In This Month's Newsletter: Welcome from Sally Ferris, CEO HRH Queen Elizabeth II Thank you, Annual Supporters! Cost of Living & Benefits advice from Carers Manchester Network Trip Report: Manchester Museum Big trip to Blackpool - book now! Carers Socials - dates for your diary Caribbean Carnival party at Moss Side group South Manchester Carers Events Dementia Friendly Walks in Boggart Hole Clough Managing Incontinence Workshop The Herbert Protocol - what you need to know GPS Trackers and how to get one Welcomes and Goodbyes - changing staff Our new online charity shop - eBay! Birthdays to celebrate
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Welcome to the TDS Newsletter! |
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Hello everyone! I hope you’re not too sad to see Summer slipping away. Some people really look forward to cooler days and Autumn colours but, for others, the shorter days can make them feel more closed in. In this newsletter you can read about a couple of social events that we will be running over the next month or two. And don’t forget to pick up the phone to us if you’re feeling down. We’ll be only too happy to listen, chat and see if we can help. All of our Friendship & Activity groups have had trips out over the past month – to a garden centre, for a fish & chip lunch, to Manchester Museum, and Dunham Massey. And carers went out for a free evening meal at the Metropolitan Pub in Didsbury too. Most recently, our Moss Side Group, in partnership with the Alexandra Park Heritage Group, celebrated 50 years of the Manchester Carnival in true and flamboyant style! They were treated to a performance from a steel drum band, and DJ Kevin got everyone up dancing too. I’m actually doing a dance every day to raise some money for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Whilst it feels odd to dance by myself, it’s a good, if brief, bit of exercise – and the money will support much-needed dementia research! The pressure on our services is greater now than it has ever been, and we have nearly three times as many service users as we did at this point in 2020. We have only increased our staffing a little in that time, so we are really feeling the stretch! We have been faced with difficult choices, and have made the decision to close our waiting list to new referrals from 1 October to 31 November. This will enable us to work through our current waiting list, catch up with all of our members and carers, and streamline our processes. The pressure on us mirrors what’s happening across the social care sector and I sincerely hope the new Health & social Care Minister will finally prioritise social care. The gaping holes in the system impact on so many people, and cause such misery. The Journal of Dementia Care reports that unprecedented pressures on adult social care are resulting in waiting lists that are growing by 600 people a day, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) said. Almost 300,000 people are now waiting for an assessment of their needs by social workers, up by 44% in five months. One in four have been waiting longer than six months. These findings come on top of the ADASS Spring Survey, which revealed that 82% of councils were dealing with increased referrals of people leaving hospital and 74% were reporting more referrals or requests for support from the community. Nearly 70% of councils surveyed said that care providers locally had closed or handed back contracts, while many more said they could not meet needs because of an inability to recruit and retain care staff. If you’ve been having a tough time as a carer, you’re in good company (sadly!) as more than half of family carers of a person with dementia say that they have reached crisis point in the last year and one in five carers report that they have had to admit loved ones to A&E due to a lack of support. A survey of 1,000 people by Alzheimer’s Society heard that 54% of carers had fallen into a crisis, leaving those they cared for at risk of going into hospital as a result of falls or urinary tract infections that might have been avoided. Did you see us on Granada Reports on Thursday 8 September? We were filmed talking about winning the People’s Projects competition in 2019. It enabled us to buy our minibus and so provide transport for members. We continue to work very hard to fundraise and get more grants as the cost of running our vehicles has gone up – as you will know too. We are also looking for a new Casual Driver to drive the minibus, picking people up from their homes, taking them to their groups, then dropping them off home again afterwards. If you think you could help, we pay a minimum of £40 per day, so please head to www.togetherdementiasupport.org/jobs to read more about it or email admin@togetherdementiasupport.org with your CV and driving experience. The Annual Supporters Club has started out well, and the funds raised from new members will make something wonderful happen – you can read more about this below! Our Annual Supporters Club members donate a minimum of £30 annually, and anyone joining the club before 28 October 2022 will receive a small welcome gift from us. Once you see what we can do with £30, join the club and make your impact at www.togetherdementiasupport.org/giving Thank you to everyone who supports our charity. We wouldn’t be here without you, and you make all of this possible! |
