Dementia Jersey- Dementia Matters Magazine

Support & Advice

Advice and details about our support groups

Activities

Full listings of all our dementia friendly activities

Education

Find out more about dementia

The power of Music

Find out how it helps

Get involved

Read about our volunteers

Fundraising News

Event and fundraising news

Dementia Friends

Find out how you can become a Dementia Friend

Page 6

The power of Music

Page 8

We do like to be beside the Seaside

Page 10

Carers’ Support Meetings

Page 14

Dementia Friends

Page 17

Meeting Place Project

Page 18

Dementia Friendly Activities

Page 24

The Forget Me Not Allotment

Page 26

Getting to Know...

Page 28

Volunteer Spotlight

Page 30

Fundraising News

Page 32

Dementia Awareness Week

Page 34

Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP)

Page 37

Meet the Team

I’m now back from maternity leave and it’s been wonderful to see the office a hive of activity as we organised a range of events for World Alzheimer’s Month (September).

Highlights have been the fantastic pop-up art exhibition we held at Greve de Lecq Barracks together with partners ArtHouse Jersey which featured 30 pieces of art from our Art Exploration Group. There has also been a flurry of activity at our new allotment site over the summer and it looks absolutely wonderful now the plants are in full bloom. A huge shout out to our army of volunteer waterers – we couldn’t maintain it without you!

We also had good numbers attend the Memory Walk at the beginning of the month and waved off our intrepid trekkers as they flew to Heathrow for the first leg of their trip to Peru to walk the Inca Trail raising money for Dementia Jersey. Watch this space for the location of next year’s international challenge!

Finally a big shout out to volunteer Suki Brewer who is profiled on page 28 who helped transform the allotment with her wonderful design and a little plug for our ‘getting to know you’ feature on Colin Amos, who attends our meeting place project and recently rode 444 miles in the Dementia Jersey cycle challenge, smashing the 100 mile target. You’re our hero Colin!

Claudine Snape CEO – Dementia Jersey

Fundraising

Find out more about our latest fundraising on page 30.

The Power of Music

Read about the transformative effect of music on the mood of people with dementia and find out more about our weekly Musical Memories sessions.

Find out more on Page 7.

Art Exhibition

Our weekend art exhibition at the beginning of September featured paintings by our art groups inspired by the seaside and was a smash hit!

Find out more on Page 8.

Samares Manor trip

We had a lovely (if slightly wet) trip to Samares with attendees of our weekly Meeting Place Project group in memory of a group member who passed away earlier in the year.

Find out more on Page 17.

Activities

Volunteer Spotlight Getting to know

Dementia Jersey offers a range of regular activities for people living with or affected by dementia and their carers.

Find out more on Page 18.

This issue we’re getting to know Colin Amos who attends Dementia Jersey activities.

Meet Suki Brewer who designed our beautiful Forget Me Not allotment plot.

Find out more on Page 26.

Find out more on Page 28.

Music The power of

Popularity of Dementia Choirs.

Choirs made up of people with dementia are becoming increasingly more popular, not least because of the two-part documentary, Our Dementia Choir Sings Again, which aired on the BBC in October last year.

The programme focused on actress Vicky McClure, whose gran was diagnosed with vascular dementia at the age of 75 and lived with the disease until her death in 2015. Inspired by her memory, the Line of Duty star fronted a moving two-part documentary, Our Dementia Choir Sings Again. They even recorded a single at the iconic Abbey Road Studios and performed at a music festival!

The series not only highlights the importance of music therapy, but raises awareness of the challenges facing people affected by dementia today. Right now, too many people aren’t getting the support they need, when they need it, which is having a direct and negative impact on the health and quality of life of people affected by dementia.

The power of music for people with dementia

Many people have a special connection to music and this can be particularly powerful for people with dementia. Evidence suggests music can improve someone’s mood, behaviour and wellbeing. Listening to favourite songs can bring back old memories and feelings. Many people with dementia are still able to enjoy music and to sing even when they start to lose their language abilities.

