Awkward moments when visiting relatives ...

Chatting to elderly grandparents, great grandparents or relatives with dementia may sometimes present awkward or silent moments.

Help initiate conversations ~ trigger memories and prompt recollections ~ help grand-children chat to great-grandparents ... enjoy special moments together:

Time to Chat ~ Memory Prompts for Conversation
People, Pets, Places, World War II, Familiar Faces and more at:
www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk

* Ideal for hospital volunteer visitors.
* Ideal for carers in residential care and dementia homes.
* Ideal for domiciliary care.
* Ideal for support teams in day centres.
* Ideal for gifts.

Carers' Centres nationwide ...

Whilst tidying up my computer files, I came across a magazine article which I may have forgotten to share with you ... but more importantly it reminded me of some requests that people often ask me. When I'm out and about, taking Dementia Workshop products to exhibitions, vintage fairs, health and care shows etc., people often ask for advice, or where they can access advice and support. The article below is printed in Blackpool Carers Centre; 'Caring Times' which is full of advice and published quarterly.
http://www.blackpoolcarers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Caring-Times-Spring-13-email.pdf

Of course, there's lots of advice about pretty much everything on the internet, but real person-to-person support can be found at carer centres nationwide.

Click on the link below, to see Carers Trust carer centres across the UK. So if you need help, support or advice for yourself or for the person you are caring for, get in touch with a carers centre near you:

http://www.carers.org/carers-services/find-your-local-service

Gillian

Happy Puppy Days ... Health benefits ...

 The benefits of owning a pet ...

Meet nine week old Lily, Coco, Jessie, Annie or Lola ... ?

Whilst the family continue to debate puppy's name, the springer spaniel is getting to know her way around the house, finding things to have a chew at and barking at the cat. 

She's been with us one day and brought so much love, it's impossible to measure.

If you are a carer, some residents may benefit from stroking, patting or admiring a pet.

Is there a relative, friend or neighbour who could visit with a dog or cat?

Dr. Oz Reveals 

Why Pets Really Improve Your Health

Having an animal in your home is great for your heart and your waistline,
your immunity, your blood vessels....

By Dr. Mehmet Oz

Check out Oprah Winfrey's website: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Pets-and-Health-Benefits-Why-Keeping-A-Pet-is-Good-For-You for the whole of this amazing information about the health benefits of owning or looking after a pet:

'If you've ever loved a pet, you know the kind of joy animals can bring. But I'm especially excited about the mounting evidence that they can improve our physical well-being, too. (Former president of the Mayo Clinic staff, Edward Creagan, MD, is so convinced of the healing powers of pets, he has literally prescribed them for a third of his cancer patients.) Here's a look at how your health might benefit from an animal companion.'

Lower Blood Pressure. 
The simple act of petting an animal—or even gazing at an aquarium—results in a drop in blood pressure. And pets can have a longer-term impact on the cardiovascular system, too, as researchers discovered when they tracked 24 hypertensive stockbrokers who adopted a cat or dog. Pet ownership blunted the blood pressure response to mental stress; the traditionally prescribed hypertension drug did not.

A Stronger Heart. 
Researchers who followed 369 heart attack survivors in the landmark Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial found that dog owners had only a 1 percent chance of dying within a year, compared with a 7 percent chance for subjects who didn't have a dog. A newer study, from 2009, found that people who had owned a cat at some point in their lives were 37 percent less likely to die of a heart attack than those who hadn't. 

Greater Calm for Alzheimer's Patients 
And for their families. Much of the burden of this disease (which afflicts one in eight people 65 and older) falls on patients' relatives, and I've seen it crush the spirit of even the most loving caretakers. But studies have revealed that Alzheimer's patients have fewer anxious outbursts if an animal is present, and research shows that caregivers can feel less burdened as well, especially if the animal is a cat (perhaps because cats require little additional care). 

A study published in the Western Journal of Nursing Research found that even pet fish can help by facilitating healthy weight gain among Alzheimer's patients, who often suffer from a lack of adequate nutrition. In the presence of an aquarium, patients who paced tended to sit still longer, while patients who were typically lethargic became more attentive. Both effects led to better eating at mealtimes. 

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Pets-and-Health-Benefits-Why-Keeping-A-Pet-is-Good-For-You/2#ixzz2g2kucmBg

Remember, owning a pet is a long-term physical and financial commitment. 
If you are considering having a pet to care for, think about the type of pet which would most suit you, your family, your location, mobility and wallet or purse!
Be aware of possible vet bills and take advice on pet insurance.

