Today Meeting the inspirational Isabel from Theatre Nemo (with thanks to Trish Brown)

Hi  

Well I was over at the PRTFC head office last week  to chat about my campaign, future hopes and dreams and hopefully we can work together on a few ideas As I was leaving I had a chat with Trish Brown and she told me about the inspiration work being done by Theatre Nemo which was started by the inspirational Isabel, Any way I had a chat with Isabel on the phone and I am popping over on today during my 4 hours cover to find out more about them and chat about my own campaign

You can find out more at the links below about Isabel, Theatre Nemo and the amazing work they do along with links to the PRTFC

Theatre Nemo

Vision Our,vision is of an inclusive, supportive, integrated society, which recognizes and values the contribution made by those affected by mental ill-health alongside everyone else.

http://www.theatrenemo.org/

PRTFC

www.carers.org | www.youngcarers.net

Dementia Awareness, Tommyontour, the awareness campaign continues

Hi

As with carting for my mum, I am putting my heart and soul into raising awareness on Dementia  and life as a carer ,please see below some awareness pans coming up during my few respite hours cover per week ,I do this at my own cost and in my own time

July 23^rd

Meeting with team at Stirling dementia services Stirling university (via professor June Andrews) to discuss some plans and hopefully get some advice and involvement with projects

July 24^th  

Popping into my local carer center Pollok to discuss my mums care plan and campaign

July 30^th

Meeting and speaking at older persons story club Edinburgh

July 31^st

Meeting chief exec PRTFC to discuss my campaign and future plans

August 1^st

Meeting and speaking at Alzheimer Scotland carers group south Ayrshire
August 3rd
West Glasgow Carers Centre Dementia Group

August 9th 

Meeting and speaking at carers group Croy day care Ailsa hospital Ayr

August 24^th

Meeting con Gillespie and Sandra Shields nurse consultants for dementia for NHS gg&c to discuss future talks and involvement

August 31^st

Guest speaker social work Glasgow service mangers meeting
september 13th
Lockerbie Carer Support group.

September 26^th

Guest speaker at NHSGG&C event Royal Alexandria Hospital

October 5^th
Guest speaker at NHSGG&C event beardmore hotel Clyde bank

October 8th   

Kirkintilloch Baptist Church ( east dunbartonshire council )

 October 12th

  Bearsden Baptist Church ( east dunbartonshire council )

I also have the following projects to work on  

My Motion Passed Glasgow city council AND MY Dementia through Art Project Gartanvel royal hospital along with making Tommyontour 2 a new film

I also hope to re visit carer centers across Scotland to collect more life stories and update on my progress

The awareness campaign continues my blog, story and film has just reached 30,000 views and is on many sites across the world

I am proud to be my mum’s son and to raise awareness on dementia and caring

Tommy

Meeting today with PRTFC team Glasgow

Hi

Well I have a couple of hours cover today and I will be popping in to the PRTFC office Glasgow City Centre to update on my progress, hope and dreams. I hope to discuss my Motion passed at Glasgow City Council and update on my future talks as a son and carer I have lots of ideas and hope to get them involved or at least to support some of them

Tommy

Inspiring day at the Life’s Stories and Older People’s Working Group today

Hi

Well I had a few house cover today and I was through in Edinburgh to meet with Life’s Stories and Older People’s Working Group (with thank s to Linda for the invite)
I found it very inspiring to meet and hear from the people who attended about the work they do and projects they are working on .It was great to hear about their passion Knowledge along with their willingness to listen to others ,I hope we can do some work together in the near future ,I met and hopefully made some new friends today .As usual its always a bit of a rush to get to talks or meetings and back home to care for my mum in the time I have ,anyway back home now time to get my wee mum her dinner then evening bath
Tommy

You can find out more about the people and work they do at the link below

The Older People’s Working Group is the sub-group of the Scottish Storytelling Forum that oversees, develops and promotes storytelling work with older people across Scotland. Reminiscence is at the heart of much that we do and more and more of our work is with groups (care homes, sheltered housing, community groups and day care centres)
Scottish Storytelling Centre
http://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk/

With thanks to Gill Phillips (whose Shoes for the article on her site and for hosting my film and campaign

A big thank you  to Gill Philips the creator of Whose Shoes for the article on her website, for hosting my film and for the amazing support on Twitter

Please see below more about the work she does

Tommy

Hi, I'm the creator of Whose Shoes? - a board game that helps people to "walk in the shoes" of others. It gets people talking about what is good and bad in health and social care and how things can be improved. People who use services and carers say it gives them a voice. They can join in as "equals" with professionals; everyone gets a say. This video shows the game in action.

