Dementia Carer Voices Jan / Feb Newsletter is now available to read or download

Hi All
please see our Janaury / Febraury Newsletter available to download via the link HERE

Thanks for reading my blog, You can now view my 8 short flims here! http://tommy-on-tour-2011.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/my-mums-name-was-joan-this-is-our-story.html

Guest Post -. Joan Pons Laplana writes about Raising Awareness Funds for Cavell Trust - It can happen to any of us

Hi 

This weeks guest Post is from me great friend the inspiring Joan Pons Laplana @thebestjoan 

It can happen to any of us........

We've had the biggest financial crash in history, austerity and over five years of pay stagnation for public sector have made that benevolent funds have seen a steady increase in nurses seeking financial aid and even help with basic necessities in recent years. A lot of Nurses, Midwives and HCA are only one pay cheque away from poverty.

Patient centered care is my passion but to be able to do that we need to feel supported. The patient health and well-being is influenced by the clinician well-being that is interacting with. Happy clinicians=Happy patients.

For that reason I’ve decided that I needed to do something about it. I have decided to join forces with Cavell Trust. Like Cavell Trust, I want no current or former nurse, midwife or healthcare assistant to suffer hardship. It’s a cause that is very close to my heart. 

Cavell Trust gives support to nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants (HCAs) and students who are in financial or personal hardship, often because of illness, domestic abuse, disability, working poverty and older age

Read Pamela’s story here: https://www.cavellnursestrust.org/your-support-in-action/pamelas-story

The sad thing is that it can happen to any of us.

For that reason I decided to step up and help. Next 29^th May I will be running the Liverpool Marathon but I will be doing it with a twist. I will be tweeting live while running and I want to invite you to run with me and be part of the Tweetathon. You can follow my progress on the day via my tweeter account @thebestjoan.

I will be tweeting a fact about Edith Cavell and the amazing work that Cavell Trust does every mile and in between I will be interacting with whoever join me virtually via tweeter. I hope to see you there cheering me on.

Meantime, please consider a donation to support nurses, midwives and HCA. Any amount of money will help someone in crisis, however small.

• £3 - pays for a day's heating for a nurse struggling with fuel poverty
• £8 - pays for a taxi fare to hospital for a midwife undergoing chemotherapy
• £40 - provides winter clothing for a healthcare assistant and her child facing hardship this winter

Please donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/tweetathon

Or simply grab your mibile phone and text “CAVE67 £3” to 70070.

Your donation can be the difference between survival and destitution for a nurse in crisis.

From the bottom of my heart, a big    

     THANK YOU

Thanks for reading my blog, You can now view my 8 short flims here! http://tommy-on-tour-2011.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/my-mums-name-was-joan-this-is-our-story.html

Emergency Plans Prevent Emergencies Becoming Crises

Good Morning :)

This weeks guest blog post comes from Gillian Reid, Senior Project Manager at Enable Scotland.  Gillian met one of our ALLIANCE colleagues recently at the Cross Party Group on Carers and we got in touch for her to write a piece for our blogs .  Lets see what Gillian has to tell us about emergency planning for carers..

Enable Scotland staff and carers visit Joan Mcalpine MSP at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to celebrate positive amendments being made to the Scotland Bill for Carers.
back row: Gillian Reid, Senior project manager, Joan McAlpine MSP, Salman Amin, Project worker, Kelly Munro, Project worker
picture by Alex Hewitt
alex.hewitt@gmail.com
07789 871 540

Supporting carers to make emergency plans can help to reduce the anxiety that carers feel about the potential unplanned circumstances which can prevent them from carrying out their caring role. We know that carers will focus on the health and wellbeing of the person they care for; sometimes to the detriment of their own. Preparing an emergency plan can provide peace of mind for carers as an assurance that the person they care for will be looked after in their absence.

An emergency plan is a written document which sets out the practical arrangements for short term circumstances when the main, unpaid carer is unavailable. An emergency means different things to different people. Often the word ‘emergency’ conjures up images of flashing lights and the involvement of the emergency services but it needn’t be that dramatic. It is the potential impact of the situation on the carer and the person they care for which determines whether or not it is an emergency.

