Edinburgh Newsletter

July/September 2016 Edinburgh & West Lothian Services Edinburgh Newsletter

Welcome to our July Newsletter

The Early Onset Services are always busy at this time of the year with outings and the like. The visit that we shared to the barge with everyone the other Friday was super. A leisurely sail down the canal on a Friday afternoon sounds relaxing and it was. Thanks to Ann and Billy for helping organise a visit to Pentland Plants Garden Centre, I was amazed by all that goes on behind the scenes.

We were all delighted with the result of our Care Inspectorate annual visit. We were given grade 5’s for all areas inspected. Thank you to everyone who gave feedback, it was very much appreciated.

The choir did a concert with the Gorgie Community Choir with nearly 200 people present for the launch of Dementia Awareness Week. It was brilliant and a clip will be on Facebook and YouTube soon so I will let you know so those of you who would wish can view it.

I live in hope of some sunshine this summer, who says it doesn’t rain on a Golf Course!

If you would like to speak to me about ideas or suggestion around the services we offer, my number is 0131 551 9350.

Alan Service Manager

Edinburgh Dementia Advisor

My name is Teresa Straczynski and I am the Dementia Advisor for Alzheimer Scotland and I cover the City of Edinburgh. I have recently moved into the Alzheimer Scotland office in the Prentice Centre,1 Granton Mains, Edinburgh. I have joined the team of the Edinburgh and West Lothian Services.

My role consists of:

1. One to one visits to people with dementia and their carers giving support, advice and information.

2. Raising awareness of dementia by:  Supporting communities to become dementia friendly  Dementia Friends Training and Presentations  Information days

3. I run four Dementia Cafes which are listed on the back page of this newsletter. There are also other cafes which take place in the city but are run by volunteers, these are:  St. Martin’s Café, Magdalene Drive  Palm Café, Balerno  Palmerston Place Church- Sunshine Café  Friday Café in Mayfield Church  NE Arts Centre Café – Blether and Brew

Edinburgh & West Lothian Service, The Prentice Centre, 1 Granton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh Telephone 0131 551 9350 E-mail [email protected] [email protected] Website www.alzscot.org Alzheimer Scotland - Action on Dementia is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland 149069. Recognised as a charity by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, no. SC022315 22 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, EH3 7RN 0131 243 1453

Edinburgh & West Lothian Services Newsletter

For further information about these cafes please contact myself on: 07557 944 073

4. I also run a carer support group in Royal Edinburgh Hospital for carers of patients in Caanan Ward and Ward 14.

If you would like me to come out and chat through issues please do not hesitate to get in touch on 07557 944 073.

Teresa Dementia Advisor

Information Section

At each of our OASIS café each month we pass on any up to date information we think you may find helpful, as we are aware not everyone can come along we will have this little section in the Newsletter in order to keep everyone up to date. Recent issues discussed were:

VOCAL (WORKING WITH CARERS) VOCAL provide monthly Money Matters surgeries with specialists in financial and legal matters. These include advice and information on benefits (help with completing forms), Power of Attorney, Wills, Trusts and Guardianship and help with planning Long Term Care amongst others. For more information give VOCAL a call on 0131 662 6666.

MIND FOR YOU (SUPPORTED HOLIDAYS) Mind for You is an organisation that works with people with dementia and their carers. As part of this work they organise supported holidays which people with dementia and their cares can go to together. These holidays are organised for you and then staff are there for support throughout the holiday. If you would like more information or a booklet please get in contact with us in the office.

DISABLED (BLUE BADGE) ELIGIBILITY At the end of 2013 a Working Group was set up by Transport Scotland in order to consider if it was appropriate to extend the eligibility criteria for having a Blue Badge to people, who as a result of a diagnosed cognitive impairment have little or no awareness of traffic .The Working Group has now agreed new criteria and have agreed a pilot scheme which will run from 1st April 2016. If you would like to apply/reapply for a Blue Badge or would like further information please contact us in the office.

Paula & Elizabeth Practice Team Leaders

Edinburgh & West Lothian Services Newsletter

Day Opportunities Group

The clubs have had a few staffing changes since the last newsletter and we welcome Lesley and Jonathan to the team. We have had the arrival of a new volunteer, Alice, who is bravely spending her summer Mondays in our company! She even made it on time the day after T in the Park – we were very impressed! In the past few months we’ve again enjoyed a few trips on the Ratho Barge, made all the more exciting by Lizzie’s quiz which was enjoyed by all. Marion, our Monday volunteer, got a flavour of the peaceful day on the water, and understood why we had all been raving about it!

We have had some nice times in Cramond, Inverleith Park, Living Memory Association, a film day watching Sunshine on Leith and lots of musical quizzes, singing and dancing. We also had a fabulous visit from Step Into My Parlour, much enjoyed by all!

We are currently finalising a summer outing which will not be weather dependent!

Louise Day Opportunities Organiser – Monday & Tuesday

The Crystal Ball Prestonfield House, Edinburgh – 26/11/2016

Prestonfield are delighted to announce their second ball for Alzheimer Scotland.

Enjoy a spectacular evening of food, fun and entertainment. Starting at 7pm you and your guests will enjoy a delicious three course gala dinner. Generous donors have already ensured that our silent and main auctions will be packed with must-have lots. Introduced by Arlene Stuart from Forth 1, our entertainment will include The Flavours Band playing everything from swing to ceilidh. Tickets are priced at £750 for a table of 10. For further information call 0131 662 2305.

Alzheimer Scotland Flagship Memory Walk

We have memory walks all over Scotland in September 2016. You can register at http://memorywalksscotland.org/ or call us on 01506 533 108 for a registration form Prices 0–12 years – FREE, 12–16 years - £5, adults - £10

Join us for a beautiful 5k walk through the idyllic and blissfully peaceful Dalkeith Country Park on the outskirts of Edinburgh this autumn. We’ll set off from in front of the Palace combining three of the Park’s most popular walks before coming full circle. The walk is classed as a medium difficulty walk, although there will also be a shorter, more accessible route available on the day with plenty of entertainment from start to finish – you can even bring your dog!

Date: 17/09/2016 Time: 11.00am Location: Dalkeith Country Park

Edinburgh & West Lothian Services Newsletter

Dementia Cafes in Edinburgh

Cramond Café Cramond Kirk Hall, Cramond Glebe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 6NS First Monday of every month from 1.00pm to 3.00pm

Portobello Café The Espy, 62-64 Bath Street, Edinburgh, EH15 1HF Every second Friday from 11.00am to 1.00pm

Memory Café – South Queensferry The Haven, 25b Burgess Road, Edinburgh, EH30 9JA Third Thursday of every month from 1.30pm to 3.00pm

D-Café Quaker Meeting Room, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2JL Last Thursday of every month from 1.00pm to 3.00pm

Oasis (for people 65 and under) Eric Liddell Centre, 15 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4DP Last Tuesday of every month from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

Dementia helpline and website

The 24 hour Dementia Helpline is a freephone Scottish service for people with dementia, carers, relatives, professionals, students and anyone concerned about dementia. You can call 0808 808 3000 anytime and also email us: [email protected].

Further information about dementia and the support we provide can be found on our website www.alzscot.org.