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Together Dementia Support would like to acknowledge the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away at the age of 96. She touched the lives of many during her remarkably long reign, including those our members and carers. She was the patron and supporter of many charities and trusts. Most of us have never known any other monarch and her passing will surely mark a huge shift for the country as a whole. |
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Thank you to those who have recently joined the Together Dementia Support Annual Supporters Club. By signing up to regular giving, you have already had a big impact for our charity and the people we support. With the money donated by club members so far, we have been able to plan a big coach trip to Blackpool in October! The money donated by the club will be used to pay for volunteer support on the day, fuel for the minibus to get people to the coach pickup point, and some delicious treats by the seaside. The trip wouldn’t be possible without the donations from the Annual Supporters, so thank you for your generosity! |
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As a ‘thank you’ to all of our club donors, we have sent them lovely Together Dementia Support mugs. They artwork by our very own Lillian, who attends the Moss Side Friendship & Activity group. She is a fantastic artist, and used to make beautiful clothes as a seamstress in her previous career. Always glamorous, Lillian is immaculately dressed and made up wherever we see her! |
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Join our Annual Supporters Club for £30 per year, and your contribution will guarantee vital support, whether it's 1:1 support, attending a group - or just making sure everyone gets an ice cream on our next trip! Join the Club before 28 October 2022, and you will receive a welcome gift from Together Dementia Support to thank you for your help. |
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Cost of Living & Benefits Advice |
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We understand that it’s a worrying time at the moment, and the Carers Manchester Network will do their best to keep you up to date with the latest developments on government help with rising bills over the next few months. |
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You can check you are claiming the right benefits now so you can claim before the winter period begins. In the meantime, we hope the following information can help. At Carers Manchester Contact Point there is a Benefits Advice Worker who can support you with a benefits check to make sure you are getting everything you are entitled to. You can call them (0161 543 8000) to register and request an appointment. Carers Manchester Network also run a monthly Welfare and Benefits workshop that will take you through what benefits you and your family are entitled to and is an opportunity to have any of your queries answered. You can book onto this through their events page https://www.carersmanchester.org.uk/events/ or by phoning them on 0161 543 8000. The phone line is open Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm (except bank holidays), and 10am – 6pm on Wednesdays. Hopefully, your relative with dementia receives either Attendance Allowance (if over 65 years of age) or PIP/DLA (if under 65years when they first claimed). If they are not receiving this benefit please give us a call and we can order the forms for you and get you help in completing them. Being in receipt of those disability benefits also means that you can usually get a discount on your Council Tax bill. It’s called the SMI Discount. Phone us for advice and help in claiming that. If you have Council Tax arrears you may be entitled to a Discretionary Council Tax Payment. If you have rent arrears you may be entitled to a Discretionary Housing Payment
Energy Advice The Energy Advice Team are part of Citizens Advice Manchester and can support you with managing your energy costs, budgeting, fuel debt, accessing grants for essential household items and energy saving adaptations. They can also support you to apply for the Warm Home Discount and advise you if your eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment.
How to contact Citizens Advice Energy Team: Telephone: 0161 672 1234 Email: energy@citizensadvicemcr.org.uk.
If you, or your relative with dementia, lives in Trafford local authority area, you will need to contact Trafford Carers Centre, as a starting point. Tel. 0161 848 2400 option 1.
Don’t worry or suffer in silence, get in touch and help will be provided!