Gillian.

Finding the Happy You ...

Good Morning everyone. I'm looking through the window, the sky is clear and bright. The trees are waving in the gentle breeze that's inviting me to go for a healthy walk. I've decided to eat healthily today, do some work, visit a friend and chill out.

If every day began and operated like that, life would be a piece of cake [or maybe a rosy apple]. Do you ever wake up and dread the day, your first thoughts being the heavy weight of tasks ahead, complicated work-load you're facing or the responsibility of looking after a loved one who needs constant care? If I'm totally honest, I sometimes do. Don't get me wrong, I love my work and I like to be busy all the time and I care for my mother on a daily basis but I can sometimes be guilty of taking too much on, burning the candle deep into the night and feeling tired the next day.

As always, I'm researching for my work for carers, student support and people living with dementia. I decided to make myself a list of priority points to consider when I wake up and feel overloaded. So, here it is, just in case the sun isn't shining, the breeze is gale force and you fancy a cake for breakfast:

A list of my feel-good favourites for difficult mornings:

On waking, take a few moments to stretch out slowly. Arms above your head, just make yourself as long as you can. Repeat this a few times and relax in between.

Draw some deep in-breaths and release slowly.

Take a long look at the weather and embrace it - even if it's raining.
[I find this distracts me from the duties ahead and clears my head a little]

Drink a large glass of water before you prepare for the day - feeling better already.

Have a longer shower than normal - use extra soapy, bubbly or favourite fragrant bath/shower products.
Guys - choose something zingy to stir the senses.

Whilst you're in the shower/bath/leaning against the sink - choose one enjoyable ME thing to do during the day. It doesn't have to take up lots of your time - it could be making a plan to meet up with old friends. Do something unusual [pop into a library or museum, intriguing shop, park] - or normal - get a haircut.

Choose one of your favourite outfits or cool piece of clothing to wear - even to work.

Eat a really healthy breakfast - this will make you feel quite smug - it's early and you've already by made the right choices. Include a yoghurt and piece of dark chocolate if you can. Apparently chocolate is an anti-oxidant and yogurt kills off bad bacteria and helps your stomach stay quiet during the day.

Choose the 3 most important tasks that need to be achieved that day.

Select the most important of the 3 tasks. Focus on that one for a few minutes, simplifying the plan/content/order/structure in your mind.

Work out where you can slot the other two tasks in. Could you delegate them? Should you re-schedule them for another day? Relegate them? Before you leave your house, decide what you'll do with the other two tasks.

Leave for work/college/volunteer role/meeting/other, a few minutes early. Being on the last minute always causes stressful feelings.

Take some peppermint with you - mint sweets/chewing gum/peppermint tea - apparently mint helps with fatigue by stimulating = alertness.

Smile. For no reason. Smile at everyone you meet [within reason - don't make a nuisance of yourself on the tube or at the bus queue and get yourself arrested]. At least 'think smile'.

When you write things down, they're more likely to happen. Anon.

Make your own list - Enjoy your day.

Gillian

Memory Joggers and more ...

Why not treat someone you love and care for?

Happy Days Memory Joggers are designed for our elders, people who need extra care or living with dementia to prompt memory and share recollections.

Enjoy special moments together... 

All About Me

Watch the smiles ...

My Memory Jogger

Memory Joggers make ideal gifts for relatives and friends
Buy at www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk

Setting goals ...

'Set a goal and outline what it takes to achieve it. 

Then stop trying to achieve the goal. 

Just achieve each step you outlined along the way.'

For more planning or business ideas, check out Solved https://www.facebook.com/marketing.advice

Couldn't have said it better myself. I do find that a huge task or goal often over-faces me. I often put off setting about the necessary events to reach a specific goal, completing trivial tasks first. I spend much time thinking and more time procrastinating. To be honest, setting out what I need to do on paper has saved a considerable amount of time. As the quote says, 'outline what it takes.'

I'm a list person. List-making is high priority for me. If I'm over-faced with something, I like to make a list of all the things I have to do. ... I have lists of lists. But that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm obsessive about the order of things. I like lists to relieve my brain from holding lots of trivial information; post a package - buy a birthday present, write a speech, fix a dripping tap, deliver a get well card, edit a book and so on.

