Find out how to get involved – contact Dementia Forward T 01765 645904 E york@dementiaforward.org.uk

Winter 2013

York Dementia Action Alliance

In June, York formally launched its new local dementia action alliance, ‘York Dementia Without Walls’. At the event, held in the council's new West Offices, partners from across the city, including local businesses, community groups, individuals and public services gathered to discuss ongoing work to make York a more dementia friendly community, and plans to inspire continued action and awareness raising.

Several businesses and organisations including Specsavers, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Haxby and Wiggington community group, Visit York and the British Transport Police, were presented with their dementia friendly recognition logo.

Cllr Tracey Simpson-Laing, Cabinet member for Health, Housing and Adult Social Services at City of York Council, commented, “We aim to meet the changing needs of an ageing population, enabling elderly residents to live in their own homes and communities for longer. It’s hugely encouraging to see these organisations already striving to do the same and I’m pleased to present them with their dementia friendly recognition logo and to see these displayed across York”.

Join us at our next meeting on Monday 10 February,

10 am The Folk Hall, New Earswick YO32 4AQ.

To book your place please email york@dementiaforward.org.uk

Conversations About Dementia

Dementia in the workplace

A new Joseph Rowntree Foundation Initiative

“I was given the diagnosis and then I was sent home. All I could see was the diagnosis… and the end result: ga-ga in a nursing home”. Marlene’s language might not have been the most politically correct, but it certainly made me sit up at a recent ‘breakfast meeting’ of the Bradford DAA in Shipley. Marlene told us how her sudden diagnosis while still in her late fifties had been so traumatic that she had decided to take early retirement without even discussing it with her boss. She just couldn’t imagine continuing her responsible public-facing job. As I listened, it struck me that there will be colleagues in many organisations who have faced, or are facing, a similar situation. If you found yourself in Marlene’s shoes, would you feel able to talk to your line manager - and if you were a colleague of Marlene’s, and had noticed she was increasingly anxious, confused or forgetful, how comfortable would you feel about discussing it and offering her your support?

Feeling able to talk about dementia at work is one part of what being a dementia-friendly employer means - whether it is about our own health or the effects of dementia on our family, friends or neighbours. Lots of us will have experience of dementia through our personal lives or through work. At the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Housing Trust we are really keen to tap into those experiences to shape what it means for us to be a 'dementia-friendly' employer.

So these are the types of questions we are all talking about in our current ‘Conversations About Dementia’ initiative. We know we need the input and

commitment of all staff to help us achieve our aim of becoming a truly dementia friendly organisation. Some of our staff are already signing up to be 'dementia

friends'. We are also thinking about how we can take dementia friendly design into account when we refurbish our buildings.

If you have any thoughts, ideas or experiences which can help us, just let us know: philly.hare@jrf.org.uk or katherine.blaker@jrf.org.uk. We will guarantee confidentiality if you ask for it and we will really appreciate your help to achieve our aim of becoming a truly dementia friendly organisation!

Postscript: three years later, Marlene is living well with dementia. She has developed her own strategies (lots of lists!) and has trained her dog to remind her when to do certain things. She works tirelessly as a volunteer with the Bradford DAA and lives a very active life.

By Philly Hare, Joseph Rowntree, Foundation Manager

2

Dementia Education and Awareness in communities more news on the next page

Whenever we ask individuals or groups just what will help to make a community dementia friendly the top answer is always ‘education and awareness’. Whether the education is to an individual, a group or a business doesn’t matter – it all supports the movement forward to where we want to be. Here are some of the stories so far:

East Coast Trains

Some of you will have read in the last newsletter about Fiona Andrews and the work she has done within the transport police. Fiona suggested that the actual Railway station staff should sign up. East Coast Managers didn’t hesitate. They gave time at no less than 3 of their staff team meetings, bringing together people who worked on the trains as well as platform and ticket office staff. We gave the education to over 50 of their staff and at the same time were able to support them with some of the day to day issues they were experiencing. As a result they have made some changes to their practice and have created a quiet ‘safe place’ to take people to if they seem confused or overwhelmed.

York District Hospital

These education sessions were daunting because we assumed that people working in a hospital would know more than we would! But whilst medical staff receive training there are so many more roles within the hospital who don’t have that opportunity. Over 150 people attended 4 sessions; Chaplains, Volunteers, Ward Clerks, Car Park Manager, Trustees all wanting to learn about dementia and most importantly wanting to find out what part they could play in Dementia Friendly Communities. The comments on the feedback sheets speak for themselves.

“My awareness is much higher now and I will deploy it in my every day life” “The statistics indicate that we must all be aware and supportive - there is no immunity for any of us!”

“I found it helpful. I work on an elderly ward and I do struggle with my responses to patient’s concerns and worries.”

“Thank you it was very useful and informative, it helps to take some of the fear or the unknown away.”

An Up-date From Dementia Forward

3

Raising Awareness on the streets of York

York Methodist Circuit

There are no less than 36 Methodist Chapels on the York Methodist Circuit and we were delighted when Reverend David Godfrey agreed to gather representatives of the circuit to attend 2 of our education sessions. These sessions were also open to members of the community and as so often happens there were people attending who had dementia themselves or were caring for someone with dementia. Naturally we are very sensitive in our delivery of education but it is surprising as well as rewarding to know that even those people affected tell us that they too learn from these sessions. It also highlights the need for more support and we were able to provide that to anyone who asked. “Speaking to people who understand makes me feel I am not alone”

Visitors from Oslo

In December four ladies from Oslo visited York and Bradford to find out about the Dementia Friendly Community work. The ladies are all specialists in Dementia health care but told us how envious they were of the work going on in England. They heard from Catherine McGovern about the commitment from City of York Council and from Fiona Andrews about the work within the Police. They were able to drop in to the JRF conference ‘A better Life: Valuing our later years’ Then it was on to Aroma Café to hear from Corrine Brown about the work in Haxby and Wigginton and from Simon Wallace about the Dementia Action Alliance (over a nice Yorkshire cuppa)! They were bowled over not only by the tea but by the passion and enthusiasm for the project and got very excited when they arrived at York Station to see the DFC symbol. Most of all they were struck by how openly people talked about dementia and gave it the much needed profile. They will take all this back to Oslo and begin their own work. For us it was a reminder of how far

we have all come!