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A Marvelous trip to Manchester Museum |
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On Thursday 1 September, Karen from Manchester Museum visited our South Manchester Group and brought a range of interesting historical coins with her. This sparked a lot of chat and reminiscence about the old coins and notes members could remember. There was even a coin from the Victorian era! |
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On Friday 2 September, the North Manchester group visited the Museum. The activity room was fantastic, and everyone who attended had a brilliant time. Members were so engaged and it was a pleasure to see so many smiling faces. They had the chance to interact with and hold all sorts of artifacts, and there were restoration workshops and Egyptian artifacts, too. |
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Join us on Wednesday 19 October 2022 for a fun-filled trip to the seaside! We're still ironing out all the details, but we know that there will be fun, food and illuminations to enjoy. Transport will be provided by either coach or minibus, and we will have lunch and ice cream.
Members not accompanied by carers can only attend if we are able to find enough volunteers for 1:1 support.
Exact timings and pickup locations will be confirmed nearer the date of the trip. Tickets cost £15.00 per person and you can book with your Dementia Group Leader or by calling the office on 0161 226 7186. |
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Carer Socials - Dates for your diary! |
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Save the dates below and join us for some Autumn and Winter fun! |
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Thursday 10 November, 6.30pm
Carers Well-being Evening (Venue TBC) Friday 25th November, 12pm North Manchester Carers Meal (The Woodthorpe) |
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Thursday 8th December Carers Christmas Party (time and venue TBC) We're sure it's not too early to be planning for Christmas! |
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Partying Carnival Style at Moss Side Group! |
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On Monday 5 September, we threw a party celebrating the traditions of Caribbean carnivals. There was music, dancing and delicious food! Some of our members, like Lillian Wallace, had an active role in organising the party and it was a huge success. Alexandra Park have hosted carnivals in the past, and Alexandra Park Heritage Group kindly supported our event by providing lovely food and carnival music. We were able to invite Calame Art, who created a wodnerful atmosphere with their steel pans, and we finished our party with tunes from DJ Kevin. |
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South Manchester Carers Events |
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Do you enjoy listening to and playing music? Would you like to be part of a group creating rhythmic, dynamic and fun music? And would you like to learn about the benefits of music on your wellbeing? |
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Carers Manchester South is offering carers the chance to take part in a DRUMMING CIRCLE lead by Zsuzsa Földes, a music therapist. This is what some carers thought about the previous session: “Such amazing joy and satisfaction from empowerment.” “This was a very wonderful session and I got in touch with the sense of joy and instruments and met lovely people too.” “I had a great time yesterday thank you! It was great getting carers in similar positions together. It’s something I have never considered before so listening to other people’s experiences was great.” Lunch is included, and free transportation can be provided if needed. |
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When? Tuesday 4 October 2022
12.00 - 2.00pm |
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Where? Amani Centre Moss Lane East Manchester M16 7DG |
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Carers Manchester South Partnership will be holding a social event for carers in their area, featuring music from guitarist Chris Stern and some delicious Lebanese food. The event is free to attend. |
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When? Thursday 13 October 2022 Evening (exact time TBC) |
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Where? The Carlton Club Rowan Lodge Carlton Road Whalley Range M16 8BE |
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If you are a carer based in South Manchester and would like to attend either of these events, please contact Zsuzsi to book. |
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Dementia Friendly Walks at Boggart Hole Clough |
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Join City of Trees and Together Dementia Support for a walk around the beautiful Boggart Hole Clough. The walks are designed for anyone living with a diagnosis of dementia, their friends, family and carers. During the walk, we will be chatting about nature, wildlife and enjoying each other’s company. Session is 11:30am – 12:30pm and booking is essential. Please wear suitable footwear and a waterproof coat for changeable weather. Paths around the lake are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Toilets and refreshments are available to use inside the Lakeside Café and we will provide one hot drink. Meeting point is at the Lakeside Café, Boggart Hole Clough, M9 7DF. There is a car park available by the café. To book on to a walk or for any queries please contact: Anna at anna@togetherdementiasupport.org or ring the office on 0161 226 7186 or mobile on 07421 312 596 |
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Managing Incontinence Workshop for Family Carers |
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Tuesday 20 September, 1.30 - 3.30pm |
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We know there are many aspects of caring that are difficult to talk about, especially something as intimate as personal care. This workshop will ensure carers have a safe place to talk about their worries and concerns, while learning about what to expect and how to care for someone experiencing incontinence issues. Places are limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment. You can book by calling our office on 0161 226 7186 or by emailing admin@togetherdementiasupport.org. |
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There is nothing more frightening or distressing than a family member failing to return home when they should. The Herbert Protocol aims to give you some peace of mind, and make sure you know what to do should the worst happen. For people living with someone with dementia, this is a huge worry. The initiative is named after George Herbert, who was a veteran of the Normandy landings and lived with dementia. George died whilst 'missing', trying to find his childhood home. The Protocol consists of a form that is given to the police should a person be reported missing. It is complete with a recent photo and vital information to help locate the person. You will need to: Download the form using the link below Print off a copy and fill in every detail you can Attach a recent photograph to the form Store it securely
In the event you need to report your love one missing, make sure that when you tell the police about your form when you call them. They will instruct you whether to take it to a police station or hand it to a visiting officer.