I run Whose Shoes? workshops all over the UK. One of the most memorable ones was in Glasgow, as part of the Social Care Ideas Factory (SCIF) Festival of Ideas for personalisation. Sadly it was long before I knew about Tommy and his Mum.

Tommy and I share a passion for stories On my Whose Shoes? blog I am asking lots of different people to write about dementia and what it means to them. I am coming across many inspirational people, passionate about improving lives. One of these, of course, is "Tommy on Tour" who wrote this blogpost for the series.

I am now working on an electronic version of Whose Shoes?, and developing some new content specific to dementia.

Gill Phillips, Director, Nutshell Communications Ltd   www.nutshellcomms.co.uk

Tommy on Tour blog

Today Attending and speaking at the Life Stories & Older People's Working Group

Hi 

With thank to Linda Bandelier ,Support Worker: Life’s Stories and Older People’s Working Groups for making contact and inviting me to attend and speak at their meeting Today  July 30^th through in Edinburgh ,I look forward to attending ,meeting and hearing from families who are part of this group

Here are some details on the group and the work they do

The Older People’s Working Group is the sub-group of the Scottish Storytelling Forum that oversees, develops and promotes storytelling work with older people across Scotland. Reminiscence is at the heart of much that we do and more and more of our work is with groups (care homes, sheltered housing, community groups and day centres) which cater to and support people with dementia. Linda Bandelier

Support Worker: Lifes Stories and Older People’s Working Groups

Scottish Storytelling Centre

43-45 High Street

Edinburgh EH1 1SR

Phone: 0131 556 9579

http://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk/

My awareness campaign is built on life stories thoughts and opinions can you HELP?

 Good Morning

Firstly my campaign is in no way a petition or protest .The very heart and soul of this campaign is bring a better understanding on both Dementia and Caring to a wider public .I have been collecting life stories thoughts and opinions for the last months to take to a wider audience to try and bring a better understanding  on how we live and feel, so far I have taken reports to the Scottish parliament, Social Work City councils, NHS and beyond to help raise awards and believe I have a good working (voluntary on my part ) relationship with many people .I hope if you are reading this and you have time to can add to this amazing collection of life stories from amazing families and carers to help me paint a picture of living with dementia and caring for a loved one .My promise is to do all I can to raise awareness to a wider society ,I hope your words  can help me do this

You can email me direct at tomm@i-woz-there.com

Thank you

Tommy

Son, carer, awareness campaigner

Caring can be a lonely life, someone letting you know they are thinking about you can brighten up your day

Hi

I don’t need to tell anyone who has or is caring for a loved one how lonely life can be most times A card, a phone call, a visit can help chase the loneliness away for wee while, my campaign started through the desperation and isolation Dementia and caring brought  my mum and I.This campaign has helped me realize we are not alone ,the amazing people who have sent me life stories ,I have met on my tour and on social media such as Twitter and this week a most personal touch from people a card from Caroline who I met on my tour to say my mum and I are in her thoughts and a wee bunch of flowers from Lynn and Derek who I also met on my tour  for my wee mum to remind us we are not alone

A wee bit of sunshine sent from others can help chase the blues away for a day, if you know someone who is caring or being cared for pick up the phone ,send a card, let them know they are not alone ,you might change their day or even their life