While the search for a cure continues, we all must work together to support people affected by dementia today so they can live meaningful lives. Music is a wonderful way to do this. Research shows that musical memory is often retained when other memories are lost; music can help people to recall memories due to the nature of preserved memory for song and music in the brain.

There are lots of ways for people with dementia to enjoy the power of music. For example, you can buy special radios and music players designed for people who have dementia. Playing music and singing can stimulate conversation and reminiscence for a person affected by dementia. And at Dementia Jersey we run Musical Memories - a weekly singing group for people with dementia and their carers. Every Friday we sing well loved songs, play musical instruments and engage in musical activities. Find out more on our website www.dementia.je/activities

We do like to be beside the Seaside

On the weekend of 2nd/3rd September Dementia Jersey proudly exhibited artworks created by our Art Exploration group inspired by reflections of being Beside the Seaside at the ArtHouse Jersey Greve de Lecq Barracks. The exhibition kick-started our 2023 campaign for World Alzheimer’s Awareness month in September.

The pop-up exhibition featured 30 pieces of art created by people living with dementia, their carers and our volunteers. Alongside the artwork we were lucky to have a team of volunteers on hand to serve tea and homemade cake in the beautiful seaside setting.

We treated our artists along with invited guests to a private breakfast viewing on the Saturday morning before the show was open to the public. 150 people visited our exhibition over the two days and we were delighted to raise £451 from tea room donations.

Donate

Help us support those living with dementia in Jersey with a monthly donation to Dementia Jersey. To donate, visit www.dementia.je/donate

It’s safe to say we all enjoyed a wonderful couple of days ‘beside the seaside’.

Carers’ Support Meetings

Each month we host a range of Carer’s Support Meetings aimed at family and friends who are caring for someone with dementia.

Meetings take place in a variety of venues and at different times. They are held in a relaxed setting and include refreshments and the chance for you to meet with other carers. Dementia Advisors are on hand at each meeting for an informal chat and to answer any questions.

You’re welcome to join all or just one of the sessions and you can invite another family member or friend to join you if you wish. Our carers have told us how helpful these meetings are and have welcomed the friendship and support from their fellow carers. Our dementia advisors are also available for one-to-one appointments.

Did you know?

Dementia is the fastest growing disease on the island and the Government predict that cases will double by 2036

Dementia Jersey currently run five Carers’ Support Groups. To find out more and book your place please contact the office.

These free, friendly, supportive groups are open to anyone supporting or caring for a relative or friend with dementia. They are informal opportunities to meet others over a cup of coffee. Our Dementia Advisor team attend these meetings and will be happy to chat with you too.

Carers’ Support Meeting East

Venue: Holme Grown

When: First Wednesday of the month

Time: 11:00 - 13:00

Event Cost: Free (Refreshment orders taken at table and settled at till on your way out).

Carers’ Support Meeting West

Venue: Communicare

When: Fourth Wednesday of the month

Time: 14:00 - 16:00

Event Cost: Free (£3.00 charge for refreshments. Please bring cash).

Carers’ Support Meeting Evening

Venue: Coopers Castle Quay

When: Second Wednesday of the month

Time: 19:00 - 21:00

Event Cost: Free (£3.00 charge for refreshments. Please bring cash).

Carers’ Support Meeting

Venue: Monterey Hotel

When: Held quarterly

Time: 19:00 - 21:00

Event Cost: Free

Carers’ Support Meeting Town

Venue: Radisson Hotel

When: Third Wednesday of the month

Time: 11:00 - 13:00

Event Cost: Free (£3.00 charge for refreshments. Please bring cash).

Booking in advance is required.

For the date of the next meeting and to book your place please contact the office.

Tel: 01534 723519

Email: info@dementia.je

Sign up to our email updates about our Carers’ Support Groups

What’s new with carer’s support Meetings

Following your feedback on the meeting time at Holme Grown, we have changed the start time and now we’re seeing numbers increase week on week as the session increases in popularity, which is great. At the beginning of October, we have our quarterly speakers evening at Monterey Hotel with a focus on Long Term Care and we’ll also have a talk from Oxygen Therapy Jersey on the potential benefits for people with dementia.

