Spring: Kōanga- NEWSLETTER 2023 MANAGERS MESSAGE Kia ora koutou Did you know that we have been operating as a specialized dementia support service in the Eastern Bay of Plenty for 31 years? At that time, we only had a handful of people with dementia mate wareware in our community, now we support 190 people and over 300 carers and family/whānau. With people living longer there is more awareness of health issues and an increasing need for support. I am very proud of our local Alzheimers team who are out in the community visiting clients and their carers, providing training and education, delivering cognitive stimulation therapy sessions, training and coordinating our 40 volunteers and keeping people safe by issuing wanda track devices when needed. Fundraising and community grants help us to provide “that bit extra” to make lives easier for those with dementia mate wareware. We also receive a lot of practical support from community groups as you will see from the Twiddle Muff article in this newsletter. Meet the team! Pictured from the left back row: Heather (Office Administrator), Sue (Manager), Lee (Navigator), Fiona (Educator). Front row: Elayne (Navigator), Lesley (Navigator), Talia (Volunteer Coordinator). Noho ora mai
CARER SUPPORT MEETING DATES Date Time Venue Tuesday 29th August 10am – 12pm Whakatane Library Tuesday 26th September 10am – 12pm Lyceum Club. Guest Speaker from Hearing Support. Tuesday 31st October 10am – 12pm Whakatane Library Tuesday 28th November 10am – 12pm Christmas get together at Blueberry Corner. With entertainment provided by Rob Purewa. VOLUNTEER MEETING DATES Date Time Venue Wednesday 20th September 10am – 12pm Whakatane Library A presentation about elder abuse by Kassie Ellis from Manaaki Ora’s Elder Abuse Response Service. Wednesday 22nd November 10am – 12pm Whakatane Library More about the science behind dementia mate wareware with Dementia Educator Fiona. Tuesday 28th November 10am – 12pm Christmas get together at Blueberry Corner. With entertainment provided by Rob Purewa. AGM Date Time Venue Monday 25th September 11.30am – 12.30 Lyceum Club Domain Road Whakatane Guest Speaker: Dementia Educator Fiona, will speak on brain health. If you plan on attending the AGM, please RSVP for catering purposes to Heather on 07 308 0525 or email [email protected] by the 15th of September 2023.
BOOK REVIEWS In our last newsletter we talked about our Dementia Library and the books that are available to you on loan. We have some lovely books suitable for explaining dementia to children. The more we can do to inform and educate people – especially young people – about dementia mate wareware, the more accepting and understanding we will become. “Finding Grandpa’s song” was written for the Music Moves Me Trust. It tells the story of Ruby and her Grandpa who has dementia. Ruby finds a way to help Grandpa through music which makes both of them very happy. This is an easy read and well-illustrated story that warms the heart! We have several copies of “Detective Luka and the Great Memory Mystery” by Renata Hopkins This children’s book helps Kiwi kids understand what it’s like for a close family/ whānau member to live with dementia mate wareware. It follows the story of a young boy, Luka, and his grandmother, who often get into trouble because of their forgetfulness. The story traverses the subtle parallels and wide discrepancies children draw between their own everyday forgetfulness and that of someone they love, who possibly has a new dementia diagnosis. THANKS Thanks to the Kawerau Cottage Craft ladies for donating a wide range of beautiful Twiddle Muffs for our dementia mate wareware clients. Pictured are our staff Fiona (Educator) and Talia (Volunteer Coordinator) who received these donations. A Twiddle Muff provides a wonderful source of visual, tactile, and sensory stimulation and keeps the hands snug and warm at the same time. Please let your Navigators know if you would like a Twiddle Muff and we will arrange to drop one off (free to our clients).
COGNITIVE STIMULATION THERAPY ACTIVITY PROGRAM We are currently running two CST activity programs in Opotiki and Kawerau. Our Opotiki men’s group the “Super Machos” are having lots of fun and their chosen group song is “Ain’t That A Shame”. The program is run once a week for 14 weeks and covers a range of activities including quizzes, games, and competitions. The guys especially like the bean bag toss and are very competitive. The Kawerau group is a mixed group called “forget me nots”. Their chosen group song is “These Boots Are Made For Walking”. They have been enjoying playing “It’s In The Bag” discussing current affairs and sharing their life history. VOTING If you are living with dementia, you have the right to vote providing you want to vote and can clearly indicate your voting preference. That’s the case whether you live at home or in a residential care facility. To vote you must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident who is 18 years or over and whose name is on either the Māori or general electoral roll before election day. To check if you are enrolled, see the Electoral Commission website https://vote.nz/. Voting is important to ensure people with dementia have an equal voice in their communities. So, if you want to vote, you should be supported to continue to do so. What support is available? Enrolments: if you are unable to complete the enrolment form, any registered elector including your Enduring Power of Attorney may help you to complete and sign it. On the day: a support person can come with you when you vote. They can go behind the voting screen with you and can read out the words and information on the voting papers. The support person can also mark the voting papers for you if you ask them to. HOWEVER, no one is permitted to vote on your behalf, not even someone with power of attorney. Anyone assisting the voter must follow the voters’ instructions and not attempt to direct or influence their choice. Your support person can’t tell you who you should vote for. Remember: if you need help to read or mark your voting papers, a friend, family/whānau member or electoral official can be your support person. Voting in advance can make it easier if you cannot get to the polling booth. For more information on how to arrange different options for voting call 0800 36 76 56.