Tommy

Sitting in my mums room watching the Olympic opening ceremony

Hi

My wee mum is in bed, I have spent the last hours tidying up along with as I always do preparing for all we do in the morning ,while I have been pottering about I have been catching snapshots of the build up to Olympics and I found some tears coming, along with memoires ,I loved the Olympics when I was young and can remember sitting on the floor listening intently to my dad and his enthusiasm for all who created magical sporting moments and my strongest memory is sitting on the floor of our sitting room at my mum and dads feet for days on end for all the crucial moments such as the 100 meters final .Well my dad is no longer with us but I will reenact my childhood and sit in my wee mums room on the floor beside her bed and watch the opening ceremony and cherish the memories of sitting with my mum and the man she loved since the day they met .My mum may have lost her memory to dementia but I will save tonight in mine and add to all the others that make me such a lucky son We sat as a family then ,and we sit as a family tonight with my mum beside me and my dad firmly on our minds

Tommy

With thanks to the wonderful District Nurses for all their care and help lately

Good Afternoon

Over the last months our ability to do things has shrunk dramatically and we like many other people who need care or a carers become isolated, lonely and to often sad if not depressed. in my own particular life if you take away my campaign hours the only people we see are Doctors, hospitals ,nurses ,clinics ,social workers and people involved in our care, so its of great importance  that those short meeting are of help and added value to all. A little bit of understanding goes a long way in the life of a carer .lately I /we have had amazing advice and support from the amazing District Nurses who have shown great understanding and attention to detail, This son is grateful and does not feel as alone as he once felt, I salute you for being part of helping my mum and I get through this the best we can

Tommy       

oh and a big thank you to Lynn and Derek for the lovely flowers sent to my mum ,you brought a wee bit of sunshine to our house today

Caring and campaigning love, struggles sadness and joy

Hi

It is occurring to me more and more lately that I have two separate ways of making it through this journey. Caring for my wee mum and Raising Awareness . My life caring for my mum is complex, full of love struggles, sadness and Joy. Love for my amazing we mum who gave me every ounce of her time, care, love and support all my life .the Struggles that witnessing 5 years of dementia and the toll it has taken on my mum brings, and life as a carer sadness I now accept in order to do the best I can that my mum has lost her memory of her glorious life and of me as a son but my deep sadness is she has lost the memory of my dad the man she loved ,everyone should fall in love like my wee mum and dad and Joy. the joy a smile or Squeeze of my hand can bring I have to add Privilege ,I feel privileged to be my mums son and it’s a privilege to care for her through this journey even though we face many struggles and sadness along the way ,her greatness is my reason for campaigning  I puff out my cheeks when I go to talks or meetings to raise awareness as I promised myself  to put same effort into my campaign that I try to put into caring for my mum and if I can put half the effort into caring and campaigning  that my mum put into bringing me up and to all she met then we will do  ok

I don’t know if any of the above makes sense but its how I feel tonight sitting in my wee mums room watching her sleep peacefully

Tommy

Big thanks to north Ayrshire Dementia Services for the article in their newsletter and for putting my film on their website

Hi

A few weeks back I had the privilege of speaking at north Ayrshire Dementia Services as part of their carer week events. A big thanks to Kerry and al the team for putting my Tommyontour film on their website and for the article in their July Newsletter .I really enjoyed the day and met good people doing great work along with lovely people from the community who attend the services, I hope to pass by one day soon to discuss some projects I am hoping to do also a big thanks for the lovely flowers and cookies they presented me with for my wee mum Joan on the day I attended  

Please see Contact details below for more info if you live in North Ayrshire

Tommy

 

Dementia

Telephone: 01505684362
Fax: 01505 684362

Support Service
Annam Cara Stoneyholm Road Kilbirnie
KA25 7JE

The Sun is shining and we got out today for a walk round the park

Good Morning 

Well it’s a beautiful morning and my wee mum has had her morning bath and the plan is to get mum dressed and out in her new wheel chair for a walk round the park If you read this blog you will know my mum has been pretty much confined to her bed /chair lately .we tried last week to get out but the weather and my mums health conspired against us, our chances and ability to do many things have shrunk at quite a pace ,but I want my mum to get out and get fresh air and feel the sun and breeze on her face .i know not to far away that going out will not be an option but it fees like it is an option today and one we will try and take


well we made it out for a walk ,but it poses more questions than answers ,it was a wee bit of a struggle ,i have to ask myself  ,are my hopes and ambitions for my mum too much ?
i am not sure but if felt amazing to get my mum out of that bed ,room and house and let her feel the sun and breeze ,not sure if we will mange again ,but we did today

