AUTUMN NGAHURU - NEWSLETTER 2025 MANAGERS MESSAGE: SUE CAVE Kia ora koutou We are back on deck after our Christmas break and busy seeing our new clients/carers and whanau. Our Educator, Fiona, is taking bookings for community talks and her calendar is filling up fast. She is a very dynamic, fun and interesting speaker so if you are part of a group that would like a speaker, please contact her. Email [email protected] or call our office on 07 308 0525. We have recently completed our annual planning meeting. The carer support meeting dates have been set and we have extended these to Opotiki. Our Navigator Elayne will be visiting the East Coast area on the 26th March so if you want to see her, please call 027 382 9212. We are underway with planning the delivery of our extremely popular Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) program. We are excited to announce that we are embarking on a Virtual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy program delivered in conjunction with the University of Otago. We are thrilled to be asked to participate in their project. Your Navigators will keep you updated as we finalise both the in-person and virtual CST details. As you know, we had to postpone our annual Memory Walk along the Warren Cole walkway last year due to the upgrade work. It's all looking wonderful now, so our Memory Walk will be back on Sunday 21st September. Volunteers: we rely on volunteers to help with a range of activities from companion services to running events and fundraising. If you know of anyone who might be interested in volunteering, please contact our Coordinator Talia on 027 382 7299. We have lots of resources and information about dementia mate wareware in our office located at the Lightning Hub, 1st Floor (above Kiwi Bank). The stairs are a bit daunting but there is a lift! Whilst our Navigators are out and about in the community, I am in the office most mornings so feel free to call in for a chat. I look forward to seeing you. Noho ora mai
SAVE THE DATE On Saturday 22nd March we will be at the Have a Heart Expo and Family Festival, at the War Memorial Hall, Whakatane between 10am and 2pm. We had a fun time last year and over 2000 people stopped by at our stall to try out our memory games, chat to our Volunteers and takeaway some information. Hope to see you there! CARER SUPPORT MEETINGS 2025 If you want to meet others in similar situations, socialise, gain information, share experiences and learn more about dementia mate wareware, please pop along for a cuppa and chat. Whakatane : with Lesley or Lee Date: Tuesday Time Venue 25th March 29th April 27th May 24th June 29th July 26th August 30th September 10.30 am to 12.00pm Whakatane Library 49 Kakahoroa Drive Whakatāne 3120 Kawerau : with Ann Date: Thursday Time Venue 20th March 17th April 15th May 12th June 10th July 7 th August 18th September 10.30 am to 12.00pm Bert Hamilton Hall 4 Porritt Drive Kawerau 3127 Opotiki : with Elayne Date: Tuesday Time Venue 25th March 29th April 27th May 24th June 29th July 26th August 30th September 10.30 am to 12.00pm Heartlands REAP 93A Church Street Opotiki 3122
INFORMATION SERIES: LEWY BODY DEMENTIA Lewy Body is thought to account for 10-15% of all dementias. It includes 2 sub-types: • Dementia with Lewy Bodies: when someone experiences cognitive changes either before or at the same time as Parkinson’s symptoms and • Parkinsons dementia: where someone has an established diagnosis of Parkinsons but then may go on to develop cognitive changes. (Please note that not everyone with Parkinson’s disease will develop dementia). Lewy Body Dementia is caused by abnormal clumps of protein which gather inside the brain cells, and these are called Lewy Bodies. Someone with Lewy Body Dementia may experience any of the following: recurring visual hallucinations, sleep disturbance, slow movement or difficulty with walking, fluctuations in attention and concentration, tremor on movement, problems with balance or be prone to falls. Memory may be less affected in the early stages than with other types of dementia, but people may be more at risk of mood and behaviour changes. If you notice signs of Lewy Body Dementia, it's important that you contact your GP. If you have any questions, please call us on 07 308 0525. COMMUNICATION AND DEMENTIA MATE WAREWARE People with dementia mate wareware often experience a gradual decline in their ability to communicate as their dementia progresses. They may find it more and more difficult to express themselves clearly to others and to understand what others are saying to them. In the early stages of dementia people may have difficulty finding the right word and in the later stage's words may be lost completely. There is more to communication that what you say. Body language, tone and pitch of voice, eye contact and touch are important too. When speaking try to make sure the message is relayed in a way people can understand. When listening, read the body language and emotions, as it may not match their words. Here are four tips which may help you: • Slow: down your rate of speech and wait for the person to respond before saying something else. Take care not to sound condescending. • Simple: give only one instruction at a time and try to use short sentences. • Specific: talk about people, objects, or events which they may remember. Use the name of people and places instead of pronouns (his, her, she, them etc). • Show: what you mean by using gestures to explain what you are talking about.
IN THE GARDEN Autumn is a fantastic season in the garden. The air is crisp, with warm long days, perfect for the tasks that need doing following the heat of summer. It's a great time for sowing a new lawn, planting bulbs, shrubs, and of course planting the vegetable garden for the months ahead. Time to think about planting broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, beetroot, spinach, silverbeet and chinese cabbage. Even if you don’t have a big vege garden many of these can be grown in pots. ABOUT DEMENTIA MATE WAREWARE TRAINING Our Educator, Fiona, is planning to deliver introductory sessions about dementia mate wareware for those recently diagnosed with dementia and their family/whanau and friends. The session will provide information about dementia, maintaining good brain health, getting a diagnosis, supports to live well, planning ahead and general information. There will be resources to take away and time for questions. Initially we will be providing these sessions in Opotiki, Kawerau and Whakatane. We will let you know the dates/times as soon as possible, but in the meantime please register your interest with your Navigator or contact the office on 07 308 0525.
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 per person: $5.00 Plus, Donation $ Donations over $5.00 are tax deductible 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/donation THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS
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 Pat Kane, Peter Hill, Maria Clarke Judy Ruijne, Margaret Krauss Manager Sue Cave Navigators Elayne Tangitu, Lesley Harris, Lee Harper, Ann O’Neil 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 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 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
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