Carer’s day out

29 Carers enjoyed an amazing Carer Recharger Day on the 9th of September with funding we received from a very kind benefactor. The day started with a coach tour, and a private escorted tour to Judith Queree’s garden, followed by a three course lunch at the Hotel Christina after which we had some fun playing Musical Bingo, delivered by Will Davey.

If you would like to find our more about our carer’s support meetings, please contact our Lead Dementia Advisor, Wendy Munn on wendy@dementia.je

Dementia Friends

At Dementia Jersey, part of our mission is to improve understanding and awareness of dementia throughout the island. By helping people understand this complex and often misunderstood condition, we hope to make our community more dementia friendly.

Helping, caring for and protecting people is at the heart of a strong island community. This is why our education programme is designed to involve everyone from local businesses and government services to community groups, schools and families.

Dementia Friends Jersey awareness sessions can be booked for small groups, secondary schools and workplaces. This international initiative teaches you what it’s like to live with the challenges of dementia and then helps you turn your new understanding into positive actions.

Also available are our ‘Young Person’s Dementia Awareness Sessions’ or an informative ‘Lunch & Learn’ session for those who want to learn more about the work of Dementia Jersey in general.

All our sessions are free of charge, and we have something for everyone. Contact Dementia Jersey today to find out how our education programme can help you or your organisation become more dementia aware.

Sign up to become a Dementia Friend

For further information or to book a training session please Email: info@dementia.je or Tel: 01534 723519.

Dan recently held sessions with the students at Beaulieu School and team members from Hawksford.

Dementia Friends

Below is a roundup of Dementia Friends and awareness sessions run by Dan, our Education and Meeting Place Coordinator.

Young person’s dementia awareness session at St Michael’s school July 2023

Children in Years 1 and 2 learnt all about dementia and helped to make the island a more dementia friendly place!

Sign up to become a Dementia Friend

For further information or to book a training session please Email: info@dementia.je or Tel: 01534 723519.

Do you know the difference between Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia and frontotemporal dementia? Come along to the library and join one of our monthly Dementia Friends sessions and learn the answer! Contact info@dementia.je for more info and to book a space.

Dementia education

Dan also delivered Dementia Friends session for staff at RBSI, Government of Jersey Customer & Local Services, BCR Law and Andium Homes.

Above: RBSI

Left: Andium Homes

Above: Government of Jersey Customer & Local Services

Left: BCR Law

Did you know?

People living with dementia and their carers have an equal right to respect and inclusion, and to diagnosis, quality care and treatment.

Above: Government of Jersey Customer & Local Services

Dementia education

Dan and volunteers took part in the Government’s Closer to Home event in the Royal Square in July to promote the work of the charity and spread awareness of dementia to the public. Many local charities took part, it was a fantastic day and the weather was beautiful too! We look forward to taking part in the next Closer to Home events to speak to even more people!

We also took up the offer to set up a stall in NatWest International’s new community space at Library place

For further information or to book a training session please

Email: info@dementia.je or Tel: 01534 723519.

The Meeting Place Samares Manor Trip Project

The project offers varied sessions that provide an opportunity to share experiences and talk with other people in similar situations. We also explore ways to stimulate memory and thinking skills, build self-esteem and keep our bodies healthy.

Members of the Friday group recently took a trip to Samares Manor in memory of a group member who passed away earlier in the year. It was a fantatsic way to celebrate his life and

it was lovely to share stories of him over a slice of cake and cup of tea in the café there. We had such a good time we might make it an annual event!

For an informal discussion and to apply to attend please contact Dementia Jersey at info@dementia.je or call us on 01534 723519.

Dementia Friendly Activities

Dementia Jersey offer a range of activities each week for people living with or affected by dementia and their carers. Our full list of activities can be viewed on the following pages. These group activities are very popular so please contact us to register and to check that we have spaces.