Tommy  

Popping into my local carer center (Pollok) today

Hi  

I have a couple of hours cover today and I am popping into my local carer center to have a wee chat and update on my mums care plans and package

This involves Linda having to listen to all my wants and needs and explaining  and helping me achieve what we can ,but more than that I have a person  to discuss our life with and a sounding board ,its not a golden ticket to care ,but it’s a ticket I never had before ,I discovered carer centers last year when I left the house to raise awareness and find out how others coped and I have been to many across Scotland In fact my film includes carers I met at GNEC  and Carr Gomm on my tour. I need someone to help me through this especially now as my wee mum struggles ,I need all the help and advice I can get ,I wish I would have asked for help sooner on my journey caring for my mum. All I can say is its ok to ask for help. We all have hopes and dreams of help we would like but for me it’s a tragedy in itself not knowing or having good help that is ALREADY  available and I for one am grateful for any help I get

Tommy    

With thanks to Alzheimer Speaks Minnesota and Donna and Dina’s New York radio show for sharing the film and bog

hI

With great thanks to Lori La Bey, Founder of Alzheimer’s Speaks Minnesota for getting in touch today, we are doing a live Skype Chat next week about dementia and awareness Also a big thanks for putting the links and film on the websites she has. Dementia  affects so many across the world and I proud that my wee film is playing a small part in raising awareness you can get more info at the inks below

Also thanks to Donna and Dina who have a radio show in New York for making contact and tweeting about the film

Ove

http://alzheimersspeaks.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/great-videos-that-get-you-thinking-about-dementia/

Overwhelmed and proud to a part of awareness raising again today

Tommy

Positive meeting at the Dementia Services Development Center today

Hi

I was at a meeting at the DSDC today to discuss my campaign future hopes, dreams and possible involvement with some ideas and projects I am working on. I met with Shirley and we had a really positive and inspiring meeting. The DSDC do lots of studies and great work on dementia and I hope we can produce a paper together on my campaign and tour that helps others, we discussed many ideas and I will update soon ,once I get some feedback

You can get more details on the work they do at the links below

Tommy

(I lost my wallet today and the panic and helplessness that came over me about how was I going to get home for my wee mum was terrible luckily the taxi deriver who dropped me off at the station was found and returned my wallet intact so thank you to him )

Contact us | FaceBook | Twitter|Training | Best Practice in Dementia Care | Design & Consultancy | Dementia Design School | Publications | Conference Room Facilities | Library & Information Services | Modules & Degrees |Dementia Trust

Meeting today at dementia Services Development Centre Stirling

Hi

I will be popping in to meet the team who work with professor June Andrews Today  to discuss some awareness plans I am working on and get some advice .i stopped of there on my walk round Scotland last year and June and I have Kept in touch and we have  met a few times  on radio shows, I have been working on ideas for a new Dementia Awareness film and hope to get the team involved in some way if I get funding and absorb some of their Knowledge I am also hoping they will help me produce a report on the hundreds of life stories I have received to date

Tommy

It’s Sunday morning and my hope is to get my mum dressed and out in her wheelchair for a walk round the park today (we tried and will try again another day)

Hi

Well its Sunday morning and I never slept a wink last night, I lay in bed just thinking about al that has happened over the last years and months. Our ability to join in and live has shrunk at a pace all through this Journey and the isolation is almost painful. Our daily lives have shrunk to the bedrooms my mum is pretty much confined to hers and I hop between my mums and mine constantly .i think I have sat in the sitting room about 4 times over the last months (although I do dust and clean it every day) but I know if I don’t get my mum out to see the word and feel fresh air now then we will never get the opportunity again ,sitting my mum on her seat exhausts her ,giving her ,her twice daily baths exhausts her ,changing and dressing her is tiring for her ,but we are going out today even if its just round the block ,I need to defend my mums right to live and experience ,fresh air ,the sun ,the sky the outside world before she becomes to weak and our life shrinks to just one room