Carer 1 is delayed due to her car breaking down. Her son is due home at 3pm and it is already 2.50pm. Carer 1, however, knows that her son will be safe at home for an hour or two on his own. She will need to be home, or arrange for someone else to be there, by 5pm as her son receives medication and needs his meals prepared for him. This is apotential emergency.

Carer 2 is on the bus home when it breaks down. Carer 2 provides round the clock care for her mum who has dementia. The befriender is with her mum for two hours to allow the carer to pop to the shops. The befriender is due to leave in 15 minutes. The carer will not be home in time. This is an immediate emergency for Carer 2 and her mum.

Carer 3 is delayed on a train home from work due to a signalling failure. His wife is at a physiotherapy appointment and he must pick her up from the hospital as she cannot travel independently. He has no mobile phone signal. Carer 3 and his wife have an emergency plan so the hospital knows who to call when they cannot reach him. A family friend steps in and picks his wife up from the hospital. The emergency plan prevents the emergency from becoming a crisis.

The process of emergency planning encourages carers to identify informal networks of support around the person they care for. Carers are urged to talk to their family, friends and neighbours about emergency planning. These conversations will include what care and support the person needs, who can help out and for how long. The detail is then written into a plan which is read and signed by everyone who is named in the plan. The plan should then be shared with relevant individuals and its location within the household should be known. Only by sharing the plan can it be put into action in an emergency situation.

Last week , the Carers (Scotland) Bill was passed by MSPs. This new legislation was amended at Stage 2 to give carers the right to emergency planning conversations as part of the Adult Carer Support Plan and Young Carer Statement process. Furthermore, information and advice about emergency planning must be made available to carers through the localised Information and Advice Services.

ENABLE Scotland has been working with the government on these amendments. Our Picking up the Pieces project is funded by the government to increase and facilitate access to emergency planning for carers across the country. Emergency planning is relevant to all carers irrespective of their age or the health condition of the person they care for. We want to make sure all carers are thinking about emergency planning and being offered the support they need to prepare an emergency plan. As such, we have developed new resources to help carers to make their own emergency plan.

The Emergency Planning Toolkit takes carers on a journey – from thinking about why they might need an emergency plan, through the discussions with emergency contacts, the detail required about the person they care for and, finally, who to share the plan with. The Toolkit has been designed to support carers with this process in their own time, at their own pace. This Toolkit can also be used by professionals as a framework for emergency planning discussions with carers.

We have also developed an Emergency Plan template which carers can populate once all of their emergency planning discussions have taken place and a handy guide – ‘The Who, What and Why of Emergency Planning’ is a useful introduction to the process.

All of these resources can be downloaded atwww.enable.org.uk/emergencyplanning. They will shortly be available to download in Polish, Urdu and Cantonese.

The Picking up the Pieces team are also offering emergency planning training to all frontline staff who regularly work with carers.

If you would like hard copies of the resources, more information on emergency planning or Picking up the Pieces or if you are interested in booking a training course in your area please contact Gillian Reid, Senior Project Manager on 01698 737124 /gillian.reid2@enable.org.uk

Thanks for reading my blog, You can now view my 8 short flims here! http://tommy-on-tour-2011.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/my-mums-name-was-joan-this-is-our-story.html

Monday Speaking Papworth Hospital Dementia Strategy Launch

Hi
With great thanks to
Teresa Stephens| Executive Assistant to Director of Nursing,Josie Rudman – Director of Nursing,Maura Screaton – Deputy Director of Nursing,Matron Anne White ,Members of the Patient Experience Group Papworth Hospital for the kind invite to speak at the hospitals new Dementia Strategy Launch on Monday February 22nd
I have also been kindly invited to take part in some group chats over the day 
Thank you to all for the kind invite and I look forward to meeting everyone on the day  

Thanks for reading my blog, You can now view my 8 short flims here! http://tommy-on-tour-2011.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/my-mums-name-was-joan-this-is-our-story.html

Can you help with our Manifesto for Change ?

Can You Help with our Manifesto for change ?