For further information and to register your interest please contact our Activities and Volunteer Coordinator, Susie Kelly: Email: susie@dementia.je or Tel: 01534 723519

Weekly Activities

Fun ‘n’ Games Out West

Mondays

Time: 14:00 - 15:30

Venue: St Brelade

Event Cost: Free - refreshments included

Booking in advance is required

Join us for Fun ‘n’ Games every Monday afternoon at Communicare St Brelade.

Jigsaws, painting and colouring, dominoes, Bingo and cards. Or bring along your portable craft and join our knit and natter corner.

Coffee & Connect

Tuesdays

Time: 11:00 - 12:30

Venue: St Helier

Event Cost: Free + £3 for refreshments

Booking in advance is required

Join us every Tuesday for a cuppa and an opportunity to talk with other people living with dementia, their carers and our volunteers. Coffee & Connect provides a great setting for those living with dementia and those caring for someone with dementia, to take a break and connect with others who are going through the same journey. Share stories or just listen and share some laughter.

Weekly Activities

Splashchat

Tuesdays

Time: 10.30 - 11.30

Venue: St Helier

Event Cost: Free + £3 for Coffee & Connect

Booking in advance is required

Splashchat is a weekly social swimming group jointly run by the Occupational Therapists, the Memory Assessment Service, Dementia Jersey and the AquaSplash. A 30 minute swim is followed by the opportunity to join the Coffee & Connect group afterwards.

Art Exploration

Wednesdays

Time: Session 1 - 10:00 - 11:15

Time: Session 2 - 11:30 - 12.:45

Venue: St Peter

Event Cost: Free - refreshments included

Booking in advance is required

This art therapy programme is specifically designed for people with dementia and members of their families and carers. Join us and explore your creativity! Free parking.

Did you know?

In 2022 we had over 6,500 attendances at our groups and activities, more than ever before.

Weekly Activities

Walk ‘n’ Talk

Wednesdays

Time: 14:30 - 15:30

Venue: St Helier

Event Cost: Free - refreshments included

Booking in advance is required

Meet at Coopers Coffee for a gentle 30-minute walk around the marina followed by a refreshment break at Coopers. Our route is in an accessible location away from busy roads and over flat terrain with regular seats for those who would like a quick break.

Pétanque in the Park

Thursdays

Time: 10:30 - 12:00

Venue: St Martin

Event Cost: Free - refreshments included

Booking in advance is required

Any budding Pétanque players please join us. St Martin’s Village Green is a great venue for a walk too so we hope to get people active either by playing Pétanque, having a walk, or both. Join us for a drink which we serve at the Pétanque terrain.

We have indoor Pétanque sessions planned for the winter months.

Weekly Activities

Fun ‘n’ Games Out East

Thursdays

Time: 14:00 - 15:30

Venue: St Clement

Event Cost: Free - refreshments included

Booking in advance is required

Join us for Fun ‘n’ Games every Thursday afternoon at Caldwell Hall.

Jigsaws, painting and colouring, dominoes, Bingo and cards. Or bring along your portable craft and join our knit and natter corner.

Musical Memories

Fridays

Time: 15:30 - 17:00

Venue: St Helier

Event Cost: Free - refreshments included

Booking in advance is required

Musical Memories is a weekly singing group for people with dementia and their carers. Join us as we sing well loved songs, play musical instruments and engage in musical activities.

Most of all we have fun and share laughter with an aim to:

• Stimulate memory

• Increase communication

• Encourage social networks. Rusty voices welcome!

Weekly Activities

Gardening Club

Fridays

Time: 10:30 - 12:00

Venue: St Clement

Event Cost: Free - refreshments included

Booking in advance is required

Join Dementia Jersey and enjoy the benefits of the great outdoors at our new Forget Me Not Plot allotment gardening club. Our new space has to be seen to be believed! Get your hands dirty or just come and enjoy a tea or coffee in peaceful surroundings.