Well we tried earlier on today the weather conspired against us and also it was al getting a bit to much for my mum, so we settled for River city and now its time to get Sunday dinner on .I have to be careful I don’t let my own ambitions for my mum get in the way of reality

Tommy

Dementia Awareness ,Tommyontour, itinerary, meetings talks, hopes and dreams, the awareness campaign continues

Hi

As with carting for my mum, I am putting my heart and soul into raising awareness on Dementia  and life as a carer ,please see below some awareness pans coming up during my few respite hours cover per week ,I do this at my own cost and in my own time

July 23^rd

Meeting with team at Stirling dementia services Stirling university (via professor June Andrews) to discuss some plans and hopefully get some advice and involvement with projects

July 24^th  

Popping into my local carer center Pollok to discuss my mums care plan and campaign

July 30^th

Meeting and speaking at older persons story club Edinburgh

July 31^st

Meeting chief exec PRTFC to discuss my campaign and future plans

August 1^st

Meeting and speaking at Alzheimer Scotland carers group south Ayrshire
August 3rd
West Glasgow Carers Centre Dementia Group

August 13^th

Meeting and speaking at carers group Croy day care Ailsa hospital Ayr

August 24^th

Meeting con Gillespie and Sandra Shields nurse consultants for dementia for NHS gg&c to discuss future talks and involvement

August 31^st

Guest speaker social work Glasgow service mangers meeting

September 26^th

Guest speaker at NHSGG&C event Royal Alexandria Hospital

October 5^th

Guest speaker at NHSGG&C event beardmore hotel Clyde bank

I also have the following projects to work on  

My Motion Passed Glasgow city council AND MY Dementia through Art Project Gartanvel royal hospital along with making Tommyontour 2 a new film

I also hope to re visit carer centers across Scotland to collect more life stories and update on my progress

The awareness campaign continues my blog, story and film has just reached 30,000 views and is on many sites across the world

I am proud to be my mums son and to raise awareness on dementia and caring

Tommy

yesterdays meeting at Social Work Glasgow, then discussion with GP about my wee mum’s health

Hi

Well yesterday  I had a few hours cover today and popped in to update social work Glasgow on my campaign and future plans ,hopes and dreams  Councilor Kerr was unable to attend as he is on a search for a carers champion for Glasgow City Council.That was a shame as much of the discussion needed his involvement ,any way social work have just produced  a report on my letters so that was a positive along with hopefully more involvement  in the work I do trying to represent carers and families who contact me, one of the things we discussed was my motion passed at Glasgow City Council back if February ,how things will work and my involvement ,I put great effort into this motion and I am determined to represent all who contact me as best I can and I give my word I will do all I can to do this .

ON a more personal note the GP was out today to check on my mum. We are trying to determine exactly where we are on my mums journey with Dementia,my mum is losing so much weight and we are trying to find a way to slow this down ,my amazing wee mum is pretty much confined to bed and is very weak and quiet Eating food is becoming very difficult along with keeping my mum hydrated ,my passion and duty is to keep my mum as comfortable ,loved and looked after to the best of my ability and to assure that all who Are part of this next phase remember my mum is not Just  a wee woman with Dementia she  is Joan Whitelaw ,Daughter ,sister ,mother ,Aunty ,friend and valued  member of her community and should be given the respect and dignity that’s she gave to all she met and that she deserves this is the very essence of my campaign remember the person do not look at anyione just as a condition or illness

Tommy

Meeting Councilor Kerr today along with Social work leads, then speaking to SW service managers

Hi

Today  I will be meeting with councilor Kerr who is the chair person of the social work committee at Glasgow City Council along with Stephen and Ann from social work Glasgow I hope to discuss and update on my campaign along with discussing the report just finished on my letters by SW Glasgow. I will then be doing a wee talk about caring for my mum, the letters I receive and the people I meet on my tour to social work Glasgow service managers .I hope they like some of the ideas I have on awareness raising and understanding on both Dementia and life as a carer