But the problem is that my goals end up muddled in between this list of everyday tasks and trivia, often becoming overlooked. I sometimes sort items on my lists into importance categories - only to find that I'm over-faced with the most important big-goal/task category. I then permit myself to procrastinate some more. 

Solved's quote quite simply beginning, 'Set a goal', has made me realise that each goal needs it's own list! An idea which pleased me greatly.

So now, when I have an idea for a new project, I set the goal title on a new page. I try to avoid listing - so I draw boxes with a stage title relating to the goal. I jot down associated tasks and ideas in the relevant box. I organise the boxes into stages of importance. The boxes / stages don't over-face me and I have noticed that I'm much more focussed when I'm trying to accomplish the steps in the boxes. Small tasks in each box appear do-able and before I know it, I'm onto the next stage. Feeling a sense of achievement motivates me to continue to the next box or stage until I reach the goal.

So I'd like to say thanks to Solved for sharing their motivating tips - and remember ... If you're following your dream[s] - dreams are goals - set out the goal and achieve each step along the way.

Gillian

Beat the treats ...

I just love this information website:

This week, Change for Life's challenge has been to swap children's sweet treats for healthier options.

Try to swap 4 sweet treats for fruit, milk or other healthy options.

I think I'll try it myself.

Check out this website for fun, easy-to follow tips and ideas, helping the whole family to stay healthy.

http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/Pages/smart-restart.aspx

Does Reading and Writing slow dementia?

Reading and writing may help to slow dementia, a report says. There's much research going on into keeping the brain active to slow down the onset of dementia. If the brain is a muscle, I suppose that makes sense - keeping it exercised. Although there is no cure for the symptoms of dementia, scientists often encourage people living with dementia to keep making contact, saying that the brain can work around itself to remember and connect information.

Check out this article on reading and writing to help slow dementia:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/07/08/199955597/book-news-reading-and-writing-slow-dementia-study-says?goback=%2Egde_126335_member_273769981#%21

Retrieving memories can help with brain fitness, increasing blood flow and enhancing well-being. As I always like to add a visual to my blog posts, I'll leave you with this one: Time to Chat memory prompts for families, carers, volunteers, hospital visitors and carers in residential, domiciliary or dementia care:

Shop and more at: www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk

A Funny Thing Happened on My Way To The Dementia Ward ...

I just love facebook, twitter, linkedin for all the opportunities to network with people we might otherwise never get to meet.

Allow me to introduce you to Charles Schoenfeld, writer of  'A Funny Thing Happened On My Way to the Dementia Ward - Memoir of a Male CNA.'

It's available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Funny-Thing-Happened-Dementia-Ward/dp/1463770103
Kindle version also available.

“Remarkable insights of skilled nursing care from an insider! Married father of four retires, studies then becomes a CNA. During his seven years of service you’ll read about the “Secret Club,” drama, compassion, and even deer hunting. A must-read for every family struggling with the idea of moving a loved one into a nursing home. Inspiring reading for nursing home managers. Includes tips for visitors.”

Please feel free to share your comments.

Gillian

Recognising signs of bullying ...

How can we recognise if a child is being bullied?

Has your child's behaviour changed?

Is your child showing signs of worry, losing items, not wanting to go to school?

Try not to doubt your natural instincts - check out Bullying UK - part of Family Lives;
There's lots of information, checklists and tips ...

http://www.bullying.co.uk/advice-for-parents/how-to-spot-the-signs-of-bullying/

There's also a confidential helpline and live chat.

Happy Days have a range of creative resources to help children and young people express difficulties or broader needs to bring about earlier support.

Let your school's teachers and support workers know about Happy Days creative resources to help identify young people who may be experiencing difficulties. www.happydayspublishing.co.uk

For more information, email Gillian Hesketh gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk

Are you a carer? Would you like to help our research?

Are you or do you know a carer in residential, dementia, assisted or domiciliary care? www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk 

Happy Days is passionate about helping carers working in residential, dementia, assisted or domiciliary care to provide enriched care.

We often hear that carers are overworked and underpaid, so how can we expect carers to take on the added pressure of ensuring residents are furnished with another level of care: enriched social and emotional care?

After extensive market research in residential care homes, it was clear that most carers wanted to enrich residents’ experiences and many felt they hadn’t the time, resources or materials or managerial/owner support. 

On a positive note, let’s not forget the many care service providers and carers doing a fantastic job of caring for our elders and people with dementia. 

If you are a carer, we would like to hear from you. Tell us about your working caring experience[s] so that Happy Days can help to bring enriched care not only to the people who need it but to help make an enjoyable day the people who provide it.