Please bring along your own gardening gloves.

Thank You!

Our activities programme couldn’t run without generous funding from our partners and the support of over 100 volunteers helping in a range of ways. We couldn’t do it without you.

The Forget Me Not Allotment has arrived!

On a hot June day Susie Kelly, Suki Brewer (our designer) and a team of corporate volunteers from Hawksford transformed our new allotment space at Pontac planting trees, hedging and flower beds.

Did you know?

Listening to or engaging in music, for example, by singing, dancing or playing instruments can help people with dementia develop and maintain relationships with others and improve their well-being.

Our beautiful wooden beds, benches, activities tables and the hard landscaping had already been built and installed by Scott Le Breton and his fantastic guys. They later returned to construct our sheds as well.

Over the summer a small band of volunteer waterers have been down every morning and evening to water and care for the plants. Susie and Helen have been let loose with the strimmer and we will

Featured Activity

have a focused tidy-up before the allotments’ official opening on 5th October.

We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Sal Minty-Gravett, Suki Brewer, Scott Le Breton and team, Mike at the JFTU, Maillards Funeral Directors the staff at Ransoms Garden Centre, Garden Scene, Vincent Obbard, Andy and Ed at Le Quesne’s Garden Centre, all our corporate volunteers and all our waterers.

This is a truly beautiful and tranquil setting which will allow us to offer a range of activities to those living with Dementia in Jersey, as well as a space just to enjoy and we now run a weekly gardening club every Friday, 10.30am until 12.00pm – open to all.

Chambord Allotments are situated off Rue de Jambart, St Clement. If you would like to join our green-fingered brigade please contact Susie or Helen for further details.

Getting to know...

Getting to know

Meet activities attendee Colin Amos

Colin has Alzheimer’s disease and lives in St Brelade with his wife Angie, of 51 years. He attends; The Meeting Place Project on a

1 5

5 Facts

you may (or may not) know about Colin:

Colin set up and ran Le Rocquier Big Band for many years and organised trips abroad including 3 times to America where the band played at all the famous theme

In the 1980’s Colin learnt to fly with Jersey Aero Club and obtained Night Rating and IMC Ratings. He loved the challenge of learning and regularly flew to France with the golf clubs in the back! The furthest Colin flew was to Denmark.

Colin has been a member at La Moye Golf for many years, entering (and winning) several competitions both in Jersey and in

A lover of classical music, his favourite Elgar’s Cello Concerto, Colin was a teacher of music, being Head of Music Departments at Les Quennevais, Hautlieu and Le Rocquier Schools, and was also Head of the Instrumental Service for Jersey. However, after a spell of teaching in an all boys school, he worked for a short time as a dustman, but his mother showed him an advert for a job in Jersey he applied for it and that’s how he started the rest of his career in Jersey!

A keen cyclist, Colin goes out on his bike 2 to 3 times a week, normally covering 20 or so miles each time. He recently completed the Dementia Jersey cycle challenge, smashing the 100 miles, Colin pedalled 444 miles and raised £364!!

Volunteer Spotlight

Meet Suki Brewer

Meet Suki Brewer, Suki generously volunteered her time to design our beautiful Forget Me Not Plot allotment earlier this year. Suki explains how she came to get involved with our allotment project: I decided to volunteer completely on a whim, I wanted to offer some of my time to a charity and saw that Dementia Jersey were advertising for a garden designer to help design their sensory garden at the allotment site in St Clement.

I am quite a newbie to garden designing having relatively recently completed The English School of Gardening garden design diploma based at The Chelsea Physic Garden in Chelsea. It was an absolute honour to be allowed to design Dementia Jersey’s garden.

