http://www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk/what-is-dementia/20-conversation-points-about-dementia/

Nostalgic Dressers for Residential Care Homes ...

Nearly there … just choosing the colour for the backdrop … but then maybe that's up to you as Happy Days Dressers are decorated to complement your care home environment and colour schemes.

Fully Dressed Dressers ~ Nostalgic Artefacts

Dressers include replica memorabilia, conversation prompts and carer guide.

See www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk

Nostalic Dressers … for Residential Care ~ Enriched Care

Especially designed for Residential Enriched Social Care ~

Re-dressed dressers complete with nostalgic artefacts to prompt memories and conversation ~

Images coming soon at Happy Days~Dementia Workshop.

Wall dresser may include your choice of items:

Nostalgia: Walls Ice-Cream / McDougals Flour / Quaker Oats / PG Tips / Bourbon Biscuit / Corn Flakes / Marmite and more 

Afternoon Tea: Display of Tea pots / Milk/Cream Sugar / Cups Saucers - Bourbon Biscuit - Cherry Cake and more

The Laundry: Omo / Oxydol / Carbolic Soap / Brushes / Dolly Pegs and more

Wall Art: Vintage wall art pieces to complement wall displays at reasonable prices ~ choose from Laundry/Food/Comics/Records and more

Contact Gillian or Lei on 01253 899163

Whisking a happy story to you ...

Whisking a happy story to you …

Click on the link to find out more:

http://www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk/2014/02/whisking-a-happy-story-to-you/

Gillian

Happy Memories at ...

Hello everyone, apols for not writing sooner … I've been so busy preparing and putting together a whole range of materials to help carers, elderly, people with dementia, their families - and writing workshops to help carers provide enriched social care in residential settings.

BUT … this is one of my finds to help prompt memory:

only £4.95 each plus pp

Prompting memories can be fun. Listening and sharing stories may help a person participate. Joining in activity can help maintain skills, calm agitation, stave boredom and even boost blood flow and improve overall well-being.

For more games, activities, pastimes and conversation prompts, call in at:

www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk

or call Gillian Hesketh, Sue or Lei on 01253 899163

Real Life Learning - Tips for Carers in the Care Services ...

During my hours, days, weeks, months networking, exhibiting and researching for Happy Days Dementia Workshop, I came across two ladies, Sharon Lee Cuthbert and Alison Clare who are passionate about enriched everyday care. In an easy-read booklet, putting person-centred care into practise is just one of the topics on which they share thoughts, ideas and tips.  Sharon and Alison have compiled a marvellous compilation of colourful [and cost-effective] booklets packed with tips for carers. I have read and highly recommend the booklets which provide quick access reminders for carers across the service. Sharon and Clare have answered a few questions to explain more about their service and booklets …

Why did you set up Real Life Learning?

As a trainer in health & social care, I have always had a problem finding resources to recommend to learners to follow up a workshop because most books are aimed at particular professional groups, such as nurses, or they are just too long and too expensive. Managers also tell me they have the same problem – they want clear and simple materials that they can afford (on a tight budget) to use to train their staff from induction onwards.  They say they don’t have time to write this stuff themselves. So me and my colleague Alison, decided to set up a publishing company to produce what people want.  It is called Realife Learning because the feedback I have always had about my courses is that I base them on the real, practical challenges that people face rather than what should happen in an ideal world!

What have you published so far and how can people use them?

We have focused on the three subjects that come up time and time again:  how to do better care planning, how to put principles such as ‘person centred care’ into practice and how to communicate with people when they are angry or upset. Rather than do a comprehensive overview of each subject we decided that each booklet should identify three things that a worker can do to make a real difference in relation to each of these issues. People don’t want to be overloaded because they already have enough to do and think about. So we have tried to make what we write interesting and easy to read, with some activities to help the reader think about their real life experiences.

What feedback have you had so far?

