WINTER: TAKURUA - NEWSLETTER 2023 MANAGERS MESSAGE Kia ora koutou I want to share a story about a random chat I had whilst out walking my dog.It was a cold day and I was feeling a little tired. I was in a rush to get the dog home so I could go to work. I usually pass the same man out walking each day, we say hello, make a comment about the weather and go on our way. For some reason on that cold day, we stopped, started chatting and he told me he had Alzheimers. I asked him how he was doing? He said he walked every day and enjoyed looking at the world around him. He told me he smiles a lot, likes to chat, and sets himself little challenges everyday – whether it's raking the leaves or making a meal. He loves having his grandkids visit and likes to share his memories of times gone by. He told me that, “things don’t always go your way – that's life!” But he tries to stay positive and create happy moments. There’s a reason why research shows that smiling is good for your health and lowers your blood pressure! Well! I came away from our chat feeling inspired and a little overcome. I was late for work, but glad I slowed down my walk and took time out to chat and listen. Soon we are celebrating National Volunteers week and this issue has a special feature on volunteering. When I think about the rewards from volunteering, it’s a two-way thing. Taking time out for someone else makes both their life and yours a little brighter. Food for thought! Noho ora mai Sue Cave, Manager Don’t forget to SMILE today!
CARER SUPPORT MEETING DATES Date Time Venue Tuesday 27th June 10am - 12pm Whakatane Library Tuesday 25th July 10am – 12pm Cafe Meeting – Contact Navigator for details Tuesday 29th August 10am – 12pm Whakatane Library Tuesday 26th September 10am – 12pm Whakatane Library Tuesday 24th October 10am – 12pm Whakatane Library Tuesday 28th November 10am – 12pm Christmas get together. Venue to be advised. CARE DURING WINTER MONTHS Here are some practical tips to keep well over the winter months: Wear warm clothing: Layers are best. Heat is lost through the head and neck so remember to wear a hat and scarf outside. If you would like a twiddle muff to keep your hands warm, let us know. Thick day socks and bed socks are a must for winter! Keep the room warm: Make sure there are plenty of warm blankets around. Bump up the heat inside, a safe heating temperature is 18-21 degrees Celsius. Keep moving: Try and move around every hour, whether it's a short walk or just standing and wriggling the body. Mild exercise helps increase blood circulation to keep the body warm. Stick to a routine: Try to stick to a regular daily routine. If the winter months mean a change in walk or nap times, try to change these slowly/gradually. Watch out: Be alert for slippery surfaces – especially where leaves or flowers have fallen outside. Take smaller steps and walk a little slower than usual. Eat and drink regularly: Eating regular meals with snacks in between increases energy. When its warm inside and the air is dryer, you can get dehydrated so keep the fluids up. Hibernation isn’t just for animals. In winter we tend to slow down a bit, but this doesn’t mean that we need to slow our brain down: Winter is a perfect opportunity to: Focus on yourself: get the flu shot, eat good healthy food, try out a soup recipe, get out the board games, rake the leaves and sort out the photos. Calm your mind: when your mind is all over the place and you can’t think clearly sometimes it helps to write your thoughts down. Writing can help settle the mind and put things into perspective.
VOLUNTEERING We are looking for Volunteer Companions – can you help? People living with dementia mate wareware can become very isolated. Just an hour a week visiting someone with dementia can make a huge difference to their and their carers quality of life. Our companion role is especially important as it directly touches the lives of those who live with, or support someone with dementia mate wareware. The type of person we need: We do our best to match volunteers to those who have similar interests. For example, do you have any of the following interests or backgrounds and are you willing to have a cuppa and a chat about these for an hour a week? • Gardening ● A music lover • Playing cards ● Travel stories • An interest in sport ● Animal lover • Reading ● Hunting or fishing All our volunteers undergo a police check and are fully trained by Alzheimers EBOP. Upcoming Volunteer Training Date Time Topic Venue Thursday 17th July 10am A conversation about Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Whakatane Library Wednesday 20th September 10am A presentation about Elder Abuse by Kassie Ellis from Manaaki Ora’s Elder Abuse Response Service Whakatane Library Wednesday 22nd November 10am More about the science behind dementia mate wareware from our Alzheimers Educator Fiona Whakatane Library If you want to know more about Volunteering, please contact Talia, our Volunteer Coordinator. Talia would love to hear from you. Volunteers who are attending any of the training sessions need to RSVP to Talia a week beforehand, for catering purposes. Email [email protected] Phone 027 382 7299
WINTER WARMERS LEEK AND POTATO SOUP Warm up those winter days and nights with a hearty bowl of leek and potato soup! Best served with a dollop of sour cream. Ingredients • Butter - 50 g • Leeks, washed thoroughly in cold water and sliced - 6 • Potatoes - medium-sized, peeled and cut into small cubes - 4 • Onion, finely chopped - 1 • Cloves garlic, finely chopped - 2 • Sprig thyme - 1 • Bay leaf - 1 • Vegetable or chicken stock - 1 L • Salt • Chives - chopped to garnish • Sour cream, to serve • Freshly ground black pepper Method items to trolley • Heat the butter in a large, heavy-based saucepan or stockpot. Add the leeks, potato, onion and garlic. Cover and cook over a very low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring often. • Add the thyme, bay leaf and stock. Simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes, or until the potato is tender. Remove the thyme and bay leaf and allow the soup to cool slightly before puréeing in batches in a food processor. • Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Return the soup to the pan and reheat gently – do not bring to a boil. • Serve with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of chopped chives.
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. 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 THE RESTAURANT THAT MAKES MISTAKES This new TV show starts on TVNZ 1 on Sunday, 18th June at 8:30 pm. In the series, eight people living with dementia mate wareware take on roles at a restaurant run by chef Ben Bayly. “If you provide people with the right scaffolding to support them underneath, they can still be themselves, and they can still function. And yes they’ll make mistakes, but that’s OK”, says Dementia Auckland’s Rhonda Preston-Jones. “Because the joy, the confidence building, the pleasure that people got and the pride they got in doing what they were doing was well worth it. It was incredible.”
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 ALZHEIMERS SOCIETY EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY INCORPORATED Chairperson Jenny Dowthwaite Board Members Board Advisor Pat Kane, Peter Hill, Bryce Sheedy Jeremy Bendall, Maria Clarke Manager Sue Cave Educator Fiona Hutcheson Navigators Elayne Tangitu, Lesley Harris Volunteer Co-ordinator Talia Spackman Office Administrator Office phone number 07 3080525 Heather Balcombe
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 SAVE THE DATE On Saturday 19th August 2023 the Eastern Bay of Plenty Community Network is hosting a Community Expo at the Whakatane War Memorial Hall. Alzheimers will be there so come and meet our staff, pick up some information, learn about volunteering and services provided in your community. 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