I loved the feel of the allotment space as soon as I first saw it, Darling Buds of May meets the beach. I have loved working with Susie on the project whose can do and will get it done straight away attitude

has been joyful and energising to work with, as has her lovely happy sense of good humour. I have loved how when ever we asked people to help like Scott Le Breton and the teams at Ransoms Susie’s infectious enthusiasm for the charity and the project makes people want to say yes and join in. I was so happy to help and contribute to the project. As soon as Susie and I sat down and thought about what shape the garden should take; what we would like to grow; conversations about what we would like to see taking place in the garden, that the space and its look naturally evolved.

I have, since having been involved in this project, coincidently found out my father who has Parkinson’s disease also is living with early onset of dementia. Funny how things play out in life isn’t it? have now been fortunate to attend one of Dan’s education workshops which has proved really insightful for me and my family and given us a good understanding of what my

Dad is experiencing, as well as really useful insights for when I have my garden design hat on.

I loved working with Hawksford too we had a fun day planting out the garden, after Scott Le Breton and his team had built the garden out for us. It was a boiling hot June day but everyone put in a hard shift and it quickly took shape, it was a lot of fun. I am so looking forward to seeing the garden blossom and take shape, but I am looking forward even more to see people with dementia using the garden. It has seats to rest, activity tables to get busy in and there will always be watering and weeding to do. I really hope it will be a place where people can meet, sit, chat and just enjoy. The whole allotment area has a great energy and atmosphere, the garden will be a fabulous place to hang in and take some time to be at one with nature. The bees like it too.

Fundraising news

We coordinated a range of fundraising activities for World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in September kicked off by our Memory Walk, which took place on Sunday 3rd September. A huge well done and thank you to all those who took part. This year we had over 160 people participate, which is incredible. From the sign ups, t-shirt sales and kind donations, we raised just under £5,000!

Fundraising News

Summer Cycle Challenge

In June, we had our 100 Mile Cycle Challenge. The month started off with some pretty unfriendly weather, but our wonderful participants pedalled through and raised over £5,000. We are so grateful to all those who got involved, and the generous people who sponsored our cyclists.

Abseil

In May, we saw 40 brave islanders abseil down Val de la Mare dam to help raise money for Dementia Jersey. The event was a great success, raising over £12,000. We are so grateful to all our abseilers for participating in the challenge and for raising such a fantastic amount that will make a huge difference to the lives of people in Jersey affected by dementia. We will be organising an abseil for May 2024 so to any daredevils out there, keep your eyes peeled!

• Darren clocked his 100 miles before 9am on 1st June!

• Colin cycled 444 miles and raised £364.

• Simon & Simon smashed their 100 miles in one day, raising over £1,300.

Dementia awareness week

Thank you to everyone who supported us during the week whether you donated, volunteered, attended a Dementia Friends session or popped by our stall to say hello. Your support really does make a huge difference in helping us achieve our vision of making Jersey a more dementia friendly island.

• Our stall at NatWest

• Ocorian bag packing at Co-op

• Margot at our awareness stall

• Radisson bucket collecting on the high street

Fundraising - Doing it for Dementia

We have some amazing individuals and organisations taking on their own epic challenges and fundraising events to help raise vital funds to support the work we do. Here are just a few of them...

Aerialantics Jersey – White Collar Cabaret

Alberto – Island Ride

Aerialantics Jersey raised an incredible £1,050 at their White Collar Cabaret event. Well done to all the performers for their great success!

Alberto will be doing an island ride on his mobility scooter to raise money for Dementia Jersey, in memory of his wife. You can support him on his challenge by donating what you can here: https://www.just giving.com/page/ alberto-rodrigues

Jersey Bounce – Live and Local Mandy – donations in lieu of birthday presents

Mandy kindly asked her friends and family to donate to Dementia Jersey in lieu of her 60th Birthday, raising an incredible £800.

The Jersey Bounce Live and Local Event raised a fantastic £1,120. The event was free to attend, thanks to the generous support from our corporate partner Hawksford and Derek Warwick Honda Jersey.

We’re so grateful to all those who get involved and help us move closer to our vision of making Jersey a dementia friendly island.

Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP)

During July 2023 the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) meetings attracted 27 people (13 People with dementia (PWD) and 14 carers).

