The Elder November Edition (Home Instead Newsletter)

Home Instead

York & Ryedale newsletter

elder THE

November 2017

Enter free prize draw for heart-warming book When your grandmother can’t remember your name it should be sad, but maybe it is just an opportunity to tell her more often how much you love her.

Grandma Forgets is the heartwarming story of a family bound by love as they cope with their grandma’s dementia. Over the years, the little girl has built up a treasure trove of memories of time spent with Grandma: sausages for Sunday lunch, driving in her sky-blue car to the beach, climbing her apple trees while she baked a delicious apple pie, and her comforting hugs during wild storms.

But now, Grandma can’t remember those memories. She makes up new rules for old games and often hides Dad’s keys. Sometimes Dad is sad

because he has to hold onto the memories for both him and his mother now, but fortunately his daughter is only too happy to help him make new memories to share.

This is a warm, hopeful story about a family who sometimes needs to remind their grandmother a little more often than they used to about how much they care.

She might not remember any of their names but she will always know how much she is loved.

Would you like to win a copy of Grandma Forgets by Paul Russell and Nicky Johnston.

We have a few copies to give away. Just give Jack a ring on 01904 690884 and we will put your name in a free draw.

Do you Care for someone with dementia?

Herbert Protocol is here to help People with dementia sometimes go missing. The Herbert Protocol is a simple form, that contains vital information about a person with dementia that can help police find them again.

The completed form should be stored securely and only be given to the police if the person is reported

missing. It contains information such as medication, their daily routine and significant places.

To find out more and to download a form please visit www.northyorkshire.police.uk/HerbertProtocol If you believe a person has gone missing and are concerned for their safety, call the police on 999 and tell the police operator that you have a Herbert Protocol.

Christmas Makers’ Market Every month you can browse unique works from local artists and crafters at the monthly York Makers’ Market which takes place on the last Sunday of each month in the Shambles Market.

The next Makers’ Market will be held on Sunday 26th November between 9am and 5pm and the last event of the year will be a special Christmas Makers’ Market on Sunday 17th December. There will be stalls and crafts from small businesses all over North Yorkshire. It’s a great opportunity to find an unusual Christmas present or choose something special for yourself.

Keep moving for a balanced life We’ve seen how ageing impairs balance, muscles and joints. And this is made worse if we spend long periods sitting down.

The more active you can be – and the more you break up your day so you’re not sitting for extended periods – the more you can offset the effects of ageing.

RSPB – Big Garden Birdwatch The Big Garden Birdwatch will be back again at the end of January 2018 so go to www.rspb.org.uk and register your interest and you can join in too.

They will send you a pack of information and you don’t even need to get up from your chair!

In excess of half-a-million people joined in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey last year, turning their eyes to the garden to watch and count over eight million birds during the 37th RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch – witnessing some exciting and interesting changes among our most popular garden birds. It’s hoped that the next survey will be even bigger.

What can I do?

When watching TV, roll your shoulders regularly and get up and walk about in every ad break or between programmes.

These activities are all fantastic for maintaining balance and mobility: Gardening (when the weather gets warmer) Housework Walking to the shops rather than driving/getting the bus Strengthening and balance fitness classes Yoga – It’s never too late to learn T’ai chi – The slow, gentle movements are proven to improve balance in older adults When sitting, keep your back as straight as possible to avoid developing a stooped posture – the enemy of good balance.

Safeguarding is everybody’s business From the 9th to 13th October Home Instead Senior Care York & Ryedale ran a series of Safeguarding workshops for their CAREGivers. Safeguarding week was aimed to raise awareness of the different forms abuse can take place and that “safeguarding is everybody’s business”.

Restless Legs Syndrome Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a condition in which your legs feel extremely uncomfortable, typically in the evenings while you're sitting or lying down. It makes you feel like getting up and moving around. When you do so, the unpleasant feeling of Restless Legs Syndrome temporarily goes away.

A number of simple self-care steps and lifestyle changes may help you. Medications also help many people with Restless Legs Syndrome.

These steps may help reduce the extra activity in your legs: ◆ Take pain relievers. For very mild symptoms, taking an over-the-

counter pain reliever may relieve the twitching and the sensations. ◆ Try baths and massages.

