Seasons Greetings to All

Hi Everybody,


Hope everybody is getting into the festive swing of things and looking forward to cutting a rug at the Christmas parties.


I'm writing this blog today as a celebration of all the work that has been achieved this year and upcoming projects that we will soon be getting involved with.


The first thing I would like to talk about is a project that's quite dear to me. This is the "A Day in the Life Dementia" play that we have been working on at Gloucester College. This forms part of the HNC/HND diploma that the students are working towards.


The play is based on a number of scenarios that are experienced by people living with dementia and their carers. These range from night time disorientation, separation anxiety, repetitive questioning and walking with a purpose. The students have taken on these subject matters and desired learning outcomes to produce an interactive piece of work that illustrates how this affects the person living with dementia.
I have had the privilege of being involved in the progress of this work from inception to end and have been joined along the way by my partner in crime Sian Merrion-Jones of the Gloucester Dementia Action Alliance, Kim Dement of the Gloucester Dementia Education and Strategy team and Kate Barnes of the Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning Schools and Colleges Services for Children and Young People and as always the guiding hand of Lena Maller of the Forest of Dean District Council.
It's fair to say that anyone who has seen what the students have produced so far have been completely blown away by the intensity of the performance.
I have just received details of the dates and times of the performances which are on Monday the 9th of December at 10-1030, 10:45-11:15,11:30-12:00, 12:30-13:00 and 16:15-16:45 and Friday the 13th December at 10-10:30, 10:45-11:15, 11:30-12:00, 13:15-13:45 and 14:00-14:30.
Myself and Sian will be inviting dignitaries from the field of housing, dementia and public service to attend the shows as well as people living with dementia and their carers.
The hope is that this will become a personal fixture in the HNC/HND programme and will be rolled out at various times throughout the year for other colleges to come and look at what the students are doing and incorporate this into their own programmes. This will hopefully then lead to a roll out at a national level.

We will also be continuing the Dementia/Domestic Abuse protocol meetings with GDASS, police, fire services, Gloucester Dementia Education and Strategy team and the Gloucester and Forest of Dean Dementia Action Alliances.
This is currently being led by myself and the wonderful Di Martin (IDVA)(Prospective MP for the Forest of Dean and all round inspiration). I will update you more on this after the next meeting.


On Wednesday the 4th of December, I will be attending the inaugural meeting of the Gloucestershire Dementia Action Alliance, which looks to incorporate all the work being carried out by all the different Dementia organisations throughout the county and bring it all under one big umbrella. I have provided a copy of the terms of reference below.

In the New Year I will be attending the South Western Ambulances Services Silver Services event which focuses on treating the older person better. I will be hosting a stall and giving a talk about dementia and how it can be better supported throughout our community.

Well I hope that brings us all up to date with all that we're doing in the world of dementia at GreenSquare and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Dementia Projects and End Of Life Care in Gloucestershire

Hi All,

Sorry for the long delay, but as most of you know it's been a difficult year.

I'm here to let you know about some of the fantastic events that are being promoted by GHS and the GDAA during World Alzheimer's month this September.

The first is a Dementia Advice session that we are facilitating in conjunction with Painswick Rococo Garden on September the 19th between 11am and 2pm. This is to provide information for people with dementia, their families and carers. We will also be joined by Age UK, GHS, Gloucester Rugby Charities and Alzheimer's Gloucestershire.
We are hoping to put on a concert on the 26th for people with dementia and for this to become a regular thing.

I am also working with Elaine Robinson-Fullard regarding the Dementia Project Program that Age UK are running in Gloucester and Cheltenham.
If you are 65+ and live in Gloucester or Cheltenham, and have recently been diagnosed with dementia, then the Dementia Project team will work with you for about 4 weeks. They will establish the help you need to remain living as independently as possible, explore your own personal strengths and guide you on how to maximise these, connect you with social activities and services within your local community, if you are entitled to any financial benefits, then they will help you to apply for these and signpost you to other services that can offer support. A copy of their leaflet and application form can be seen underneath.

For any more information on this contact Elaine Robinson-Fullard on 01452 420928.

End of Life Care

As most of you know, I paid a visit to the wonderful dementia village of  De Hogeweyk a few years ago. I even wrote a blog piece about it I was that impressed. I have canvassed ever since for something of a similar model to be adopted in the UK.Earlier last month I was lucky enough to attend the Dementia Forum run by the Gloucester Dementia Education and StrategyTeam and witnessed a presentation by a team of carers from The Hollies in Dursley.