Tommy

The loneliness that night time brings

Hi

Night times are becoming a bit of a struggle just now, I have only left my house at night 8 times in nearly 3 years (5 of them for talks) I use any hours I have in the daytime to do my talks or try and further my awareness campaign. There is much love in this house but it is involved in a constant battle with sadness. The sadness witnessing all that dementia has brought to my wee mum and sadness at how weak and quiet she is. With the lighter nights you sit behind closed doors hiding away from the laughter and fun you hear as kids run around enjoying summer holidays and the noise of car doors opening and closing as people go out and return home from nights out  or visiting friends .I can never compare my life to  everything my mum is facing ,but its still lonely and it takes all my strength to keep the tears away and from letting it all get to much ,that wont happen my mum needs me and I feel privileged to be able to care for her and know if the tables where reversed how she would had done a much better job  for me than I do for her

Tommy

Meeting with PRTFC Chief Exec Today to discuss some of my projects and ideas on Dementia and Caring

Hi

With thanks to Emma from the PRTFC Scotland for helping arrange a meeting with their Chief Exec to discuss some of the projects and ideas I have been working on.

I look forward to the meeting and hope to get fellow carers involved in some of my projects including my Dementia and Caring through Art along with my hopes to make some more films

i also hope to discuss the motion i have passed at Glasgow City Council

 

Tommy

Meeting team at Dementia Services Development Centre on Monday

Hi

I will be popping in to meet the team who work with professor June Andrews on Monday to discuss some awareness plans I am working on and get some advice .i stopped of there on my walk round Scotland last year and June and I have Kept in touch and we have  met a few times  on radio shows, I have been working on ideas for a new Dementia Awareness film and hope to get the team involved in some way if I get funding and absorb some of their Knowledge

Tommy

It’s raining outside and raining in my heart, but my love and respect for my mum conquers all

Hi  

My wee mum is fast asleep; in fact my mum is drifting in and out of sleep most of the time lately. Its at this time lately that I struggle I feel helpless and sad and having a wee cry at night is becoming a bit of a theme .In amongst this Journey dementia has taken us thorough I have grown so much closer to my mum ,I have always appreciated her greatness ,kindness and care for others and as we all do living our own lives we do that from a distance most times . We have lost our communication as my mum does not speak anymore, yet in some ways our  communication  is stronger than ever ,a squeeze of the hand ,a smile or warmth from the eyes can speak a  thousand words  I  campaign to raise awareness and understanding  and I will keep doing so long after our personal journey has passed but with the best will in the world until we find a cure no help can mend completely the sadness I feel sometimes for all that has happened to the wonderful we woman in the room next to me and to many many  other across the world as we reach this stage  of the Journey ,I would love my mum to tell me she feels safe and understands I love her and I am doing the best I can ,and in many ways her eyes and smile do just that

My wee mum my wee pal

Tommy

My Blog hit the 30,000 views mark today, with great thanks to all who are following my campaign

I am overwhelmed and amazed that my wee blog has hit the 30.000 views mark today so thank to all who follow my wee campaign .imagine if we could add to the hundreds of e mails/ letters I have received, peoples lives in their own words and reach 30.000 life stories thoughts, and opinions people telling their life story in their own words no middle person, straight to decision makers we would then have the story of dementia and caring in the words of families and carers

The campaign to raise awareness goes on, not a protest not a petition, but a Sons dream to bring a better understanding to a wider society on Dementia and Caring

You can send you’re life story, thoughts or opinions to tommy@i-woz-there.com  to help others

Tommy

Popping in to Glasgow South West Carers today to discuss my campaign and motion Glasgow City Council

Hi

I will be popping in to South West Carers today during my 4 hours cover  to discuss my campaign and motion Glasgow City Council and meet with fellow carers and families .With thanks to Shona for inviting me today and for inviting me to  attend  yesterdays talk   by Councilor Matt Kerr about the roll of a carers champion, this was  an informal meeting with Councilor Kerr attending so he can hear carers stories and experiences   I Have met with councilor Kerr (chair person of the social work committee at Glasgow City Council)a few times on my campaign and it was very interesting to hear all he had to say  

Tommy

 

A wee photo of my best pal my wee mum and her big sister

My wee mum ,my best wee pal ,my inspiration to raise awareness  

Dementia. A Couple of Questions for Carers and Families for my motion Glasgow City Council and beyond

Hi

Along with receiving life stories, I am hoping to ask people I meet to answer the couple of questions below ,as I believe Along with raising awareness and tackling the issues we should try and promote models that work in our communities

So I would like to ask the following.

