Just one of those days ,

Hello

The last few weeks have been incredibly and thankfully busy .I have had  talks or meetings just about every day for the last 3 or 4 weeks (months really ) ,on a few occasions a couple talks in the same day

I kind of caught up with myself  today and it has been quite a sad day ,the truth is I just miss my wee pal ,it was just mum and me for the last years , facing all that dementia and caring brings ,the good days ,the hard days ,the happy days the sad days ,but always managing to pick each other up when times where hard

That was my wee mum to a tee ,even till the end that smile ,the stroke of the hand and on the days when I thought we can't do this this is to hard ,my mum changed it and propped me up to carry on .
And not even for her it was for me to make sure her big boy got through this even if she would not

It's been a tearful day today thinking back to chance missed and things that could have been better
And that's the thing that stands out the happy days are never as happy and the sad days are so sad it hurts .sitting here alone just now feeling sorry and sad would never have lasted as long as it has today ,my wee mum would had changed that with a knowing smile or a stroke of the hand

I just miss you mum ,I miss you so very much


Tommy

Speaking mental health students Dundee University June 4th

Hi

With great thanks to mike Ramsay lecturer on mental Health at Dundee Universty for inviting me to speak to mental health students on June 4th .I will also be speaking to nursing , mental health and social care students there over September and October ,but an opportunity has arose today due to a cancellation and I have very quickly offered to step in

I happen to be in Dundee that morning to meet with the Care inspectorate so seems like it was meant to be

Thank Mike and all connected to the universtiy for the invite

Tommy

For the love of mum -8 months ago today my mum Joan Whitelaw Passed away

Today will be 8 months since mum passed away and in many ways the prison sentence we felt towards the end continues, but now it continues alone.  We became prisoners of Dementia in our home, were we were isolated from society in many ways.

Some people say time is a great healer; I just don't believe them I really don't.  Time just gives me too much time to think, I try to keep as busy as I can increasing my awareness work started, which from this house whilst caring for mum.  But that's where it stops every other hour is a return to isolation and it’s hard to break that and that's what we faced, how we lived for many years

My social skills seem non-existent and I can stand in a crowded room and speak from my heart about the greatness of my mum, the challenges we faced, the joy in her smile, the pain in my heart, the strength mum gave me and the helplessness I felt I don't seem to know anything else.

As hard it was my wee mum always made it better, that's the greatness of mums they make sure their children are OK and even if they are no longer children and supposed adults like me.  That's what I miss, her friendship, smile, kindness, strength and love.  I most certainly do not miss Dementia not the last years, no not this son.

I miss her love as she became my best wee pal even though I used to have so many, as mum did also.  But Dementia, loneliness and isolation took their place.  I suppose I just might be feeling sorry for myself tonight in this house that no longer feels like a home, but I will get up tomorrow to keep my promise to my mum to raise awareness a promise for the love of mum.

Tommy

my filmed interview caring for mum - Acute services nhsgg&c ,our story

Please see below the link to my filmed interview for acute services training nhsgg&c

Caring for mum our story 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36_Y_3y0yXM



With great thanks and respect to Dan Harley and Con Gillespie

I was interviewed as part of a DVD on caring about life caring for my wonderful mum Joan Whitelaw

 Link to  My filmed interview caring for mum , acute service training http://t.co/JCCONYwgmY nhsgg&c #formum #dementia 

Dear Tommy,

I wanted to update you with more information about the launch of the Patients’ Stories Library films including your interview.

The Patients’ Stories Library DVD for NHS hospital staff will be launched during Carers week (10-16^th June 2013). It will be comprised of 5 films including your interview and a film where Rory Farrelly explains what it is that we are trying to achieve through the use of patients’ stories as a way of learning how we can provide an even better service.

We plan to have a set of linked communication activities in the lead up to and during Carers week and distribution of DVD discs will take place before then to fit in with the timing. Your film will also be used by our Acute Health Improvement Team as part of an information display on the theme of carers that will tour several acute hospitals sites.