Can you help with why the below might be important in a couple of sentences for our Manifesto 

' Publish a Carers Rights Charter setting out and consolidating existing rights and what statutory bodies need to do to support carers'

please can you e mail me at tommy@alliance-scotland.org.uk with any comments 

Roughly 4 in 10 people in Scotland live with at least one long term condition. That means there are 2 million experts in the things that keep them happy, healthy and well.

With this in mind, the ALLIANCE has launched its manifesto for health and social care in Scotland ahead of the Scottish parliamentary elections. The manifesto sets out our key campaign priorities, some of which include:

     Creating a Scottish Minister for Long Term Conditions, Disability and Unpaid Carers post

·        Create a Commissioner for Scotland representing people with long term conditions, disabled people and unpaid carers post

·  Publish a Carers Rights Charter setting out and consolidating existing rights and what statutory bodies need to do to support carers

A new website, contains full details of the manifesto and personal testimonies from ALLIANCE members on each of the ‘asks’. Have your say on the ALLIANCE manifesto today and make your voice heard.

Thanks for reading my blog, You can now view my 8 short flims here! http://tommy-on-tour-2011.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/my-mums-name-was-joan-this-is-our-story.html

3 Talks HairMyers Hospital March 9th

Hi 

With great thanks to Mairi-Louise Houldsworth STAG Local Co-ordinator HairMyers Hospital NHS Lanarkshire on March 9th

The three talks will take place in the Boardroom Commencing at 09:30am with two sessions and finally at the OPAH meeting at 13:30pm 

A massive thank you to Mairi and all the team for the invite and opportunity 

Speaking Queens Hospital BHRUT Feb 24th

                          

Hi 

With great thanks to Jo Barrett | Specialty Manager Care of the Elderly, Barking Havering and Redbridge Hospitals University Trust for the kind invite to speak at the education center Queens Hospital on February 25th 5:30pm

I have had the great honor to speak at the trust before and feel very honored to be invited back 

Tommy 

Speaking Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Annual Nursing Conference March 2nd

With great thanks to Zoe Rowe Acting Director of Nursing & Quality And Associate Director of Nursing & Quality , Kath Burke and Pete Rochford  for the kind invite to speak at the  Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Annual Nursing Conference March 2nd 

I am very honored to be invited and look forward to meeting everyone on the day 


you can get more info on the event below 

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Annual Nursing Conference

Wednesday 2nd March 2016 at Lincolnshire Showground

We are pleased to confirm that our 2016 Annual Nursing Conference will be held on Wednesday 2 March 2016 at the Epic Centre, Lincolnshire Showground.

Building on the success of the last few years, this year will concentrate on safety and involvement in our services.

We have once again invited a wide range of speakers, including a senior representative from the Royal College of Nursing; professionals from other industries and experts by experience.

The following keynote speakers have confirmed their involvement:

• JP Nolan, Head of Nursing Practice at the Royal College of Nursing
• Trevor Dale, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Atrainability 
• Tommy Whitelaw, Dementia Carer Campaigner - 'Tommy on Tour' 

As well as our keynote speakers there will also be a wide range of workshops to choose from, led by our own LPFT professionals.

Concurrent Session 1

Maternal mental health matters
Stephanie Hodds, Team Coordinator Perinatal Services & Wendy Summerton, Perinatal Community Mental Health Nurse

Autism ChampionsCatherine Keay, Autism & Physical Healthcare CQUIN Lead

Physical Healthcare
Angela Billings, Head of Physical Healthcare and Infection Prevention Control & Jane Lord, Associate Matron and Infection Prevention Control Lead

Q&A with Director of Nursing & Quality
Anne-Maria Olphert, Director of Nursing & Quality

Concurrent Session 2

‘Sharing the Journey together’ (Recovery College & peer support)
Emma Bristow, Recovery College Coordinator & Jane Tuxworth, Trust Lead Occupational Therapist

Physical Healthcare
Angela Billings, Head of Physical Healthcare and Infection Prevention Control & Jane Lord, Associate Matron and Infection Prevention Control Lead

Suicide prevention strategy and risk tool
Mark Halsall, Head of Quality and Safety

Q&A with Director of Nursing & Quality
Anne-Maria Olphert, Director of Nursing & Quality

The conference is open to all members of LPFT staff, but we particularly encourage people in nursing and healthcare support worker roles to join us.