Before we published we asked a lot of people what they thought of the booklets – care staff, managers and people who assess for qualifications. Everyone said that they liked the style and really appreciated the fact that we don’t talk down to people! Most of our readers have loads of experience so we think it is important to value what they already know.  Some organisations have bought large numbers of booklets on a single topic because they want to improve practice across all their services. They have used them to design training courses and to give out as part of supervision or following appraisals. We also have individuals buying single copies because they are starting a new job or because they are studying for a qualification or because they have been given a goal in their personal development plan.

Where can we find out more?

We have a website where you can read our blog, see sample pages and buy copies at www.realifelearning.co.uk.  Or you can email us if you want to purchase through an invoice system at orders@realifelearning.co.uk. Each booklet is £6.99 but there are discounts for bulk orders if you email us. And do follow us on twitter @realifelearning as we like to make contact with people and share ideas for improving practice.

Dementia and Nurturing ...

Many elderly people enjoy remembering happy times spent with their grand children or children.

Spending our lives looking after our children, baby-sitting our grand children and nursing our great grand children can create many happy memories for us to remember and recall.

For different reasons, some people who are living with dementia may enjoy the act of nurturing - some may be living out earlier memories, others may have been midwives, teachers or helped look after their siblings.

Happy Days Nurturing Memory Basket contains a soft baby doll, baby blankets, bottle, folding items, easily recognisable objects to prompt memory, replica memorabilia, conversation prompts and carer guide.

Choose other themes or budget; By the Seaside, World War II, Glorious Gardening, Sport, Baking Day, Make Do & Mend - Ideal for personal gifts, presenting to organisations, beneficial for residential care home residents, domiciliary care, day centres and more.

Te; 01253 899163 or email gillian@dementiaworkshop.co.uk

Activities for people with Dementia ...

When talking about sharing or encouraging activities with elderly people or people who are living with dementia, an activity doesn't have to be as energetic as a Welly Throwing competition, a Flower Arranging class or complex celebration Card Making extravaganza [although it very well could be depending on your participants]. An activity can be something as simple as conversation, just having a chat or watching birds in a garden from a comfortable chair by a window. Reports have shown that ADL's [assisted daily living tasks] don't fulfil a person who requires extra care. As conversation doesn't come easily to all of us, and conversation for and with people with dementia can become difficult, I have developed a range of handy resources to help carers provide enriched care by enriching social moments in time.

The idea behind Happy Days resources is that of 'moments in time' -  prompts to help carers to initiate or share conversation with residents or people they care for at home or in day centres. Conversation prompts aren't complicated, don't come packaged in store-away boxes with stiff lids. They are exactly what they say they are; handy sized picture and text conversation prompts. Although prompts can be used for a shared activity, for example, spreading out and sharing around a table with residents to help prompt long term memories, recollections, stories and encourage participation, they can also be used on a one-to-one basis.

Although some people find it easy to create conversation, others might find it more problematic. During research and from carer feed-back, it became apparent that many carers, apart from feeling over-stretched with daily tasks, found it awkward, tricky or too difficult to initiate conversation[s]. Repeated everyday living tasks could also be responsible for numbing creative topics for conversation. There are other things that might affect the carer too: Imagine if you were a very organised carer, gentle and thoughtful but were terribly shy. Imagine if you were experiencing problems in your private life which were impacting your daily thoughts. You might not feel like creating a new and cheery conversation with Mrs. Jones, Fred or Mavis about the garden, what's for lunch or what they did during the 1960s. This is where the 'Time to Chat' prompt cards can benefit the carer and the resident - both people are prompted and both people can share and enjoy the outcome. Sometimes,  the conversation generated provides the carer with interesting resident social history. Sharing conversation topics with other carers can help to ensure meaningful interaction is provided to enrich personal and social care and support resident well-being.