The LEAP topic for discussion was: “Coping strategies and support for carers and PWD: Exploring various coping mechanisms, strategies and support systems that have been helpful in managing the challenges of caring for someone with dementia and a person living with dementia”.

Coping strategies and support for carers and PWD are crucial in managing the challenges and difficulties with this progressive neurodegenerative disease.

One of the fundamental coping strategies for carers is to acquire knowledge about dementia. Understanding

the diseases’ progression, symptoms, and available treatments can help PWD and carers anticipate challenges and make informed decisions.

During the panel discussion with carers various coping strategies and support services were discussed, all

Lived Experience Advisory Panel

been used to their full potential like they had been in the past.

A comment from a panel member living with dementia: “Every Saturday night we would attend a dance at the parish hall, now the parish hall sits in darkness”.

agreed that education and training, self-care, building a support network, respite care and effective communication were the main topics of focus.

Most carers felt they are not respected, heard or seen by the Government of Jersey. During the panel discussion carers agreed that until the Jersey Government accepts the value of home carers, they will not receive the necessary coping strategies and support that is needed when caring for someone living with dementia.

A comment from a panel member caring for a PWD: “I have no formal training in care and there is very little support or training one can attend or is available this makes me very anxious as I am responsible for another person’s health”.

The panel members living with dementia at the MPP spoke about the importance

of person-centred care, engagement in meaningful activities, like attendance at Dementia Jersey activities, the importance of healthcare

All agreed of the importance of collaboration and partnership between carers, individuals living with dementia, healthcare professionals, and community organisations and the Dementia Strategy currently being written for the island was a good place to start.

professional having the necessary training so they can communicate effectively with the PWD and community engagement. They also shared that they felt that parish halls weren’t

All LEAP reports can be found on our website, if you would like to find out more about LEAP or speak with a Dementia Advisor, please contact us on info@ dementia.je or call 723519.

Support those living with dementia in Jersey by giving monthly

By choosing to donate monthly, you’re helping to make sure we can continue to provide life-changing support to islanders living with dementia. A regular gift means we can rely on consistent support and more effectively budget throughout the year.

Dementia Jersey exists to provide advice, support and information to the community as a whole. Our aim is to not only help about 1,600 people living with dementia on the island, but to also raise awareness and educate people to help remove the stigma and make Jersey a truly dementia friendly island.

£5

£10

£20

a month a month a month

will pay for new song books for our popular Musical Memories sessions for people with dementia.

will pay for plants and flowers in our new therapeutic allotment site for people with dementia.

will pay for a face to face support session for up to 20 carers run by our Dementia Advisors.

Individuals that give a monthly gift move us a step closer to achieving our vision of a dementia friendly island. Scan the code to find out more.

Scan this QR Code to visit our donations page

www.dementia.je

Meet our Team Assistant Creina Langlois

After spending many years in Property Law, Probate and Education, I knew my dream job would be to work for a charity. I’m a ‘people person’ so when I was offered a position at Dementia Jersey two years ago, I was over the moon and haven’t looked back since.

What I love about my job

I love the fact that I get to see the difference Dementia Jersey does daily to people’s lives. I tell people that we have a ‘Magic Door’ in our office. I see them coming into reception looking worried, weighed down with stress and concern. Our Dementia Advisors then take them into our quiet room and approximately one hour later they come out of the room smiling and so relieved…hence the ‘Magic Door’.

Since working at the charity, I have watched it grow rapidly. Not only in staff numbers

but also in the amount of people needing the charity’s services. Being able to assist the team with the day to day running of the office, fundraising and being able to help such a wonderful charity is an absolute privilege. My favourite part of the job is helping at the different activities, that is when I properly see what a difference the work of the charity makes to those living with dementia and their carers. Making a difference and seeing how much the charity staff are appreciated

by members and carers is wonderful and makes all the hard work, behind the scenes, worth it.

Did you know

I love to travel as much as possible. Having been all over the world, I have to say my favourite places so far is the East Coast of Australia and Hawaii.

