I remember... Christmas

I remember... Christmas is an all-ability seasonal celebration that is being sponsored by SADAA in conjunction with Somerton Carers, Somerton Opportunities and Just-4U.

On Friday, Dec 13th, at West Street Church, Somerton (TA11 7PR) we will gather at 10.30 for coffee and biscuits, followed at 11 by entertainment, including carols, well known poetry, familiar Christmas songs and some reminiscences of Christmases past. Afterwards, you are invited to join us for a simple lunch, probably soup and ploughmans, and stay for a chat and a social time together.
Everyone is welcome to attend, there is level access from West Street and we can cater for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Details are in the poster to the left. For a printable version click here. If you can display the poster and encourage people, especially those who live alone or are isolated by mobility issues to came along, please do so. We want to make the event as accessible as possible, so, if you can, a donation towards the costs would be appreciated.
To give us some idea of numbers staying for lunch, you can book by calling 01458 250603 or email levelopps@gmail.com.

SADAA AGM 2019

Everyone is welcome to attend the AGM.
The location has been changed, so it now takes place in the Gallery at ACEarts, in the Old Town Hall, Market Square, at 10.30. It's upstairs, but there is a stair lift.
It's a chance to get up to date with all the good things* that have been happening in Somerton over the last year.

* Safe Places Scheme
* Book Club with a difference
* Suitcase Library
* Art in an envelope

...and hear some of our plans for the future
* Good Neighbour Scheme
* I remember... Christmas

Art in an envelope

ACEArts is seeking 10 families in the Somerton area who have a member living with dementia to take part in a new creative initiative.

‘Art in an Envelope’ will supply creative activity packs to the individuals and their families, containing all the materials and resources they need to create items such as collage photo frames. The initiative has been made possible thanks to funding from Greggs the bakers, and was launched at an event organised by the Somerton Area Dementia Action Alliance this week. It is the latest in a series of outreach projects which ACEArts organises with local facilities such as schools and care homes. 

For more information on ‘Art in an Envelope’, contact Nina Gronw-Lewis on 01458 273008 or email outreach@acearts.co.uk .

Somerton Safe Places

Our long-awaited Safe Places scheme is about to go live!
At a meeting at The Edgar Hall (TA11 6SB) on Wednesday 22nd May at 2pm we will launch the scheme in detail, providing posters, small cards and the necessary information on how to handle a situation where someone is lost or disorientated in our town.
Recently, a gentleman was found wandering, confused and obviously lost, and was helped by a quick-thinking passer-by. We will be re-living this experience with most of the people concerned and showing how our new scheme will smooth the process of re-uniting them with their family or carer.

We will also be running three Dementia Friends information sessions on the same day, in the Edgar Hall at 12 noon, 1 and 3pm, so you can find out, in simple, non-medical terms, how Dementia affects those living with it.
Everyone is welcome to attend, it's free, there is plenty of parking and refreshments will be served.

Become a volunteer with Somerset Sight

Sight impairment can happen to anyone and is largely age related. One in 5 people over 75 will suffer, making even the simplest of tasks difficult - going into one’s garden to see the flowers, making a cup of tea or reading the post. Driving is no longer possible so getting about is challenging, especially when there is little public transport. Occupying time becomes more difficult when you cannot read, go out for a walk or continue with hobbies that have been enjoyed throughout one’s life. Sight loss is known to increase the risk of depression, loneliness and isolation.
Somerset Sight has run a successful visiting service for more than 20 years, matching a trained volunteer with someone with sight loss. They meet for a couple of hours a week.
Sight impaired people in Somerset are waiting for a volunteer to help them with correspondence, trips out and socialising. To become a volunteer please contact Somerset Sight on 01823 333818. Full training and support is provided.

Activity Days

Reminiscence Learning are organising a series of Free Spring- and Summer-themed Activity days, the first of which is at Martock on 28th Feb. Details are on the poster which you can see by clicking here.

• Everybody will take away a craft they have made 
• Lunch and refreshments provided
• Booking essential: contact office@reminiscencelearning.co.uk or phone 01823 323752

Changes to Dementia day services in Somerset

Somerset County Council is changing the way it provides day time activities for people with memory loss or dementia. To move from a point of directly contracting one type of service to having a flourishing, sustainable colourful market of services SCC recognise pump prime funding is required to stimulate development of the market.
If you run, organise or plan to introduce a service that is relevant for those living with dementia, as an individual or organisation, meeting the priority needs below, grants may be available.

1. Enabling day-time activities for people with moderate to severe dementia including supporting people experiencing complex symptoms of dementia. e.g. prone to wandering off or challenging behaviour.
2. Enabling unpaid carers to have respite from their caring role.
3. Enabling younger people (up to 60 years old) with memory loss or dementia to take part in activities and services which meet their needs

Contact: Heather Brumby
Senior Commissioning Officer,
Somerset County Council – Adult and Health Commissioning Team
Email: hbrumby@somerset.gov.uk

Hear Dr Jennifer Bute at Bath

Bath and North East Somerset Dementia Action Alliance are organising a conference to be held at the Guildhall, Bath from 12-3.45pm on Thursday 7th Feb 2019.
There will be speakers including the amazing Dr Jennifer Bute, who has written a book on living with her dementia.
Tickets are free but you will need to sign up for them in advance on Eventbrite here.