Carers are busy enough and can't be expected to have a complete creative agenda to suit all capabilities - That's why Happy Days resources and activities are designed to require very little preparation and take up smaller amounts of time. 'Picture Bingo' is a prime example. Again this can be used in small groups on on a one-to-one basis. Large images are shown to residents which can be matched to their A4 laminated picture bingo card. [counters included]. For residents who may not be able to play the game or who may have dementia, the cards also act as conversation prompts. The product is laminated and can be wiped clean. Yes, residents can win a game of Picture Bingo but it is also designed to be a non-competitive activity to encourage conversation and movement.

'Not all residents want to take part in a two hour card making extravaganza.' Every time I state this at an exhibition, presentation or dementia workshop, most heads nod in agreement. Especially for residents living with dementia, a two hour creative session would most likely be impossible. For the two or three residents who are found sat alone at the side or appear disinterested, what can we do? These residents may enjoy something simpler; looking at images related to the activity being presented, participating in one basic part of the activity - even if the action is repeated. Don't underestimate the simplicity of a task - simple tasks often calm agitations. Even the act of winding a bobbin, rolling wool, sanding a piece of wood or turning a rotary whisk have proved to be beneficial for people with dementia

It's good to see that some residential care groups are participating in integrated care - where residents who wish to or who are able, join in with everyday tasks - folding laundry, laying the table, gardening, setting up or clearing away for creative activities. Helping to maintain skills is one way to keep active and engaged. Many of the Happy Days materials are based on everyday tasks and incorporate recognisable images and themes to help prompt memory and conversation.

Happy Days has developed a recipe book for carers, packed with 'moments in time' activities to share with elderly people, people who need extra care or people who have dementia - so please check out the shop or call me for more information about licensed materials which can be edited to your organisation's requirements, photocopied or printed from included flash drive.

After extensive market research, finding out what would be most beneficial to residents, easy to use for the carer and cost effective for the care home owners and managers, Happy Days Dementia Workshop now has a wide range of products available. The One-stop shop is designed to help you share more time with residents rather than using it on internet or catalogue searches.

Enjoy,

Gillian Hesketh

2013©

School Resources ~ All About Me: Primary - Transition- Secondary - Prep for Independence -

Hello everyone,
I realise my blog posts are becoming more scarce but it's all for good reason. I've been busy developing a range of social activities for people with dementia, visiting organisations, attending workshops, running training workshops, speaking and sharing dementia awareness. I even managed to join Sean McGinty on BBC Radio Lancashire yesterday [Sunday 29th Dec] and share information.

But I haven't forgotten the young people and maybe it's time to share the "All About Me" range of resources for teachers, mentors, school counsellors, SEN and support teams to help children and young people express difficulties to bring about earlier support and positive outcomes, build confidence for moving to secondary school and approach independence by planning ahead.

For further information, visit www.happydayspublishing.co.uk or contact me on 01253 899163

Each book cover is laminated and ring-bound for easy use.

Fifteen quality pages contain sensitive text, themed images, subtle colours with response areas to encourage expression, prompt motivation and inspire positive outcomes.

Booklets also available for Young Carers 

Booklets can be edited to required SEN content or to suit organisation.

G8 Dementia Summit ~ Brief update:~

Just thought I'd share a short article I wrote for our local newspaper, the Blackpool Gazette: G8 Dementia Summit overview:

Dementia has been making headline news at last. As a Dementia Friends Champion, I’ve been following the G8 Dementia Summit which took place in London earlier this week and saw nations of the world pledging to step up research into a disease of the brain which affects over 35 million people worldwide and over 800,000 people in the UK.

Addressing delegates, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron urged scientists, politicians and businesses to commit to dementia funding, share data and be resolute in finding a cure. Recognising the effect of dementia on the family unit, Cameron said, ‘Dementia steals lives, it wrecks families, it breaks hearts and that is why we’re so utterly determined to beat it.’

The government has now announced doubling funding for dementia research to £122m by 2025 and confirmed that a scan would be available on the NHS which could help some people rule out Alzheimer’s disease.