Many thanks again for your contribution to this,

Best wishes,

Dan

Dan Harley

Report ALLIANCE Scotland Conference Being Human a human rights based approach to health and social care Scotland

Hi 

please see below the link to the ALLIANCE Scotland report on their annual conference   "Being Human a human rights based approach to health and social care Scotland "

Dementia carer voices had a workshop at the conference you can read more at the link below

thank s to all involved for a wonderful day and to Andrew and the team for producing and sharing the report at the link below 

tommy   

: http://www.alliance-scotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/2013/05/alliance-annual-conference-2013-being-human-event-report-published/

Thank you thirdforcenews.org.uk for the article

TOMMY WHITELAW: Care campaigner, Tommy on Tour

BACKCHAT — BY SSMITH ON 16/05/2013 10:18 PM 

IT’S the letters that mean most to me. They tell stories of the people behind an illness that eventually took over their lives. But the letters are all memories and it is those memories I’ll fight to preserve.

Tommy on Tour started after my own mum, Joan Whitelaw, was diagnosed with vascular dementia about six years ago. I was a merchandiser for some of the world’s biggest rock bands and spent most of my time abroad. But when I came home from tour one day to see my mum, as I never failed to do, my whole life changed.

Diagnosed with dementia, she needed full-time care. Those five years were tough, the worst of my life but when she died in September last year I reflected on what a wonderful person she was, a person who created memories for us all that an illness could never erase.

Tommy on Tour is about raising awareness for dementia and to preserve the memory of people like my mum and to support the people who care for loved ones. For five years I felt isolated. I didn’t know what help was out there or who to turn to and often it felt like a battle.

So I give talks in schools, in care homes, in universities and to MSPs across Scotland raising awareness and saying that you don’t have to be alone. My message is simple: this army of carers in Scotland are worthy of support but are desperate for it at the same time.

In some ways this campaign is my own therapy and a catharsis too. People get in touch to tell me how my story inspired them to seek help or how by realising others are in a similar position, they are not isolated.

When I go home at night, to the house I shared with my mum, that’s when the loneliness is worst. It makes me think of other carers and how they cope. I just want to tell them they might feel alone but they are not. There are thousands of others in Scotland who can empathise and understand their situation.

www.tommy-on-tour-2011.blogspot.co.uk

No related content found.

My mums name was Joan Whitelaw - the awareness campaign goes on # dementia

My mother’s name was Joan Whitelaw. She was born on the 15th of July 1939. She had been: a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a friend, a workmate, a neighbour, a valued member of her community, and a true, honest and dignified lady.
Like so many others of the 86,000 people across Scotland, however, she was labelled as ‘a wee woman with dementia,’ a condition we, at this time, have no cure for. As a result she was written off, given no value and most certainly not given the respect and care she deserved.
Six years ago, I walked out of a hospital with my mum after her diagnosis of dementia and we walked out alone, with no support. At another critical moment on our journey, an evaluation of mum’s condition and medication, we were told “there’s not much more we can do” and “it’s time to consider residential care.” Again, we left alone.
We were alone for much of our tragic journey and for this reason I am committed to raising awareness of the impact of dementia on families, and the vital role played by carers, so that nobody else in Scotland should have to go through the caring journey experiencing the loneliness and isolation that I did.
Finally, I would like take this opportunity to thank all of the carers, families, and carers’ centres who have inspired and supported me over the course of my awareness raising campaign.

tommyontour: Poem for MUM ,Thank You Abby for inspiring a Son ...

tommyontour: Poem for MUM ,Thank You Abby for inspiring a Son ...: I had the privilege of speaking to mental health students at Caledonian  university last week .I have been both inspired and in tears at the...