I also enjoy boating with family and friends.

Help us support those living with dementia in Jersey with a monthly donation to Dementia Jersey. To donate, visit www.dementia.je/donate

Book Club

Whether fiction or non-fiction, reading can be a great way to increase understanding about dementia, as well as providing a useful activity with people with dementia to help stimulate and maintain connections.

This issue we feature two books that are recommended by our friends at Dementia UK.

Burnt Sugar by Avani Doshi

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2020: A searing, compulsively readable story of mothers and daughters, memory and madness, love and betrayal. In her youth, Tara was wild. She abandoned her arranged marriage to join an ashram, took a hapless artist for a lover, rebelled against every social expectation of a good Indian woman - all with her young child in tow. Years on, she is an old woman with a fading memory, mixing up her maid’s wages and leaving the gas on all night, and her grown-up daughter is faced with the task of caring for a mother who never seemed to care for her. This is a poisoned love story. But not between lovers - between mother and daughter. Sharp as a blade and laced with caustic wit, Burnt Sugar gradually untangles the knot of memory and myth that bind two women together, revealing the truth that lies beneath.

‘A corrosive, compulsive debut’ Daily Telegraph (*****)

‘Scouringly brilliant, a blazing debut with words that glitter sharp as shards of broken mirror’ Buro.

The straightforward language and honesty of the author makes it an enjoyable read for carers and health professionals alike.

Telling Tales About Dementia: Experiences of Caring

Edited by Lucy Whitman

How does it feel when someone you love develops dementia? How do you cope with the shock, the stress and the grief? Can you be sure that you and your family will receive the support you need? In “Telling Tales About Dementia” thirty carers from different backgrounds and in different circumstances share their experiences of caring for a parent, partner or friend with dementia. They speak from the heart about love and loss. But they contain hope and optimism too: clear indications that the quality of people’s lives can be enhanced by sensitive support services, by improved understanding of the impact of dementia, by recognising the importance of valuing us all as human beings, and by embracing and sustaining the connections between us. This unique collection of personal accounts will be an engaging read for anyone affected by dementia in a personal or professional context, including relatives of people with dementia, social workers, medical practitioners and carers.

Consumer Corner

In each issue of Dementia Matters we will providing reviews of products and tech that are designed to help people with dementia.

In this issue we have selected items recommended and reviewed by the UK Alzheimer’s Society.

Noodle Nudges game

A fun simple game designed to stimulate conversation.

Noodle Nudges was a game developed in response to Annie Miller trying to find activities to do with her mum who had advanced Alzheimer’s and who struggled to engage in pastimes she used to enjoy. “It was a rainy afternoon and I wrote out lots of proverbs and cut off the last word then mixed them up. My mam knew every single one. It was a ‘moment’, and hence the birth of noodle nudges.” The idea is simple, matching the question cards to the answer cards. No complicated rules.

The proverbs are really good communication tools, icebreakers and conversation starters, whilst also being inclusive, educational and enjoyable.

Available from the Alzheimer’s Society online shop for £12.99

https://shop.alzheimers.org.uk

Rosebud reminder clock - white

The Rosebud reminder clock has been developed to help prompt people with dementia to do daily tasks and relieve the stress and anxiety that can build up when unknown events occur.

It was developed with feedback from people living with dementia.

Helps with:

Time orientation,

Ease and simplicity

Reminding

Available from the Alzheimer’s Society online shop for £69.99

https://shop.alzheimers.org.uk

Forget-me-not garden sculpture

An all-weather, all-year-around happy little garden blossom! Forget-me-nots, are wildflowers known for its masses of tiny vibrant blue flowers, symbolic of faithfulness and enduring love. This metal forget-me-nots garden sculpture is painted in a striking blue with a yellow centre. Six flowers on each stem all made from recycled metals in Zimbabwe. The perfect gift.. Available from the Alzheimer’s Society online shop for £23.99

https://shop.alzheimers.org.uk

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