When completing the booking form you will be asked when which concurrent sessions you would like to attend and these will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Some workshops will have limited spaces available.

If you have any queries please contact us via the event hotline on 01332 224503

Thanks for reading my blog, You can now view my 8 short flims here! http://tommy-on-tour-2011.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/my-mums-name-was-joan-this-is-our-story.html

Speaking NHS United Lincolnshire Hospitals March 1st

Hi

With Great thanks to With great thanks to Pauline Pratt @pmjp97  Associate Director Portfolio Improvement/Assistant Director of Nursing at ULHT, and  Samantha MacCarthy @mccarthy_ph  for the kind invite to speak at NHS United Lincolnshire Hospitals @ULHTNews   on March 1st

The talk will be in the  Conference  room, Robey House.  ULHT at 3:30pm staff can contact Sam to book a place,All are welcome

I had the great privilege to speak at ULHT last year at a Conference Sam organised and look forward to returning and and meeting more inspiring people


you can read about last years conference below along with the inspiring pledges made on that day

Thank You Pauline,Sam and all at ULHT for the kind opportunity to return

tommy

                               

  

With great thanks to Samantha  MacCarthy @mccarthy_ph for the kind invite to speak at Embedding Compassion in Practice at the New life Centre Sleaford Lincolnshire on April 15th. The event was truly inspiring and we are very privileged to have received so many wonderful pledges, which we are displaying with pride below.

 

A BIG thank you to Sam for putting this event together to Claire for the kind introduction to Pauleen, Paul, Joan and all for the great kindness support and inspiring pledges. We can make a difference!

Team DCV :)

I pledge to treat each person as an individual and make time to learn their story.  To encourage carers relatives to share information including this is me documentation – Rebecca Pridmore

 I pledge to listen and learn from cares of people with dementia.  That I will always try my best, no matter how hard it maybe.  To be your voice when you are unable to speak yourself, with kindness and dignity – Kelly Richmond

 I pledge to treat each person as an individual and a human being, to ease their burden, feel their pain, hear their woes and dry their eyes.  Where God doesn’t hear their cries, May I – Vince Rippin

 I have become a dementia friend.  I pledge to take time to listen, to the person, family, friends and carers to be able to help care and have a better understanding of the individual their likes needs and wants –Lisa Norris

 I pledge to listen, to encourage staff I come in contact with via training to be the hand on the shoulder, to make a difference.  Remember the little things matter.

 I pledge to always make sure I say hello who I was and speak to the patient and the family.  Always ask the patient questions first then ask the family – Josie Lee

 I pledge to continue to realise that the appointment that patient and their carer has with me, maybe the only other contact they have with the outside world that week.  I will take the time to listen to them –Sam Rea

 I pledge to listen and share their stories so others can learn and enhance care they deliver – Paul Jebb

 I pledge to keep caring and following the 6Cs.  I do this already and cannot understand anyone working in a caring setting that doesn’t automatically do that.

 I pledge to continue to provide excellent dementia care and encourage others to do the same.

 I pledge to listen, digest and act! – Ben Waring

 I pledge to take the time to listen and hear what is being asked of me and endeavour to ensure person and family leave me in a better place than when they met me – Pete Rochford

 I pledge to be kind and more supportive to the patient and their carers.

 I pledge to talk to the patient and carer with patience and clarity.  Treat them both with respect and dignity and do my utmost to make their experience as pleasant as possible – Tina Dale

I pledge to use 6Cs

 I pledge to remember that everyone has a story and to make sure I listen to it – Claire Kent

 I pledge that I will actively listen and give that friendly reassuring smile, hand on shoulder or gesture to show I care.

 I pledge to give them more time to listen and to find out more about them (there background) and history – Clare Warne

 I pledge to listen and find out there stories – Robert McKendry

 I pledge to care.  To listen. To be there when they need someone.  To reach out to someone who needs help.  To treat everyone the same way I would want to be treated – Tina Smith

 I pledge I will take more time to listen and try my best to understand.  I will also try and make a positive difference to each of my patient’s day.  I will continue to implement the 6Cs within my practice –Amber Mulcahy

 My pledge is to leave a positive impression on the patients and carers in my care.  I pledge to make people feel like I truly care – Kimberly

 I pledge to ensure that all my staff have an understanding of dementia. That patient’s and carers feels safe on my war – Jo McCall

 I pledge to continue to give of my time, caring and understanding.  I have to believe always in my mind there but for the grace of god I treat others how I would like to be treated.