Happy Days have designed a range of talking prompts to help carers enrich the lives of the people they are caring for. Finding out about residents can supply information to initiate meaningful conversations. Prompting memory can generate special moments, interaction and activity. 

Sometimes, talking is just enough. Talking prompts don’t have to be stored on shelves or filing cabinets, they are small, lightweight, wipe-clean prompts designed especially for carers. Ideal for everyday use. Share conversations. Watch the smiles.

If you are a carer and would like to help our research by sharing your caring / working experiences, please email Gillian at gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk

If you care for someone at home, we would also like to hear from you. Happy Days have developed resources and tips to help carers and welcome any thoughts on caring difficulties, issues or ideas.

Thankyou,

Gillian 

The range is coming together nicely ...

Hello everyone,
So, the Happy Days Themed Memory Prompt ranges are coming together nicely ...

Take a look at one set in the range: World War II Memories ... [

can be sold separately]

Memory Boxes ~ Memory Prompts ~ Memory Games

If you have an elderly relative, are a carer or require memorabilia for history lessons, 

visit Happy Days shop at:

www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk

Life ...

'Life shrinks and expands in proportion to one's courage'

Anais Nin

American author 1903 - 1977

If you are a Hospital Volunteer ... talking tips ...

Good morning everyone, I was just listening to BBC Breakfast - talking about publishing the number of nurses on duty - each day - on each ward. I'm not entering the debate here, the subject reminded me to share these 'Time to Chat' talking prompts with you ...

During my research into social interaction to really make a difference, many hospital and residential care home volunteer visitors expressed a difficulty in initiating and holding conversation with patients, especially patients who were living with dementia. Some volunteers commented that they felt unable to fulfil their generous role; chatting and cheering people up for well-being.

Sometimes, just talking is enough:

Time to Chat ~ Conversation Prompts ~ Places 

Time to Chat cards are wipe-clean - storage wallet included. Attractive images with brief introduction text. Handy for volunteers, carers, families ..

Introductory Special offer:

Choose from World War II, Pets & Animals, Flowers, People We Know, Recognise Objects.

email me for special offer only £4.95 per pack includes wallet for the first three email requests received.

[postage + £1.90].

Easy to pay via paypal: www.happydayspublishing@yahoo.co.uk

Dementia ~ What's it all about?

http://youtu.be/k_0uJFCexSE

Two Choices ...

Two Choices

What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its Dedicated staff, he offered a question:......

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the Plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!

Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:

We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.

The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.

If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference.

We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'

So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:

Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

You now have two choices:

1. Delete

2. Forward - May your day, be a Shay Day.

MAY GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO DECIDES TO
PASS THIS ON IN MEMORY OF SHAY..............

If you are being bullied or know someone who is, please talk to a trusted adult, parent, carer, 

teacher 

or friend and ask for help or guidance.

If you have been bullying someone else, face-to-face or online, think about the effect you may have 

had 

on that person. Try to find someone to talk to who can help seek out some support. 

I'm just searching for the author of this lovely story and will add as soon as it appears.

Gillian

Back to School ...

Good Monday Morning everyone,
I realise most of my posts recently have been based around dementia, carers and so on - but of course, it's now time to prepare for the new school year ...

Have you got a young person in your class who is extremely shy or quiet, disrupting lessons or causing problems with others? Might this young person need help? Are you constantly sending a student to student support?

Young Carers often have a double work-load, balancing school or college with caring. They may be late for school, miss lessons, appear over-tired or dis-interested in lesson topics.

Some children and young people in residential care may be working doubly hard to assess or re-build their lives, approach new tasks or fit in with house members.

Happy Days Publishing provides a range of creative resources to help children and young people express difficulties and broader needs which may bring about earlier or more specific support.

There are two styles of easy-to-use resources available:

Individual books / booklets - use alone or with support worker

Licensed resources - can be photocopied or printed - use alone or with support worker

The colourful, themed pages contain sensitive text and response areas.

Ideal for School Support - Looked after Children - Residential Care - Young Carers - SEN

Choose from:
Primary School Age Group
Transition
Secondary School Age Group
Young Carers
Preparing for Independence

Please contact me anytime for further information or a visit

Gillian Hesketh

gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk

Music whilst you shop ...

Relax and listen to the music whilst browsing the Dementia Workshop window:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhad_I7a9iA

Then you may wish to shop at www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk

Gillian