Improving care, quality of life, preventing or delaying dementia and adapting to an ageing society are issues discussed at the summit. Health secretary, Jeremy Hunt advised that; ‘One in three of us would get dementia; one in four people in UK hospitals have dementia.’ As costs clearly extend beyond hospital care into social and community care, Hunt said ‘But the real reason to do something about dementia is not financial.The real reason is human. Everyone deserves to live their final years with dignity, respect and the support of loved-ones.’

It’s clear we’re all going to live longer. The number of people with dementia is set to rise and it seems an updated model of social care will be essential for well-being. Research has revealed that social care is just as important as a healthy diet or assisted daily living: bathing or getting dressed. My own research has identified how enriched social care can be applied easily [sometimes just talking is enough] and benefit both the person who needs care and the carer. Interaction can help a person with dementia to maintain skills, encourage movement and enhance well-being.

Besides fun social interaction workshops for carers, I have developed social activity recipe books, moments in time activities, things to do together, conversation prompts for hospital volunteers, community resources and memory joggers for families.

As part of the Happy Days programme, I am as resolute and passionate as the G8 summit delegates in helping people to live well with dementia.

by Gillian Hesketh MA

Coming soon ...

Coming soon …

Memorabilia Display Boxes - help prompt memories in residential or day care environments.

Themed Jigsaw Puzzles - smaller jigsaws - easier to handle and to assist shorter attention spans.

Nurturing baskets with soft body baby doll, accessories and items to fold.

One-to-one games.

Are you caring for someone with Dementia? Getting Dressed ...

Getting Dressed ~ Arguing? Again?

If you are caring for someone who is living with dementia, and the symptoms and their actions are becoming more intense or escalating, you may feel as though life with the person you love has become a constant battle. Are your requests turning into demands as the person refuses to respond to normal suggestions?

If the person you care for is resisting everyday health routines or tasks, ignoring your requests or refusing to get dressed, bathed, clean their teeth or eat, and the outcomes are causing disagreements ... take a step back ~ have a cup of tea and try new ways to convince the person to carry out or allow you to help them be involved with everyday living:

The person who is living with dementia is likely to be confused, disorientated, bewildered and even fearful. The person may be unable to express what is wrong. Frustration sets in, agitation builds and the only way of expressing something or catching your attention may be through negative actions, shouting or banging. Imagine being in this position; how frustrating it would feel. People with dementia often show signs of depression, as if they have given up trying to express themselves, or are too confused to express their needs or wants.

Let’s take a few moments to consider what it might feel like to be living the life of someone who is experiencing dementia - a better understanding may help us to help our loved ones. Have you ever tried on someone else’s spectacles or looked about a room through a pair reading glasses and felt as though you were in some sort of fuzzy bubble or felt a little bit dizzy? If we wore these ill-suited lenses everyday, we might begin to feel somewhat disorientated. Quite soon, we may feel unable to concentrate fully. Eventually we could develop a sense of confusion. Wearing the lenses permanently might cause us to feel irritated or become agitated. I’m not suggesting anyone tries this as an experiment - just the thought of this confusion may help us to understand how it might feel to be experiencing confusion on a twenty-four hour, seven days-a week basis.

We may remember from childhood or bringing up our own young children, that we were often taught how to play and enjoy. We set up situations for our children to learn. We would show them that an object, environment or situation was safe. I am not suggesting that we treat people living with dementia like children - far from it - I am using this practice to demonstrate how we might coax a person with dementia to carry out a task that they have been refusing due to confusion or a developed sense of fear.

There's a well used saying for writers 'Show. Don't tell.' I often use this term literally and always find it useful when talking to elderly people. People with dementia may not understand what you are saying - showing an actual object, item of clothing, tin of rice pudding, a picture or photograph helps a person to understand what you want or need them to do.

Now let’s think again about asking our relative; spouse, parent, friend to get dressed, take a shower, eat something ...

