Newsletter

Wednesday March 4th 2020

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On December 11th 2019 the choir gave its first performance to shoppers at Morrisons singing Christmas carols and lively songs. This was very well received and enjoyable for all. Sadly we forgot to take any pictures!

This was an informative afternoon for all who attended.  Janet Scammell gave a brief introduction about VDFCA and then Anthony Webber from Coles Miller Solicitors gave an interesting talk on the necessity of making a Will and how to go about obtaining a Power of Attorney.

There was also representative form Aster Living Telecare who provide many clever gadgets to enable those with memory loss to stay in their own home for longer.

Acorn Lodge Care home, who are great supporters of VDFCA talked about their activities programme for residents, including a visiting farm where goats wander through the building!

Music for the Mind talked about the singing sessions they provide and more details of their activities and dates can be found on our website by clicking on the link on the right hand side of the page.

Neil Mansell, our Community Support officer from the Police talked about latest scams and distraction burglary which is common place even in Verwood.

Iram Bibi from the Bournemouth University Research Centre talked about their work with patients living with dementia and their carers, providing 5 months of Thai Chi sessions to see if this can improve their quality of life and reduce fall rates.

Caroling Flay talked about her care provision, Home Instead, which provides carers in your own home.

The focus was around healthy eating and everybody enjoyed some freshly prepared fruit (before the cake!) Paula Pearson, a registered nurse gave a short talk on aspects of well-being and the importance of eating well and staying active particularly within the community.

Finally, Ann Mayo promoted her new activity that she is providing in conjunction with VDFCA.  This will be a gentle exercise session followed by a bit of a sing-along, refreshments and a chat – details can be found on our website if you follow the link.

We would like to express grateful thanks to Morrisons in Verwood who donated the raffle prize.

 

 

Sally and Janet spent their August Bank Holiday at the Verwood Rotary Rustic Fayre to spread the word about Verwood’s dementia friendly community. We also took the chance to use our new pop up stand which was purchased with a grant from Dorset People and Older Persons Partnership (POPP). This stand enables us to set up a display almost instantly and provides a handy storage facility for extra leaflets etc.

We also had our usual small challenges. People were asked to name the Collectors Bear. Unfortunately, nobody came close to the name independently chosen so he will have to have an outing on another day. However, guessing the number of sweets in a jar proved more successful and clever Harry and Lottie carefully calculated 248. There were, in fact, 250 but they came pretty close, let’s hope they don’t eat them all at once!

We also advertised our Legal, Financial and Well-Being event at Crane Valley Golf Club on Wednesday 20th September 2017 from 1.30 – 4pm to include refreshments.

THE SENIOR SPRINGTIME AEROBATHON – TOTAL RAISED £1080!!

This was held on Wednesday 17^th May 2017 in the Verwood Memorial Hall from 9am until midday and what a fantastic event this turned out to be despite the terrible weather.

There were  information displays, a raffle and copious refreshments served by cheerful volunteers.

All participants donated £5 to take part and some even managed to find sponsors to raise the total.

The ladies in the kitchen, lead by Sandra Grove donated the drinks and Waypoints Care Home made all the lovely cup cakes which they also generously donated.

 

Ann Mayo provided a brilliant morning of aerobics suitable for older people although some of the younger ones found it quite hard to keep up!

Events kicked off at 9am on the dot and there was only 5 minutes rest before the hour until the next session.  Dozens of people joined in throughout the morning and there were also many spectators who just dropped in for a cup of coffee and a chat.

The raffle was very well supported with a hamper from Morrisons, a meat voucher from Andrew’s Butchers and many other prizes donated by attendees.

The pictures speak for themselves and all in all this was a very successful event and huge thanks goes to Ann Mayo for organizing it all so brilliantly – bring on next year!

 

 

 

 

To date this event  has raised an astonishing total of £1080.

Janet Scammell, the Chair of VDFCA presented Ann with a well deserved bunch of flowers.

 

On a cold and windy afternoon at the end of January we held our first Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Town Council offices.  On reflection, it was not a great choice of date and so although we tried to tempt people there with scrumptious cakes and biscuits and lots of tea and coffee (thanks to Morrison’s and Verwood Rotary Club), we were only small in number.

Nonetheless it was a really informative afternoon.  We briefly reported our progress since we started last year and got the official AGM business out of the way.  Then Carl Bradley, from Waypoints in  Verwood led an open discussion about issues raised from the audience concerning living with dementia and being a carer.  Topics ranged from how to prevent the condition to managing challenging situations.

Although we had further plans for the afternoon, this discussion was so useful that it ran for the whole session and by the time it concluded, all 20 people in the room felt that they wanted to participate.  A clear theme to emerge was the desire for clearer financial and legal advice and the Steering Group has taken note of this for a future event.  It was evident by the end of the afternoon that it had been ‘Good to talk’, to realize that we are not alone and help is out there.  So although a smaller meeting than planned, as it happened small turned out to be beautiful.

Dorset Police working in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society has established ‘Safe Havens’ (https://www.dorset.police.uk/news-information/article/728).   Safe Havens are located in approved care homes, or day centres or GP practices.  They are places where where someone who is living with dementia and other related conditions can temporarily go if they are confused in public and are unable to provide sufficient information to be taken home.  Police officers or Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will escort the individual to the Safe Haven and ensure they receive the appropriate care from staff there. The officer will only leave when all parties agree that it is in the individual’s best interest to do so.

Acorn Lodge, Oakdene Care Home applied to Verwood and Three Legged Cross Dementia Friendly Community Association (VDFCA) for approval to be part of the Safe Havens scheme for 2016/17 and this was granted in November 2016.  Approval is renewed on an annual basis. Janet Scammell, Chair of VDFCA thanked Steve Reading, Joint Home Manger and Grace Armson, Senior Care Assistant for supporting this initiative and helping to make Verwood and Three Legged Cross a dementia friendly community.

 

Janet Scammell, Chair of VDFCA presenting Steve Reading, Joint Home Manger and Grace Armson, Senior Care Assistant at Acorn Lodge with their Safe Haven Certificate

Dorset Police working in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, has established ‘Safe Havens’, a local initiative, which aims to make people with dementia and related conditions safe in their communities and homes.

The Safe Havens are located in approved care homes, day centres or GP practices, where anyone who is living with dementia and other related conditions can temporarily go if they are confused in public and are unable to provide sufficient information to be taken home.

Police officers or Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will escort the individual to the Safe Haven and ensure they receive the appropriate care from staff there. The officer will only leave when all parties agree that it is in the individual’s best interest to do so.

 

 

Janet Scammell, (right) Chair of VDFCA presenting Karen Holcolme, Practice Manager and nurse Hilary Fuggle with their Safe Haven Certificate.

Verwood and Three Legged Cross Dementia Friendly Community Association took a stand at the Dorset Partnership for Older People programme home safety event on Thursday 10th November.

This took place in the Verwood Memorial Hall and was well attended both by the public and other agencies.

We were pretty busy all morning giving out leaflets and just hearing people’s experiences.  There was a lot of interest in the board which outlined our website and activities over the past 6 months.

We were pleased to be supported by the Mayor of Verwood, Mrs Susan Shaw pictured here with Sandra Grove, one of our steering group members  who was also the Mayor of Verwood last year.

We also advertised our information event on 26th January 2017 at the Town Council Offices in Verwood  from 3 – 4.30pm where tea and cakes will be served.  This is open to all members of the public who are interested in creating a more dementia friendly community.