Launching 2 films -carers & dementia awareness week June 2013

Hi

I will be in two new films being launched June 10th & 13th 2013 to coincide with carers week and dementia awareness week

Film 1

Launch June 10th

This is part of nhsgg&c patients stories ,I was interview about caring for my magnificent mum Joan ,this film is part of a set of 4 for acute services training  .With thanks to nhsgg&c community engagement team especially Dan Harley and Con  Gillespie   


link to interview 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36_Y_3y0yXM
http://tommy-on-tour-2011.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/our-story-part-of-patients-story.html


Film 2

Launch date June 13th

This film "IT OK  TO ASK " is a partnership with nhsgg&c -chp ,GCC ,alliance Scotland and service partners .I took the idea to Peters Daniles and Jill Carson from Nhsgg&c -chp and its based in part on my own experience caring and from the letters I receive

The film will go in a booklet  the GCC pathways services to GPs across Glasgow for carers and on partners websites ,with thanks to the above along with the steering group including Ann CUmmings ,VIv Paterson (SW Glasgow) Cathie Beatie (Alz Scotland ) and the amazing carers who shared thier stories in order to help others

http://tommy-on-tour-2011.blogspot.com/2013/04/friday-more-filming-its-ok-to-ask-carer.html
I do a wee voice over to tell the story and introduction to the carer stories

Tommy

Today meeting GCC dementia working group as per my motion

 Hi

The 3^rd meeting of the Glasgow City council cross party dementia working group as per my motion passed last February .I look forward to meeting all who attend ,this motion was passed on the life stories I received from families living with or caring for a loved one with dementia

You can get involved by sending your thoughts, opinions or life story to tommy@i-woz-there.com  our lives our words can help others

Tommy   

MOTION

Council recognises the inspirational efforts of Tommy Whitelaw in raising awareness of the issues effecting the carers and families of people suffering from Dementia through his “Tommy on Tour” campaign

Council agrees to set-up a Cross Party Working Group to engage with carers and to ensure that the services provided to carers are appropriate to the needs of the carers and those suffering from Dementia and that the Working Group’s findings be presented by Council to the Scottish Government.

Moved by

Councillor John Flanagan

Seconded by

Councillor David McDonald

I have been invited to be the Carers Representative on this group.  there will be a representative from each party, Head of Social Work, Alzheimer Scotland and the North Dementia Forum among-st others 

ITINERARY January – June 2013 mid term report

ITINERARY January – June 2013

Blog/Twitter/Facebook

·       My blog gets 9500 hits per month sitting on 101, 000 views at the moment.

·       My film on a separate server has had nearly 40,000 views.

·       The story of my campaign, my film and blog is now on 30 sites across the world.

·       I have had articles in most national newspapers and have received hundreds of life stories to date.

Update on where I am at since receiving funding at the beginning of 2013:

January 4th – Meeting with Glasgow Carer Champion Dr Christopher Mason at Alliance office.

January 7th - Article on campaign STV local.

January 9th - Meeting with Samantha Flowers re Art project then with Councillor Kerr re Carer Engagement.

January 10th - Attending Dementia Dialogue event Paisley (a discussion on Scotland’s Dementia Strategy).

January 15th - Meeting with Emma PRTFC.

 January 16th - Meeting Prof Debbie Tolson UWS.

January 17th - AM speaking at RAD Directorate Victoria Infirmary to assistant charge nurses then through to Parliament to meet CAB sec for health Alex Neil 1pm. Also meeting later with Jackson Carlaw (Con) 2:30pm.  Jim Hume (Lib Dem) 2pm and Jackie Baillie 4pm.

January 21st - AM meeting Linda Pollok carers.

January 22nd - PM meeting Daniel NHS Community Engagement Team.

January 22nd - Meeting Jim Pearson Alzheimer Scotland.

January 24th - Attending GNEC meeting.

January 30th - Meeting re Carer Engagement Film City Chambers with NHS GG*C CHP.

January 31st - Meeting art in the Gart.

  

February 2nd - Speaking at Healthcare Conference Biggar via Jim Hume Lib – dem Healthcare spokesperson.

February 3rd - Time TBC interview with Sally Magnuson BBC radio Scotland re- Aired.

February 5th - Meeting Baillieston Community Carer.

February 6th - Meeting carers Alzheimer Scotland South Ayrshire Carer Group.