Create a calm environment

Try to be patient even if you’re in a rush - rushing may compound feelings and develop a sense of anxiety

Speak slowly

Use short sentences

Show or point to the article you are talking about

Engage in plenty of eye contact to gauge the person’s response

If a person looks confused - it may indicate they have forgotten a daily living skill

Don’t hurry the person - this may increase agitation

Instead of asking the person to do something - create suggestions

Getting Dressed

Remember that people with dementia still have pride and may resist help at first

If a person is resisting change of clothes - find some clothing magazines to encourage interaction prompt ideas and reasons for changing clothes.

Have a wardrobe tidy-out - there may simply be too many clothes to choose from

Sorting clothes can be an activity to do together - remove clothes that don't fit or need repair or laundering

Suggest a charity shop clothes donation

Allow the person to choose their clothes or colours

Open the wardrobe and offer suitable clothing for the season or climate

Offer the clothes for dressing one at a time

Talk about the colour / comfort / fabric / favourites when dressing

‘Is this your favourite colour Dad?’

‘Do you remember wearing this at Emily’s Christening?’

Don’t do tasks for the person, show or remind them how to fasten buttons, zips etc.

Caring is a kind and generous act but can sometimes feel like a chore and often over-face us. When helping the person you are caring for to get dressed, bathe or make choices, try to see it as an occasion rather than a daily task and enjoy the time together.

Coming Soon … Bathing … Eating … Things to do together

Gillian 

Is your child going to Secondary School next year?

Teachers, Publishers, Parents, please take a look at my new mini books to help young people look forward to Secondary School 

£7.95 each

Email me at gmhesekth@yahoo.co.uk

or Shop at www.happydayspublishing.co.uk

*Discounts for quantities

Don't forget your pets ...

Pet Meds Reminder cards at: http://www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk/product/pet-medication-reminder-cards/

Pack of 5 - 160gsm quality card £4.95 - Shop at www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk

Just been busy doing ...

... a little bit of exhibiting ...

Please phone or email if you have a Care Fair or would like to see 

Happy Days Enriched Social Care range of materials

Gillian

Healthy Eating for our Elders ...

Hello everyone,
I came across some interesting information yesterday during one of my general research sessions. To be honest, it was nothing new or ground-breaking, it was just a reminder about healthy eating - and specifically for elderly people.

An elderly friend of mine who lives independently has started losing weight. He visits the doctor on occasions and appears to have no serious health problems. My friend has always been aware of good health and fitness and has done a great job of caring for himself - he is 88 years young.

Many of us are conscious about overloading with carbohydrates [I know I am]. After a chatty few minutes about his meal times and content, it appeared that my good friend has a good diet including meat, fish, oats and milk but had been omitting all carbohydrates from his diet - hoping to stay trim.

All it took was a few minutes to realise the importance of eating the correct balance of foods to help support well-being. My friend has now gained a few pounds [not too many] and now balances the content in his meals.

A number of years ago [we might not discuss the number here though], I remember taking part in a school domestic science exam - the task was to plan and prepare a meal for a fictitious elderly couple, one of whom had returned home from a stay in hospital.

Based on our previous lessons, I ensured the meal contained protein, iron, vitamins and carbohydrates - and this is what I prepared:

Freshly squeezed orange juice.
Cod fillet with parsley sauce. Mashed potatoes. Peas.
Apple crumble. Custard
Cup of tea

Simple. Good basic food. Easy to prepare.

Even then, I considered the crumble and custard - but now of course, I really understand why.

If you are preparing meals for elderly people or people who may be recovering from an illness, check out Age UK and Dr. Chris Steele's advice - explaining all about vitamins and the importance of choosing a good diet.

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/healthy-eating-landing/little-extras/

Take care,
Gillian

Carers and Domiciliary Care ~ Christmas Gift offer for your clients ...

Tips for caring for someone who has dementia ...

Caring for someone else is a kind and generous act. Sharing time and energy with someone who needs extra help or enriched social care can make our lives worthwhile.