 My pledge to people with dementia and their carers is to take the time to listen, ask questions reassure the people involved and offer support to give encouragement.  To keep regular contact – Abi Lilley

 I pledge to take the time to learn the lives and values of my patients. Their daily struggeles and what I can do to make even one day better – Bernadette Hughes

 I pledge to hear their story, try to have time to listen. Try to make a difference everyday. Ask carers how they are doing as well as the patients – Angie Judd

 I pledge to complete a ‘Life Story’ for every dementia sufferer and heir family/carers that I work with as previously done this and I found it to be very beneficial for all involved including myself – Stacey Ford 

  I pledge that I will always try to remember that the person I am caring    for had a ‘different’ life before their dementia (a job, hobbies, children). I    will try to support their family/carers by asking if they need any  support/help, anything I can help with, I will talk to them and their loved  one about everyday things other than their illness/situation – Julia Grigg

I pledge to always LISTEN!!

I pledge to always introduce myself, and communicate with the patient on a level that they understand, I will give the carers as much help and advice as I possibly can. I pledge to always try and make my patients be the best they can possibly be – Jamie Denman.

I pledge that I will continue to offer support groups to patient relatives I see in my day to day work. Open new groups to reduce that feeling of isolation, fear and guilt. Continue as a Dementia Champion – Mary Pickland

 I pledge to truly ‘listen’ and ‘consider’ other people’s feelings, needs, expectation of me. I refuse to be distracted by other things… I WANT to be the person who is remembered – Kay Gilman

 I pledge to make the ‘all about me’ patient held booklet a must have for everyone that wants and needs one. Know the person behind the condition. ILLNESS – replace I with WE = WELLNESS – Pauline Mountain.

 I pledge to speak to my mum and dad (who has early onset dementia) and to my uncle and family who look after my other uncle who has vascular dementia, more regularly – Alf.

 I pledge to continue being my smiling self, talking to the patient as an individual and finding out their stories. Supporting their family and ensuring I take the time to listen and ensure they have everything they need – Claire Cole.

 I will treat that person with respect and compassion. They should not be defined by dementia, they have an identity and a life. My granddad has severe vascular dementia and us (the family) fought and fought for him to get the care he deserves. At the same time my nan was dying from cancer so we cared for her also. I will always fight for those who need that voice and will never stop till the day I die! My granddad deserved better!! – Mandy Davis

 My pledge is to remember that we are all part of the human family and that we all care and understand issues. That we belong to this earth as a tribe that we all need support, care, love and understanding – Gena Chapman

 I pledge to be the listening ear, the gentle hug, the kind words, the gentle smile. The person you can sound off at and tell your troubles to. I want to be there for the carers who devote their lives to the ones they love, day in and day out – Doreen Johnson

 I pledge to promote dementia awareness, care, compassion to ensure communication is a vital part of the care needs and history information, finding out about the patients to enhance good practice on the ward – Tracy Johns

 My pledge is to take the time to listen to patients and carers, to make a difference to their life. When I am busy and feel there isn’t the time, make time. 5 minutes could make all the difference – Sharon Baker

‘I pledge to be kind’

‘I pledge to apply 6Cs – smile – be kind –be helpful’

‘I pledge to make a new member of the team welcome by showing them around the department and explaining the daily routine’

‘I pledge to give as much help/information to a new member on their first day as possible’

‘I pledge to –smile – apply 6C’s – Listen – Understand new members background – to be helpful in anyway I can – to be kind’

‘I pledge to smile and be welcoming and to also offer support and help where I can if they need it J’

‘I pledge to be friendly & treat them with respect.  Ensure they have support  & guidance to do their job effectively.’

‘I pledge to offer some extra time to new members of staff and students to ensure they feel welcome and show them around the building & team’

‘I pledge to show agency staff around the building’

‘I pledge to ensure an agency worker is welcomed and not ignored.  I pledge to let them feel part of the team as they arrive.’

