, assist in completing housing application forms and offer advice on adaptation options including telecare.

Contact: 01224 810222, info@dphsaberdeen.org

Do you care for someone living with dementia? Would you like to go on a holiday together?

MindforYou provides supported holidays to 12 holiday destinations throughout the UK for people living with dementia and their carers to go on together. We understand the need for people living with dementia and their loved ones to have quality time together where the stress and pressures of day to day life are reduced. MindforYou will familiarize themselves to your specific needs so you can both relax and enjoy yourselves with small groups of up to 10 like-minded people. Support workers will be with you every step of the way to give you the flexibility to try new activities, meet new people, relax and enjoy yourself.

Contact: 01509 351008, info@mindforyou.co.ukMore info: www.mindforyou.co.uk

MindforYou Holiday

Do you have a story to share about your experiences with healthcare services in Aberdeen?

Patient Opinion is a not-for-profit social enterprise, which uses the power of the web to carry the voic-es of patients and carers into the heart of health services.

On their website anyone can share their recent experience of local health services, and see what others are saying.

Two ways to share your story on Patient Opinion:

1. Online:This is quick and easy, and you will be able to write your story just as you want. We will email you to keep you informed about the difference your story makes (www.patientopinion.org.uk)

2. By telephone:If you are unable to write your story on the website, you can speak to us in confidence on the phone.

To share your story about health care, please call us on 0800 122 31 35 (mobiles may pay charges).

Patient Opinion in partnership with Talking Mats are currenly developing an online service which will help more people with dementia communicate their thoughts and opinions.

Patient Opinion

Took my 90 year old dad to xray

department in Woodside. He has

dementia. He was picked up by

patient transport we met him at the

hospital but were in the wrong place,

the driver came and found us and

took us to dad, he went out of his

way to help. Then the radiographer

couldn’t have been more respectful.

Even the receptionist kept checking

we were ok. Couldn’t have ask for

better service.

Aberdeen Story

Click here to share your story

Dementia Friendly Aberdeen Newsletter - February 2017

The Dementia Resource Centre is a dementia friendly building showcasing the environmental adaptations and telecare options available to enable people to live well with dementia. It is for people affected by dementia, whether they have been diagnosed with dementia, or are caring for someone living with dementia. Groups held in the Dementia Resource Centre are for people who are able to attend safely on their own or who are accompanied by someone to support them.

At the Centre, you can find information and advice on a wide range of subjects, support to stay as independent as possible, help you stay active in the community and stay active for the future. You can also be put in touch with other local services, groups, and individuals who are affected by dementia.

Where?13-19 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AA

When?open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Contact:01224 644077aberdeendrc@alzscot.org.

Dementia Resource Centre

To view the range of activities and support available across Aberdeen city for those with a dementia diagnosis and their carers, please visit the interactive map.

Click here to view the interactive map.

We would like to encourage everyone to get involved in this initiative and spread the word. If you know of a group or activity that is going on in the city but not currently on the map, please get in touch with Kaja Czuchnicka (kaja.czuchnicka@acvo.org.uk) where your group will be included. Or if the details of your group have changed, due to a location or a time change, please let us know so we can keep it updated.

Keep up to date with Dementia Friendly Aberdeen on Twitter! Follow us and share your success stories

@DementiaAbz

#dementiafriendlyabz

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Dementia Friendly Aberdeen Newsletter - February 2017

Useful Contacts

The Dementia Resource Centre, 13-19 King St, Aberdeen AB24 5AA01224 644077,aberdeendrc@alzscot.org.

Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Helpline (24hrs/7 days a week)Freephone 0808 808 3000

Out of Hours Social Work (emergencies)01224 679025

Hillylands Independent Living CentreAdvice on occupational therapy services and on the most appropriate equipment to meet people’s needs including telecare.Croft Road, Aberdeen, AB16 6RB01224 666350Hillylands@bonaccordcare.org

Forest GroveRespite service for anyone over 50 who is cared for at home.22 Kings Gate, Aberdeen, AB15 4EJ01224 679025kings.gate@vsa.org.uk

VSA Carers Support Services38 Castle Street, Aberdeen, AB11 5YU01224 212021info@vsa.org.uk

AFC Community TrustActivities for anyone living with dementia: health walks, walking football, active reminiscence.01224 650400dementiafriendly@afccommunitytrust.org