February 11th - Meeting Gail Glasgow South - West Carers. 

February 15th – Speaking at Caledonian University 3rd year mental health students.

February 15th - TTBC meeting Carer Engagement Film.

February 18th - Meeting CAB (Morning).

February 18th - Meeting at Cardonald College re talks.

February 19th - Speaking at South Ayrshire Carer’s Dementia Awareness Day.

February 20th – Speaking to 1st year mental health nursing student’s Caledonian University.

February 21st - Attending Carers Link Milngavie.

February 21st - Meeting new Carer Engagement Film – “ITS OK TO ASK”.

February 22nd – Scottish Dementia Working Group Glasgow City Council 2nd meeting as per my motion passed. 

February 26th - Stand at Murryfield via Prof June Andrews.

February 26th - Meeting Prof Debbie Tolson re book.

March 2nd - Attending Dementia Dialogue Event.

March 3rd - Attending GCU healthcare event.

March 4th - Meeting Care Inspectorate.

March 5th - Speaking at Cardonald College.

March 5th - Speaking at Sothern General Hospital.

March 7th - Attending Steering Group Art in the Gart.

March 8th - Conference at City Chambers NHS GG*C caring for older people.

March 11th - Speaking Cardonald College.

March 12th - Speaking Caledonian University.

March 13th - Attending Human Rights Conference GCU.

March 14th - Speaking at Lockerbie Carer’s Dementia Group.

March 15th - Speaking at Ayr College Mental Health Students.

March 20th - Members Debate at Scottish Parliament Dementia Carer Voices. 

March 21st - Attending with stand SDRCN Conference Stirling.

March 22nd - Speaking at SDRCN Conference Stirling also having stand.

March 26th - Filming “it’s OK to ask”

March 27th - Filming “it’s OK to ask”

March 28th – Speaking at Reid Kerr College. 

April 1st - Re –airing BBC interview with Sally Magnusson.

April 3rd - Filming interview NHSGG&C Community Engagement team - A case study caring for mum.

April 4th – Attending/Speaking at event N/Ayrshire Dementia support services.

April 9th 16th 23rd 30th - Speaking to staff Southern General Hospital.

April 10th - Meeting mental Health civil servants office. 

April 12th - Meeting David Roxburgh in Ayr.

April 19th – Morning speaking Alzheimer Show London.

April 19th – Afternoon speaking Camden town hall Dementia Awareness event via Mayor Camden.

April 20th - Speaking at Labour Party Conference via Jackie Baillie. 

April 22nd - Speaking for Christine Hoy Link Workers 1pm.

April 22nd - Meeting Con Gillespie office NHS head nursing.

April 24th – Speaking at Life Changes Trust Launch.

May 1st - Alliance Conference Perth hosting Dementia Carer Voices workshop.

May 2nd – Speaking/Attending carer’s strategy event N/ Ayrshire council.

May 3rd - Final filming “it’s ok to ask” NHSGG&C.

May 7th - Speaking Reid Kerr College morning.

May 7th - Meeting Julie Christie afternoon.  

May 17^th – GCC dementia working group as per my motion

June 13th – Speaking, Aberdeenshire carers.

June 4^th - Meeting Care inspectorate

June 10^th – launch our story (Thomas &mum) DVD NHSgg&c

June 12^th Attending Carer event hosted Alex Neil Cab Sec for Health

June 13^th – launch “it’s OK to ask DVD NHSgg&c

  June  2oth – Presentation board RCN

On-Going Projects 

·       Academic/Educational paper with a leading university on the life stories.

·       Carer Engagement Film working title “it’s ok to ask”

·       Glasgow City Council Dementia Working Group based on my motion passed last February.

·       March/April Filming “its ok to ask” a new Carer Engagement Film with NHSGG&C –CHP

Talks

I have many talks lined up across the NHS and Universities based on caring for my mum and the life stories.

You can help make all of the above all they can be by sharing you’re story, thoughts, opinions or experiences good or bad at tommy@i-woz-there.com