‘I will continue to support all staff that I meet with the upmost respect and be mindful of their problems and supportive of their needs’

‘I pledge to be supportive, helpful and encouraging’

‘Be more supportive & understanding.  Provide information & guidance,’

‘I pledge to be more supportive’

‘I pledge persiverance’

‘I pledge to introduce them to staff, self and show them around the hospital.  Be welcoming. Make sure they have all they need/require to carry out their role’

‘I pledge to carry on’

‘I pledge to make agency staff feel part of the team & support the hello my name is… campaign’

‘I pledge to support the hello my name is… campaign’

‘I pledge to always be mindful & make everyone feel wanted & appreciated’

‘I pledge to see the person and always say thank you’

‘I pledge to make agency staff feel welcome, say hello an dmake them feel part of the team’

‘I pledge to ensure I am welcoming and approachable for all’

‘I pledge to smile and welcome new staff and make sure they know you are their buddy for the shift’

‘I pledge to treat new staff as you would want to be treated yourself’

‘I pledge I will be welcoming & supportive to all’

‘I pledge to introduce myself & smile J’

‘I pledge to find out about new staff e.g name, where they are from, background to make them feel welcome onto the ward and part of the team’

‘I pledge to help and support and agency staff that come onto my ward.  During the shift I will ask if they are ok or need anything’

‘I will make all new staff feel more welcome’

‘I pledge to introduce myself, ask who the new person is an welcome them to the ward.’

‘I pledge to treat Agency staff as I would wish to be treated myself if I was in their position.  Using the 6Cs model’

‘I pledge to smile, be welcoming use hello my name is, to be helpful and to say thank you!’

‘I promise to remember how I felt when I started, and to treat them as I would like to be treated.’

‘I pledge to support hello my name is campaign…’

‘I pledge to be nice, welcoming friendly  introduce myself to all new staff/agency’

‘I pledge to be more welcoming & supportive’

‘To be helpful & show new staff round and treat them as I would any other member of my team also to thank them for their help’

‘I pledge to thank others as I would wish to be treated myself’

‘I pledge to introduce myself to every new member of agency staff’

‘I pledge to say hello and introduce myself to new staff and introduce them to the rest of the team’

‘I pledge to be welcoming and friendly and to support my colleagues in any way that I can’

‘I pledge to always introduce myself, show people around the ward, show people where everything is, introduce them to all the patients and always say thank you at the end of the day.’

‘I pledge to always smile & say hello, to introduce myself and encourage staff to ask me for help’

‘I pledge to always smile and to be courteous, and to empathise with the member of staff.’

‘I pledge to always be welcoming’

‘I pledge to be welcoming and helpful’

‘I pledge to remember the  6Cs are not just for patients they are for staff also – ‘happy staff makes happy patient’ Be kind to each other’

‘I pledge next time an agency staff comes to work in my department I will say ‘hello my name is….  And welcome to our department’’

‘I pledge to allocate time to get to know staff members and buddy with them as a source of support’

‘To welcome and listen to the individual who joins our team’

‘I pledge to make bank/agency staff welcome by being friendly and helpful’

‘I pledge to support hello my name is campaign…’

 ‘I pledge that next time I work with an agency staff member I will support them in any way I can’

‘I pledge to be welcoming to new/bank staff and to orientate to the routine 7 department on arrival’

‘I pledge to induct new/bank/agency staff, make them a drink, show them around, check on them and support them during their shift’

‘I pledge to introduce myself and say welcome’

‘I pledge to always smile & welcome staff and to find out the story behind the person before anything else’

‘I pledge to remember to think about ‘one team’ no matter how long they have been together’

‘I pledge to listen, Learn & share, to learn from experiences, strengthen the tram to support all.  The patient is a person #LincsCiP ~6Cs’

‘I pledge to ensure to provide a personal touch, to make every person I meet feel they valued and appreciated.  To provide time for them without feeling rushed’

‘I pledge to expand my own evidence base & that of my team in order to deliver the best care for my patients & people in our care #empowerment #evidence #makeadifference #6cs