1) What services and supports would make a difference to Carer’s lives where you live?

2) Can you please identify any examples good support that you have received where you live?

I will take the answers to the above questions to local authorities along with my letters and reports (starting with the new cross party group on dementia and carers at Glasgow city council as per my motion passed February)

You can e mail me direct attommy@i-woz-there.com

thank you
Tommy

Happy Birthday Mum 73 year’s great today

Hello

Well it’s my wee mums birthday today and I could write a million words to tell you what great a mum, person she is but its more important I spend the time to celebrate today with her

 So happy birthday Joan Whitelaw ,Daughter, Sister ,Mother ,Grandmother Aunty ,Friend ,Neighbor, Workmate ,Many things to many people but a great wee mum to me

How lucky I am to be Thomas and Joan Whitelaw’s Son  

Tommy    

A day of thinking and thanks for the help received lately to our life living with Dementia

Good Afternoon

Well its been quite a dramatic change to how we live each day lately. a couple of months ago my wee mum had quite a dip in her health, as always on this journey just as we find a routine and way of  getting through each day as best we can ,Dementia decides to move the goalposts and move the goalposts it did ,my wee mum has been mostly confined to bed (although I carried her down the stairs this morning got the new wheelchair ready and walked round the block and got my mum a haircut all part of my mission to face this illness with my mum and all that it brings ,but we have received good help and advice over the last months and I am both grateful and thankful. So with thanks to the District nurses for their attention to detail and for sorting out so quickly the delivery of the hospital bed and wheel chair to our social worker and social worker OT for listening to the changes we face and for helping with a recliner chair ,to the community dentist for the way she checked my mums teeth to my befrienders who are funded by social work and to my local  carer center for listening and funding some extra hours to make up for my mum being unable to attend day care due to her health  and helping us adjust and  allowing me to continue my Awareness campaign . I am a full time carer but I cant do this alone ,so thank you

Tommy  

Speaking at Social work Glasgow Services Managers meeting Friday 20th July

Hi

 there was me saying i was tired but its better to be inspired ,and that what i am after this request  

With thanks To Ann and Lorraine from Social work Glasgow for inviting me to speak at their Services Managers meeting Friday July 20th . SW Glasgow have just completed a report on some of the life stories I receive and I an grateful for the chance to speak about caring for my mum, the letters I receive and my awareness campaign. I have to say I am really appreciative of the time SW have given to the letters and to myself as a carer and campaigner

I also have a meeting with socail work lleads befire the talk

Tommy

,

Just home from meetings tired and time to work out where to go next

Good Afternoon  

I had a couple of meetings today re my awareness campaign during my 5 hours cover and have just returned home, very tired today and as I sit with my mum I have been reflecting on my time caring for my mum ,my mums journey with dementia and my campaign over the last year. I have lots of hopes and dreams and need to find  someone to help me fulfill along with my awareness ambitions so I sign off today with lots to think about and figure out and I hope I can come up with some answers soon. I have a passion and great desire to do the best I can, but is that enough ? Its time to get  my thinking cap on and some rest

Tommy

Attending and speaking at the Life Stories & Older People's Working Group Edinburgh July 30th

Hi 

With thank to Linda Bandelier ,Support Worker: Life’s Stories and Older People’s Working Groups for making contact and inviting me to attend and speak at their meeting on July 30^th through in Edinburgh ,I look forward to attending ,meeting and hearing from families who are part of this group

Here are some details on the group and the work they do

The Older People’s Working Group is the sub-group of the Scottish Storytelling Forum that oversees, develops and promotes storytelling work with older people across Scotland. Reminiscence is at the heart of much that we do and more and more of our work is with groups (care homes, sheltered housing, community groups and day centres) which cater to and support people with dementia. Linda Bandelier