An Up-date From Dementia Forward

4

What is good for people with dementia is good for everybody

are running a business when a stranger walks through the door and tells you that you need to learn about dementia and change a few things in your organisation – not an easy concept for some organisations. In York very few have declined the offer of our free education and almost all have agreed to sign up to the Local Dementia Action Alliance and be part of this social change.

Here at Dementia Forward we see this as the start of a conversation, that will one day lead to a dementia friendly world. The more we know, the more we understand”.

With the projected increase in the number of people affected by dementia, we must all be more aware of the condition and its impact on society.

We must all play a part in ending the stigma and increasing our understanding and tolerance.

Thanks to the Dementia Action Alliance movement, we have made a great start and all those who have embraced the challenge so far deserve considerable recognition.

The process, however, has only just begun.

For further information contact:

simon.wallace@alzheimers.org.uk

By Simon Wallace Project Manager

Dementia Action Alliance

Update Join the alliance today! Dementia Action Alliance has over 500 organisations working together to transform the quality of life for people with dementia.

Nationally, regionally and locally the Dementia Action Alliance movement is now beginning to make a significant impact on society’s attitudes towards Dementia.

In the Yorkshire & Humber region, we now have almost 100 members, but the real success story is in the development of Local Dementia Action Alliance groups in cities and towns across the region.

One of the most significant of these is York, where Dementia Forward has done excellent work to make local organisations from the public and private sectors more dementia aware and therefore, more dementia friendly.

In particular, York has begun to see the development of Dementia Friendly Communities in areas such as Haxby and it is hoped that this model will continue to spread right across the city and surrounding area during 2014 and beyond.

Netty Newell Community Liaison Officer from Dementia Forward says “We take our hats off to all who have agreed to take time out to learn and to make positive changes. Imagine you

5

42% of the UK population know a close friend or family member affected by dementia

Silver Song Box "Let me sing"

Creating "friendship groups with a musical twist" is the aim of Silver Song Box, a new initiative for older people in York. Set up by community musician, Thea Jacob. Thea has experience in leading interactive music sessions in residential care homes and dementia units over the years. Having seen the success through the care homes she is now exploring ways of sharing music making with older people living in the wider community. "Just let me sing! It gives me the world" is the message from one of Thea's participants. Silver Song Box sessions begin with singing, music making and develop to reflect the interests of the participants. Sessions have an informal feel, with free flowing conversation and lots of laughs. Often a song will spark off memories and stories, one song prompting another around the group. Sessions can weave in life stories, dancing, poetry and crafts. The warm friendly atmosphere reflects the participants themselves, all enjoying, supporting and respecting each other.

Groups are welcoming to all, sharing interests and skills while being adaptable and sensitive to people's needs. This inclusive approach reflects the message Thea was helping to spread across York as part of an awarenes raising day about Dementia Friendly Communities. The aim of the day was to encourage the wider community, including, shops, banks and businesses, to engage in the York Local Action Allianceand become Dementia Friendly. The first community based Silver Song Box group is now up and running in Haxby. The group meets every Friday 1.00-2.30pm at the Oaken Grove Community Centre. Haxby is a great area to be launching the new groups as it has a fantastic community spirit. Oaken Grove Community Centre's volunteers are offering a snack lunch cafe, selling paninis, sandwiches and cakes for the Silver Song Box group from 12.00-1.00. Haxby Helpers are also supporting the initiative by offering free lifts within the village. New people are joining the group each week. As a founder member says "It's fun! And I need a bit of fun in my life." For more information about Silver Song Box in Haxby, or other locations in and around York contact Thea Jacob on 01904 634390, email tjsongbox@yahoo.co.uk or see the website www.your-songbox.co.uk.

By Thea Jacob, Silver Song Box

6

The more we know the more we understand

7

York Dementia Without Walls

Next Networking Meeting

Monday 10 February

10 am ~ 12.30 pm The Folk Hall

Hawthorn Terrace New Earswick

YO31 4AQ

A chance to hear up dates and to network with members of York Local

Dementia Action Alliance.

Anyone who has an interest in dementia and wants to learn more or get involved is more than welcome to

join us.

Places are limited so we would encourage you to book your free

place

Please email york@dementiaforward.org.uk

or Tel 01765-645904

A tribute to Jenny We are sad to announce that Jenny Neal has passed away. Jenny along with her husband Tony, did so much to support York’s aspiration to become a dementia-friendly city. As her dementia progressed, Jenny lost the power of speech and became increasingly disabled – but she and Tony were still out and about in York, demonstrating perfectly the importance of inclusion and community understanding to fend off the loneliness of dementia. Jenny effectively became the poster girl for York DWW. She and Tony also helped us in many practical ways, for example in creating short films and in helping to assess applications for JRF’s small dementia grants. Thank you, Jenny – we won’t forget you.

Photo: courtesy of Joseph Rowntree Founda�on

By Philly Hare

Find out how to get involved

Dementia Forward

T 01765 645904

E york@dementiaforward.org.uk

www.dementiaactionalliance.org.uk