MEMBERSHIP Membership entitles you to vote at our AGM, subscription to our newsletter and first access to events. All subscriptions and donations remain in the Eastern Bay of Plenty to support people living with dementia mate wareware and their families. Please fill in the form to join. Name: Email address: Telephone: Mobile: Address: Annual subscription for a family: $5.00 Plus Donation $ Total $ Send form to: Alzheimers Society Eastern Bay of Plenty, PO Box 13, WHAKATANE 3158 or you can direct credit Westpac 03-0490-0180920-00 Particulars – use your last name Reference – membership or m/s&donation JOIN THE BOARD Are you interested in joining our Board? Role of Board Legally the Board has ultimate responsibility for all organisational decisions. They are responsible to the funders and the public to ensure our organization's resources are used in a safe, legal and fair way to effectively achieve the purpose for which they were provided. We meet once a month to review the activities of the organisation, provide questions, advice and support to the Manager, and make key decisions. Our members all have personal and/or professional links to whānau with dementia mate wareware and bring skills relevant to ensuring the organisation is effective for clients. Nomination forms are available from the Manager, email: [email protected], or phone the office, 07 308 0525. Nominations to be submitted by 31st August 2023.
BEQUESTS and DONATIONS If you would like to support our services and make a positive difference to the lives of those affected by dementia you may like to consider making a bequest or donation to Alzheimers EBOP. This can be completed in several ways: • Making an online payment 03-0490-0180920-00 using your name as reference • Making a one-off or regular payment • Leaving a gift in your will (please contact us for more information) Donating to the Eastern Bay of Plenty Community Foundation Endowment Fund for Alzheimers EBOP, usually by a one-off payment or by provision in your will. This is a “gift that keeps on giving” as every year income is received by way of investment growth of the Endowment Fund. Remember you can claim a tax credit from IRD (using form IR526) at the end of the tax year if, during that year, you: • donated $5.00 or more to Alzheimers Eastern Bay of Plenty and • are a NZ tax resident and • received taxable income ALZHEIMERS SOCIETY EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY INCORPORATED Chairperson Jenny Dowthwaite Board Members Board Advisors Pat Kane, Peter Hill, Bryce Sheedy Jeremy Bendall, Maria Clarke Manager Sue Cave Navigator Elayne Tangitu, Lesley Harris, Lee Harper Educator Volunteer Coordinator Office Administrator Office Hours Office Phone Number Fiona Hutcheson Talia Spackman Heather Balcombe 8 am to 12 noon Monday to Friday 07 308 0525
THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS Home Care Services Community Services Independent Living Service Advocacy/Information Services We also provide Conference Room Hire, Equipment Hire, On-site Library and Internet Access, Hearing Therapist, Stroke & Brain Injury, COPD and Post-Polio Field Officers On-site. We are a totally committed and professional team who can assist with any of the above Service needs. Telephone 07 307 1447 Fax 07 307 0229 Email: [email protected] Website: www.drct.co.nz CONDOLENCES We extend our deepest sympathy to those who have lost a loved one recently. We would like to thank all the families who have requested donations to Alzheimer's EBOP to be made in lieu of flowers. MARY SHAPLEY RETIREMENT VILLAGE A Bupa Village that combines the best features of a Rest Home and Hospital Facilities. Independent Units, Companionship and Security. 4 Spence Lane Whakatane Phone 07 308 5457 Enquires Welcome We have dedicated experienced staff providing a high standard of personalised care, visiting in-house Doctor, daily Diversional Therapy activities catering for individual needs, group settings and regular outings and in-house church services. Families and friends always welcome, we provide a safe secure homely environment. Inquiries and inspection welcome. OHOPE BEACH CARE
Alzheimers Society Eastern Bay of Plenty Incorporated www.alzheimers.org.nz/eastern-bay-of-plenty Lightning Hub, 1st Floor, 193-195 The Strand, Whakatane 3120 Phone 07 308 0525 or 0800 004 001 P O Box 13 Whakatane 3158