Support Worker: Lifes Stories and Older People’s Working Groups

Scottish Storytelling Centre

43-45 High Street

Edinburgh EH1 1SR

Phone: 0131 556 9579

http://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk/

Inspiring with thanks to Susan, for sending me the link to the film her daughter made about her sister Ashleigh who has Cerebral Palsy

Hi

with thanks and respect to Susan Rebecca and Ashleigh Clark

'Behind the eyes of Ashleigh Clark'

. My daughter, Rebecca, is in her honours year doing TV production. She made a short film about her sister who has cerebral palsy and is always looking for experience. Keep up the great work Tommy!!!!!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGSWEnqe8qAed 'behind the eyes of Ashleigh Clark'

Tommy

Dementia, Collecting life stories, thoughts and opinions, can you add to the collection I take to Government, local Authorities to help raise awareness

Good Morning

Firstly I would like to say massive thanks to all have sent life stories, thoughts and opinions to date. My awareness campaign is still going strong and I am still taking the e mails and letters to decision makers in my hope to raise more understanding on dementia and caring, I have taken the correspondence to Government and local authorities along with reports. I strongly believe our thoughts and opinions in our own words without guidance is the best way to raise awareness and bring more understanding

My passion and campaign is stronger than ever and I would love to hear from families and carers  and add to the amazing collection I already have

You can e mail me direct at tommy@i-woz-there.com

Thank you

Tommy

My hopes to make a new Dementia Awareness film, and Art project, taking some small positive steps this week

Good Morning  

I have been working for a while on the idea of a new awareness film about dementia and caring for a loved one, along with my Dementia through Art project. As a full time carer I do all my awareness raising in the few hours I have each week and with no funding, I have a few meetings set up over the next couple of days in the hope of getting some help to make my hopes and dreams to bring the thoughts and feelings from the letters I receive and people I meet to a wider public with a new film and the Art project. feeling so lonely and isolated over the last years along with not understanding and being misunderstood I feel its important to raise awareness on the understanding on dementia and caring to a wider public. I don’t want anyone to feel the way I and to many other have felt all to often on this journey

Here is hoping

Tommy   

Meeting Mental Health Civil Servants Today

Hi

I will be meeting once again with some of the team who work on Dementia with the Scottish Government, we have met a few times before and we will be discussing my findings on my tour to date and the correspondence I receive. it underlines the importance to me of taking the thoughts and feelings of families like mine .our  own lives in our  words to decision makers . I still strongly believe we as families and carers are best placed to tell the story and bring more understanding to all who will face what we fare facing or have faced dementia and caring for loved one

 Tommy

Recliner chair coming today and I can’t wait to get my mum out the bed and sitting up with proper support

Hi

Well we have a recliner chair coming today, and I can’t wait to get my mum out the bed and sitting up with proper support, with thanks to our OT for her help with this

I have tried since my mum has taken a wee dip in her health and strength a couple of months back a few times to sit my mum up on chairs but it has been with great difficulty and probably not been that good for her so I am looking forward today to the arrival of a chair that will support my mum properly with her needs. As much as the hospital type  bed we had delivered has been a great help ,I just want to get my mum out the bed each day for as long as I can and is good for her .its hard to explain but we hang on to every achievement no matter how little they may seem to others ,they are absolutely massive to us

we have the chair and it makes a big difference to our  day

Tommy

Meeting and speaking with today carers at south west carers center Govan (Quarriers)

Hi

Looking forward to meting and speaking with carers and families from south west carers center (Quarriers) this morning  during my 4 hours cover. I have met with this group before, in fact Gael and one of the carers travelled to parliament with me last November on my first trip to hand over letters, With thanks to Shona for the invite, in fact I will be back there next week to hear councilor Matt Kerr speak about his search for a carers Champion. Councilor Kerr will be seeing a lot of me as many groups have asked me to attend his talks over the next week’s .Looking forward to updating on my progress tomorrow and hearing from families and carers

Tommy