Soaking in a warm bath and massaging your legs can relax your muscles. ◆ Apply warm or cool packs. You may find that the use of heat or cold, or alternating use of the two, lessens the sensations in your limbs. ◆ Try relaxation techniques, such as meditation or yoga. Stress can aggravate RLS. Learn to relax, especially before going to bed at night. ◆ Establish good sleep hygiene.

Fatigue tends to worsen symptoms.

Ideally, sleep in a cool, quiet and

Christmas Swing and Sing show Yes, Christmas is coming and to get you in the festive mood, YAC Production’s first Christmas show be on 2nd December at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, featuring the Sam Johnson Big Band. Singers will perform Christmas classic swing songs plus modern festive classics given the swing treatment. All proceeds will go to York Against Cancer.

Visit www.yorkagainstcancer.org.uk or call 01904 764466.

comfortable environment, going to bed at the same time, rising at the same time, and getting enough sleep to feel well rested. Some people with RLS find that going to bed later and rising later in the day helps in getting enough sleep. ◆ Exercise. Getting moderate, regular exercise but not overdoing it. ◆ Avoid caffeine. Cutting back on caffeine may help restless legs.

It's worth trying to avoid caffeinecontaining products, including chocolate, coffee, tea and soft drinks for a few weeks to see if this helps. ◆ Cut back on alcohol and tobacco. These substances also may aggravate or trigger symptoms of RLS. Test to see whether avoiding them helps.

BBC NHS Tracker This new guide available from the BBC uses the latest published data on performance against three key NHS waiting-time measures. This data is currently published either monthly or quarterly depending on where you live in the UK, and there are differences between how the targets are measured in each part of the UK. Go to www.bbc.co.uk/ news/health-41483322 and pop in your postcode to find out how

our NHS is performing locally.

A&E treatment – target is four hours in which to treat and discharge, admit or transfer a patient in 95% of cases.

Cancer care – target is that patients commence treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral.

Planned operations and care, such as knee and hip replacements – 18 weeks from your GP referral to the point your treatment starts in 92% of cases.

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Stay safe when out and about Take some simple precautions when you’re out and about to keep yourself safe from falls. ◆ Take your time and don’t rush, keep an eye out for obstacles and uneven surfaces before stepping forward. ◆ Don’t carry shopping bags that obstruct your view of the pavement – use a rucksack instead which is also much better for your back and great for carrying shopping. ◆ Watch out for shop doorways with raised door frames, especially if you are stepping into bright light which can dazzle you. Give your eyes time to adjust. ◆ Don’t worry if you think you are being slow, staying safe is more important and the chances are no-one has noticed anyway. ◆ Don’t be embarrassed to use walking aids if it helps you stay steady. Make sure your stick is the right length and has a rubber end to stop it slipping. Think about a walking frame if you feel you need a little more support.

Our CAREGivers are always available to give you a helping arm when you are out and about together, and keeping moving and more active will help prevent falls in the future.

Home Instead look after 70,000 clients worldwide

DID YOU KNOW? Home Instead Senior Care 10 Clifton Moor Business Village James Nicolson Link, Clifton Moor York YO30 4XG Telephone: 01904 690884 Email: info@hiscyork.co.uk Web: www.homeinstead.co.uk/york

Healthy Ageing Guide Age UK and NHS England have worked together to publish a great guide that provides advice and suggestions on how we can look after ourselves as we grow older.

It’s called the A Practical Guide to Healthy Ageing and provides advice on a range of subjects including: looking after your feet, preventing falls, keeping active, healthy eating and lots of other topics. There is even an action plan and check list so you can personalise it to your needs.

To get a copy you can ring 030 0123 1002 (quote ref HA2) or go to www.england.nhs.uk and search for the healthy ageing brochure.

Beware of ‘Scam Cures’ Every year thousands of people buy scam miracle cures, medicines and treatments with amazing claims about how well they work.

They are mostly a waste of money and in some cases, can actually be dangerous. Beware of products that: ◆ Promise a “new miracle cure” or “wonder breakthrough” – in reality, their products are probably not tested or proven to work. ◆ Try to convince you with testimonials from customers – how do you know these are

genuine? There is often no real scientific evidence. ◆ Offer “no risk” money-back guarantees – the scammers will just disappear. ◆ Contain endorsements from a doctor who quotes clinical evidence – often these “doctors” are not part of any known institution or clinical practice and the “evidence” is not recognised.

Don’t fall for these health scams.

If you do have a health concern or worry you should talk to your GP or pharmacist.

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