They have a person centred approach to care, and the rooms of those they care for are unique to each individual. Each individual has their care needs tailored to their own requirements and this can include 24 hour 1-1 care if needed. I have been invited to visit the home and write a blog piece of what they do and what they have planned for the future, so watch this space.

They have been awarded the National Gold Standard Framework. The National Gold Standards Framework is a national training and coordinating programme for all Gold Standards Framework (GSF) programmes. This programme enables generalist frontline staff to provide the high standard of care that we all look for when choosing a residence for our loved ones nearer to the end of their lives. The GSF improves the quality, coordination and organisation of care, which then in turn results in better patient outcomes and an overall decrease in hospitalisation.

RECEIVING THE ACCREDITATION

In order to receive the accreditation, care homes must undergo a rigorous training process, as well as embedding the GSF care standards in their respective care homes for at least six months. The training programme itself is nine months long, and after both of these tasks have been completed, the accreditation process begins.

This process includes the assessment against 20 clear standards of best care home practices, the review of the care of residents utilising the ‘After Death Analysis Audit Tool’ and a quality assessment visit – which reviews the integration of Gold Standards Framework processes into everyday practice.                            

Now all this is rather commendable but the thing that stuck with me was the raw enthusiasm of the staff and in particular two stories that stuck with me.

The first was of an elderly gentleman that one of the staff had befriended. He was an avid rugby fan and just before he passed away, the staff managed to get him to his local rugby club for a game, where he met the players, enjoyed the game and also enjoyed a few libations afterwards. The way that this was handled and put together was an obvious source of pride to those involved and was a great example of person centred care for someone with dementia.

The second story was the way that they deal with the passing of a resident.
The resident is added to a tree of remembrance in the home, to recognise that person's life and their time at The Hollies. Not only that, the policy is that if someone comes in through the front door, then they leave through the front door. This not only gives the residents and the staff the time to say goodbye properly, but also respects the life of the individual that has passed.


If you have reached the stage where you are looking at residential care for a loved one with dementia or if you are someone with dementia, then I cannot recommend this home highly enough.


I have added the link for those interested https://thehollies.co.uk/

The GDAA also met with Gloucester Rugby regarding making Kingsholm a more dementia friendly stadium. Sian Jones and myself met with Sarah Lee a few weeks ago and had a very positive meeting regarding ideas to raise dementia projects around the stadium. They are currently training one of their staff to be the dementia lead for Gloucester Rugby and the GDAA have committed to aiding with signposting organisation that may be of benefit in this endeavour.

Gloucester Rugby Charity are quite keen to get involved with dementia projects around Gloucestershire and are already linking in with Painswick Rococo Garden regarding walking rugby for people with dementia.

                                                      

Working with GDASS towards a Dementia Protocol

I have had the pleasure most recently of working alongside Councillor Di Martin of GDASS in coming up with a protocol for domestic abuse and dementia.

We are working in conjunction with Lena Maller (Community Engagement Officer, Forest of Dean Council), Lauren Mackay (Gloucestershire Dementia Education and Strategy Team), Rob Mortimer (Forest of Dean Constabulary), Abigail Dunn (GP Development Worker GDASS) and we have recently received funding from the Crime Commissioners Office to start work on whether the dementia has changed the behaviour or whether the perpetrator is someone who has a history of DV and now has dementia or is caring for someone with dementia. We came up with this flyer not long ago to highlight at what we were looking to do.

Have you or your partner recently been diagnosed with a form of dementia?

Has there been an increase in aggressive behaviour that was not present before?

Has there always been aggressive behaviour in the relationship that has become more prevalent since the dementia diagnosis?

Ask yourself, is your partner’s behaviour a mystery or part of history.

GDASS, GHS and (insert organisation) are here to answer any questions that you may have on the subject. All enquiries will be handled with the strictest confidence.

And finally the Choir

On Tuesday the 24th of September, there will be an Evensong Dementia Service at 5:30pm at Gloucester Cathedral for those living with Alzheimer's Disease and their carers. It's a lovely evening out and when I took my Mum there a few years ago, she thoroughly enjoyed it, was as conversational as I've ever seen her and managed to neck enough cream cake to put Jane's Pantry out of business. Here's the photo to prove it. Miss you Mum.