If you are a carer, then you know how overwhelming caring for someone else can sometimes make you feel. The physical effort, psychological effort and overall responsibility for another person, coupled with twenty four hour attention can eventually overload carers.


No matter how good you are at caring [and I'm sure you are the very best of carers ~ doing everything in your power to ensure the person enjoys the finest of care and attention], when you are missing out on doing things for you, taking some exercise or being with friends, eventually, your body or mind might go on strike / slip into melt-down / feel all washed up / burnt out / hang out the 'Gone Fishing' sign or just become so fatigued that every bit of energy has slipped out ...


We're not machines and the people we are caring for wouldn't want us to work or worry ourselves into an exhausted condition without enough energy to enjoy life.

Discussions with many carers often ended in the same conclusions or messages:
~ DON'T FORGET THE CARER
~ GET SOME HELP!
~ DON'T WAIT TILL YOU'RE BURNED OUT'

So here's a collection of tips [in no specific order] collected from people and texts I've come across over the past twelve months:

[please feel free to email any tips you wish to add to the next list: gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk]

Arm yourself with information. Collect as much information as you can about the type of dementia the person you care for has been diagnosed with.

Find a local support group or carer centre. [Check the library/community centre/newspaper]


Don't think you can manage alone ~ this is a 24/7 post

Find a support team within your family and friends to share the load so that you can take some short breaks from caring.

Find a local day centre for person you care for. He or she might enjoy a different environment.


If you're feeling worried, anxious, or guilty, find someone to talk to:
Friend - Family - Doctor - Support Worker - Church or Place of Worship

Try not to feel guilty. This might only make you feel more guilty.

Things to do together: Try to help the person maintain skills rather than doing everything for the person.

Jigsaw puzzles - Cards - Sing - Read out loud to the person you care for - Play a musical instrument. 

Make a mini garden in a large tub or plant a herb garden on your window ledge.

Sort photographs. Make a mini photograph album up. Name all the people.

And remember, if a person with dementia is showing signs of agitation or anger, don't take it personally ~ he or she may not be cross with you; it's more likely they are frustrated at not being able to express their needs.

Write a journal ~ just let your feelings out ~ shout ~ scream ~ yell on the page ~ it's up to you ...

Most of all, take care of you ... find something to do to enjoy ... relax ... plan a healthy diet ... get plenty of fresh air and some exercise ... do something new ... find a pastime that ensures you 'switch off' now and again ... bake - paint - swim - write - play bowls ... the list is endless ...

Off now to find more tips to add to the list ...

Gillian

Dementia ... dementia ... dementia

Hello everyone,
I've been immersing myself in dementia again recently ~ people who are living with dementia, carers, families, watching inspiring videos, listening to speakers, attending workshops, reading up on the latest research, not forgetting coconut oil. If you've ever read 'Daughters in Distress' my lighthearted blog for random posts, you'll know I'm a great fan of making lists, lists of anything and everything, even lists of lists. So, it makes sense for me to compile a list of tips for carers who are caring for someone who has dementia.

The list is based on conversations, questionnaire responses and ideas from the general public, market research, university studies ~ memory, reminiscence and general common sense and will be posted here and on www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk later today.

People with dementia can often be unaware that the nature of the disease causes them to become increasingly dependent. Carers, not surprisingly, can become overwhelmed. 'Between a rock and a hard place' is how one carer described her situation. Take a look at this interesting video ~ it's a project undertaken by a carer and a newsreader ~ and seems to explain a lot of things ... about living with dementia:

Now where was I? ...
Oh yes, off to do the list
Gillian

Bullying ... copy, print, cut, stick ...

Note to young people ... via parents ...

Top Tip

Copy image. Print on paper. Cut out. Stick on fridge door, every computer, 

by the phone, on the back of the loo door, biscuit box lid, in fact anywhere ...

Oh and you can always read it out loud to your children. 

Image courtesy of Beat Bullying: http://www.beatbullying.org 

a great site for lots of answers to support young people and parents who 

are concerned about bullying.