We will have copies of the form at Dementia Cafés in the future. Anyone can ask their Dementia Group Leader for a copy if you are unable to print the form at home.
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GPS Tracker Service with Manchester City Council |
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Manchester City Council's Technology Enabled Care are offering GPS Trackers to those at risk of going missing. You can refer your loved one, refer yourself, or Together Dementia Support could make a referral on your behalf. |
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The tracker looks like a pebble, and has an SOS button in the middle. It is a small item that could be put on a key-ring, worn as a pendant, or placed in a pocket or bag. The person's location is then available on a secure app. To ensure the person is safe and their Human Rights are not infringed, a Social Worker will asses each case. This includes a Needs Assessment and a Capacity Assessment.
Call Manchester Contact Centre to get more information about GPS Trackers and how to get one.
Manchester Contact Centre
0161 234 5001 |
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Welcomes and Goodbyes Changes to staff |
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In July we said 'see you later' to Business Support Officer, Hana, as she left us for pastures new. We wish her the very best of luck in her new role supporting the Bradford Doulas as their new Business Support Officer. Our loss is is certainly their gain, and we'll miss Hana very much. |
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We interviewed some fantastic candidates for Hana's replacement, and we will be pleased to welcome Solomon to Team TDS in coming weeks. We haven't been able to corner him for a mug shot (yet!) but we'll sure you'll see him popping up at our groups and events in the near future. |
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Support our new eBay shop |
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Clear out for TDS! Our volunteer, Christine, has set up a new eBay shop so that we can sell things online and raise money for the charity. It's like an online charity shop, but it's missing one thing... ... stock!! Clear out your cupboards and whittle down your wardrobe! We need your high-quality pre-loved items to stock our shop and raise much-needed funds. This is how it works: You find some items you wish to donate to our online shop Take some good-quality photos of the item, measure and weigh it (for postage) and put it somewhere safe E-mail Christine about your item, attaching the photos and including the measurements, a description we can use for the online listing, and a guide price we can start the bidding at Christine will be in touch once the item has sold and arrange collecting it from you Christine will post the item to its new home - no hassle!
We're really hoping to make the new eBay venture a success, so please do get in touch as soon as possible if you have any high-quality items you can donate. |
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Members Alice - Alina - Aunty Bashra - Aunty Rashida - Barbara - Beryl - Betty - Bill - Carmeleta - David - Dennis - Donna - Doris - Eric - Farkhanda - George - Ghazanfer - Janet - Jean - Joan - Joyce - Julie - Kathleen - Keith - Ken - Lea - Marie - Mary - Maurice - Mavis - Morty - Pearl - Pete - Rosita - Ruth - Sakina - Segun - Shirley - Stanley - Winifred - Uncle Younis |
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Carers Brian - Christine - Diana - Dianne - Irene - Joan - Karen - Lucy - Lynne - Mark - Ray - Sandra - Tanya - Tracy - Vivien |
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Volunteers Abdullghafoor - Danny - Faarya - Khaperai - Laila - Lisa - Meg |
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