"Dementia is easy to say and easy to write but not so easy to understand"
Dementia cafe
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Hi
I'm so please to heat about your Message Board and just wanted to let you know about a similar service we have at PSS. PSS is a charity providing support to vulnerable people across Merseyside, North Wales and Scotland. Like you we have become aware of the isolation Carers feel and the stress this can cause. Last year we set up an on-line Dementia Cafe, which offer Carers information on services available, finance, benefits etc. But it also has a chat room where Carers can speak to others in similar situation, ask question etc or just have a general chat with people. The chat room is hosted on a Tuesday night by Pam Stopforth or one of her colleagues. Although PSS set up the Dementia cafe, we want it to be a shared resouces and invite other to post useful information. If you would like to vist this site it is -http://www.dementiacafe.com
We also provide Dementia Training for Staff and informal Carer (family, frends etc) either a one day course or a two day course. We also have a 2 day residential course for carers which includes 2 days training plus overnight accomidate and meals in a hotel. For more information look on the Dementia Cafe or contact Pam Stopforth 0151 702 5526 pam.stopforth@pss,org.uk or Carolyn Goble 0151 702 5528 carolyn.goble@pss.org.uk
I'm so please to heat about your Message Board and just wanted to let you know about a similar service we have at PSS. PSS is a charity providing support to vulnerable people across Merseyside, North Wales and Scotland. Like you we have become aware of the isolation Carers feel and the stress this can cause. Last year we set up an on-line Dementia Cafe, which offer Carers information on services available, finance, benefits etc. But it also has a chat room where Carers can speak to others in similar situation, ask question etc or just have a general chat with people. The chat room is hosted on a Tuesday night by Pam Stopforth or one of her colleagues. Although PSS set up the Dementia cafe, we want it to be a shared resouces and invite other to post useful information. If you would like to vist this site it is -http://www.dementiacafe.com
We also provide Dementia Training for Staff and informal Carer (family, frends etc) either a one day course or a two day course. We also have a 2 day residential course for carers which includes 2 days training plus overnight accomidate and meals in a hotel. For more information look on the Dementia Cafe or contact Pam Stopforth 0151 702 5526 pam.stopforth@pss,org.uk or Carolyn Goble 0151 702 5528 carolyn.goble@pss.org.uk
Hello Caroline.
Thank you for your good wishes and your information. Your website sounds interesting. I shall have a look! My aim when getting this site made was to make it as straightforward as possible. Many people like me have got a fair idea about the internet and also like me that fair idea is limited to being terrified of pressing certain buttons in case a piece of important information disappears into the wide blue yonder never to be seen again. The second reason for its simplicity is that carers by the very nature of what they have to do simply do not have the time or energy to spend ages surfing the net.
It really is very good of you to get in touch. The more help out there the better. I remember those early years so well. It was grim.
Thank you for your good wishes and your information. Your website sounds interesting. I shall have a look! My aim when getting this site made was to make it as straightforward as possible. Many people like me have got a fair idea about the internet and also like me that fair idea is limited to being terrified of pressing certain buttons in case a piece of important information disappears into the wide blue yonder never to be seen again. The second reason for its simplicity is that carers by the very nature of what they have to do simply do not have the time or energy to spend ages surfing the net.
It really is very good of you to get in touch. The more help out there the better. I remember those early years so well. It was grim.
Hi, we are starting a dementia cafe in South Gloucestershire in July this year. I have designed a leaflet and I have been visiting other services in the area to inform them of the cafe etc. Can anyone tell me any ways of ensuring people feel welcome. I don't want this to be under used as I think its a service very much needed. It would be great if anyone with experience of starting and running a dementia cafe could point out positive things to me. Email me at andy.richardson@alzheimers.org.uk
Thank you
Andy
Thank you
Andy
If you live in South Gloucestershire and have recently been told that you or a relative or friend has a form of dementia then contact me by telephone or email and register to attend our dementia cafe in Winterbourne. If you have trouble getting there don't let that stop you as I will arrange transport. The dementia cafe is FREE and we will be serving good food along with helping you to find the support you need. The dementia cafe will be friendly, supportive and strictly confidential. Everyone is welcome the first Monday of each month from 2.00pm to 4.00pm starting on August 4th. My contact details are 0117 958 1517 email: andy.richardson@alzheimers.org.uk
Hi my husband Roy has Dementia and stays at the Iorwerth Jones Centre. Lately he has been refusing to eat and drink and does not seem to know me anymore. Where should I go to get some help with this problem? I think contact with people in Dementia Cafe might find an answer if they have had a similar experience. I will try on Tuesday night to contact Pam or Carolyn Bye for now Iris
Hello Iris.
I believe there have recently been some changes at the Iorwerth Jones Centre and I am wondering if Roy has been thrown into some confusion because of it. I had a similar experience when my husband was moved from one hospital to another. It seems they can't quite figure out what is going on so in my husband's case he sort of closed down. We got him out of though and I can only put a few suggestions to you that might help.
I found that just sitting by him - not too close so that he felt threatened - and loosely holding his hand so he felt reassured, then just chatting quietly and favourably about pictures or ornaments or colours of things we saw about us he began to relax and think that everything was ok. I found that asking my husband questions about anything at all was a bad idea as he became agitated simply by trying to understand the question, trying to find the words and then trying to say them. This might be the case for Roy. If you can relax him into feeling that everything is ok he may well begin to respond to you and to start accepting food and drink.
Even if he can't follow what you are saying he may well be reassured by the sound of your voice. Its hard, I know. I used to walk away from the hospital cursing at the sky! But I knew I had done the best I could to get my husband into a better frame of mind. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't but one can only try.
Hope this could be of some help.
Jill
I believe there have recently been some changes at the Iorwerth Jones Centre and I am wondering if Roy has been thrown into some confusion because of it. I had a similar experience when my husband was moved from one hospital to another. It seems they can't quite figure out what is going on so in my husband's case he sort of closed down. We got him out of though and I can only put a few suggestions to you that might help.
I found that just sitting by him - not too close so that he felt threatened - and loosely holding his hand so he felt reassured, then just chatting quietly and favourably about pictures or ornaments or colours of things we saw about us he began to relax and think that everything was ok. I found that asking my husband questions about anything at all was a bad idea as he became agitated simply by trying to understand the question, trying to find the words and then trying to say them. This might be the case for Roy. If you can relax him into feeling that everything is ok he may well begin to respond to you and to start accepting food and drink.
Even if he can't follow what you are saying he may well be reassured by the sound of your voice. Its hard, I know. I used to walk away from the hospital cursing at the sky! But I knew I had done the best I could to get my husband into a better frame of mind. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't but one can only try.
Hope this could be of some help.
Jill
I posted on another thread and just want to say what an excellent idea this is.
Things aren't actually that bad yet, I'm just dreading them getting worse.
Things aren't actually that bad yet, I'm just dreading them getting worse.
Hello Ellie again.
So glad you get the point of this website. If someone is in thia awful situation it can be worth reading the letters even if that person doesn't feel like putting pen to paper as it were!
I have replied to your other email and I do hope it gives you a little encouragement if nothing else!!
All the best
Jill.
So glad you get the point of this website. If someone is in thia awful situation it can be worth reading the letters even if that person doesn't feel like putting pen to paper as it were!
I have replied to your other email and I do hope it gives you a little encouragement if nothing else!!
All the best
Jill.