Have you looked in our Diary?

The Diary page on our website contains details of events that take place in and around Somerton that are designed for, or appropriate to, those living with dementia. Take a look at it and please support the organisations listed there.
If you know of other activities taking place, please let us know so that we can keep the list up to date and relevant.

NICE guide for those newly-diagnosed with dementia

A diagnosis of dementia may create very mixed emotions. Coming to terms with it, making decisions and planning ahead are all part of living well with dementia.
Getting information and support when you need it from people working in health and social care can make a real difference.
NICE has produced a short guide for those facing a new diagnosis, to enable them to navigate the 'system' and obtain the right information quickly. See the NICE website for details.

Older drivers

Living with dementia often means the duties of driving change, so someone who's driven relatively infrequently, and often not for longer distances in strange areas, now has to take the responsibility.
Somerset Road Safety is running a free Route 60+ session in Yeovil to help older drivers drive safely for longer. It is on 28th Feb, at Yeovil Community Church, BA20 1QN from 10am -1pm. For more information, download the flyer, or contact Somerset Road Safety on 01823 423430 or roadsafety@somerset.gov.uk.

Happy New Year

We wish all our readers and viewers a happy 2019.
Don't forget, if you want to contribute to our effort to make Somerton a more dementia-friendly town, come along to our Planning meeting on Monday, 7th Jan, at AceArts in the Old Town Hall, Somerton, at 10.30am. We are looking for ideas from the general public, particularly those living with dementia, so that we can provide or encourage appropriate solutions and initiatives.

Planning our strategy

Our first Steering Committee meeting of 2019 is on Monday Jan 7th, 10.30am in the Gallery of ACEarts, The Old Town Hall, Somerton. It is an open meeting, so the public can attend.
We are trying to formulate a short- and long-term strategy for our group, and we need your ideas, suggestions and input of what could improve living with dementia in our community. We almost certainly won't be able to do everything, but we can prioritise. We want to work actively with other community groups in the town, as well as our businesses and statutory providers, so everyone is welcome. Please make it known among your own contacts.
If you can't make it to the meeting, but have some suggestions, contact us by email on somertondaa@gmail.com.

Christmas with Dementia

The members of Ashford Dementia Support Group got together to talk about the very real difficulties that they can face at Christmastime: from the noise and confusion of parties, to feelings of exclusion during the festive preparations.
Using their words, Alzheimers Society have created a short animated poem to get that vital message across. To watch the video, click on the image or go to
https://youtu.be/qzjqOK97zb4.
There is also an excellent article on coping with Christmas here.

Kitchen tips

These are some simple-to-follow Kitchen tips from the Alzheimers Society publication 'Making your home Dementia Friendly'.
Practical tips
■ Make sure the items you use every day are easy to find.
■ Use brightly coloured cloths, towels and kitchen rolls that contrast with surfaces and appliances.
■ Ensure that appliances such as kettles can be seen and are easy to use.
■ Use coloured crockery that contrasts with the food you are going to eat, as well as the table or  tablecloth.
Further suggestions
■ Use clear plastic containers to store food so that you can see what is inside.
■ If you need to replace equipment or appliances, like a kettle, try and make sure they’re the same design or model as the old one, so you can remember how to use them.

Can you find space for a poster?

We have a new poster available, showing contact details for SADAA. If you can help us promote our activities by displaying one, it would be very helpful and much appreciated. The A4 size poster can be downloaded by clicking here.
If A4 is too large, or you need to hand a copy to a friend, we have 2 x A5 poster/flyers or 4 x A6 handouts. Just click on the version you need.
These posters are PDF files, so should print on any printer on A4 paper.

Become a Dementia Friends Champion in Somerset!

Already a Dementia Friend? Sign up to become one of the fantastic Dementia Friends Champions in Somerset. Alzheimers Society have an induction day coming up in Taunton on Friday 11th January 2019, and there are spaces available. You can sign up here!

A Dementia Friends Champion is a volunteer who encourages others to make a positive difference to people living with dementia in their community. They do this by running Dementia Friends information sessions, giving them information about the personal impact of dementia and what they can do to help. Visit dementiafriends.org.uk to find out more and follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

New video to help kids understand dementia

Alzheimers Society has produced an animation and activity pack to explain to 7-11 year olds what dementia is and how it affects people they may care about.
 'Memories with Grandma' teaches young people about dementia and how they can support people living with the condition. You can find the animation video on YouTube here. You could use it with family members or in a teaching environment.

Christmas Vintage Market

We will have a SADAA presence at the Vintage Market, being held in the Market Square on Friday 21st December. 
It will be a chance to meet some of our members, have a chat about the provision in the town for those living with dementia, find out about possible future events, pick up some Christmas decorations or maybe some cupcakes.
To stay up-to-date with what is going on, sign up on the Members page on our website - membership is free. We won't bombard you with un-wanted emails, but it will allow us to keep in touch - legally!

How secure is your home?

It’s National Home Security Month, designed to raise awareness of the importance of home security so you can be safe in the knowledge that your home, family and belongings are protected.
Police statistics show that homes with simple security measures in place are five times less likely to be burgled.
Download this free guide, produced by Independent Age, for simple measures you can put in place to give you peace of mind.

There is also a useful video on how to stay safe at home on their website. Click here.