Minutes of Burley-in-Wharfedale Dementia Action Group
Thursday 20th October 2016
1. Welcome & Introductions Present: Val and Ken McKenzie, Sylvia Bergin, Lynne Faulkes, Lucy Maddison, Joanna Gramshaw (Ilkley & District Good Neighbours), Wendy Carpenter, Annette Shepherd (Hanover Gardens), Quentin and Eileen Fowler, Niccola Swan, Bernadette Brearton (Bupa UK; Burley Hall), Judith Sayer, Susan Collins.
2. Apologies Peter & Julie Fox, Dale Smith, Sue Jopling.
3. Potential collaboration with Ilkley & District Good Neighbours Joanna Gramshaw (a paid employee) co-ordinates the befriending part of the scheme which also has two other elements (a home and garden assist scheme and a shop assist scheme). 20 to 25 volunteers help to run the scheme and more volunteers and referrals are always welcome. Currently few referrals are received from Burley even though key organisations and Doctors are aware of the scheme. Currently 4 people are befriended via this scheme in Burley and 3 of those are diagnosed with dementia. There is an assessment process and training and data protection are all in place. If anyone wants to refer someone to the scheme then they do have to have permission from the person they are referring. Visits are normally once a week and can be at home or for an outing. Food shopping would normally be undertaken with the person with dementia. Joanna left 3 different leaflets about the scheme.
4. Minutes of Meeting 15th September 2016 Sylvia offered to explore the possibility of leading next year’s Memory Walk.
5. Reports of Events since last meeting Burley Showcase – 26 organisations were represented, not quite as many people through the door as hoped, about 150 in total. KIVCA were very helpful and the Parish Council hope to make it an annual event. It was a useful networking opportunity and Burley-in-Wharfedale Dementia Action Group was helped to get on the map.
6. Forthcoming Events
7. Implementation of Action Plan
A big thank you was offered to Susan whose work on this initiative was much appreciated. Members of the Group were encouraged to visit one of her Memory Tree Groups but to ring Elizabeth first before visiting.
8. A.O.B.
Next Meeting Thursday 17th November 2016, 2pm at the Parish Centre.
Thursday 20th October 2016
1. Welcome & Introductions Present: Val and Ken McKenzie, Sylvia Bergin, Lynne Faulkes, Lucy Maddison, Joanna Gramshaw (Ilkley & District Good Neighbours), Wendy Carpenter, Annette Shepherd (Hanover Gardens), Quentin and Eileen Fowler, Niccola Swan, Bernadette Brearton (Bupa UK; Burley Hall), Judith Sayer, Susan Collins.
2. Apologies Peter & Julie Fox, Dale Smith, Sue Jopling.
3. Potential collaboration with Ilkley & District Good Neighbours Joanna Gramshaw (a paid employee) co-ordinates the befriending part of the scheme which also has two other elements (a home and garden assist scheme and a shop assist scheme). 20 to 25 volunteers help to run the scheme and more volunteers and referrals are always welcome. Currently few referrals are received from Burley even though key organisations and Doctors are aware of the scheme. Currently 4 people are befriended via this scheme in Burley and 3 of those are diagnosed with dementia. There is an assessment process and training and data protection are all in place. If anyone wants to refer someone to the scheme then they do have to have permission from the person they are referring. Visits are normally once a week and can be at home or for an outing. Food shopping would normally be undertaken with the person with dementia. Joanna left 3 different leaflets about the scheme.
4. Minutes of Meeting 15th September 2016 Sylvia offered to explore the possibility of leading next year’s Memory Walk.
5. Reports of Events since last meeting Burley Showcase – 26 organisations were represented, not quite as many people through the door as hoped, about 150 in total. KIVCA were very helpful and the Parish Council hope to make it an annual event. It was a useful networking opportunity and Burley-in-Wharfedale Dementia Action Group was helped to get on the map.
6. Forthcoming Events
- 23rd October event has been well advertised. There will be two speakers and questions and time for a tea break and an opportunity to look at displays from the Alzheimer’s Society and Carers Resource, alongside Memory Aids & Gadgets provided by Quentin who will also welcome people at the beginning of the meeting and conclude the meeting. 30 confirmed attendees to date. A number of volunteers from our group offered to help with room arrangements and refreshments. Quentin distributed two sheets he had prepared, including one about equipment to help with memory & safety and one regarding Get Togethers in Burley, Otley & Ilkley. It was noted that the luncheon club is now closed. The benefits of singing were also highlighted.
- Saturdays 10th Dec, 7th Jan, 4th Feb – Dementia Friends Information Sessions to be facilitated by Quentin & Sylvia from 10.30am to 11.30am at the Parish Centre.
7. Implementation of Action Plan
- Bus time-tables – Lynne will help Niccola to complete the task.
- Contacting Schools and Youth Groups – Sylvia has been invited to speak to Year 6 at Burley Woodhead School on Wednesday 30th November at 1.30 pm. (There are 31 children in the class); Quentin said he would hope to join Sylvia on the visit. Also, possibly cubs and scouts in Jan/Feb.
- Website – no feedback yet so Niccola proposes to make it live and will be responsible for content and is happy to take photos. Lynne recommends Ariel or Comic Sans for dyslexic users and font 12 is recommended (Note – the current Minutes have been produced following this formula). Susan and Niccola are taking responsibility for checking and responding to our gmail email account.
- Draft Constitution – Ilkley didn’t go down this route. Niccola is happy to update the KIVCA sample document. We need to have in place a Chair, a Treasurer and a Secretary. Lucy will email Niccola the constitution that the Baildon Group produced, based on an adaption of the constitution used by Keighley.
- Bank Account – Niccola is looking into different options. Barclays might be a possibility.
- Key Numbers – Niccola will tweak the sheet ready for Sunday.
- Memory Tree Initiative – Update by Susan. If the Parish Centre is used, the cost will be £20.00 for 2 rooms for 2 hours. Bob is interested and Thursday afternoons are free from 2pm to 4pm for Feb/March start dates. Burley Hall is another possibility if free. Bernadette will explore if 2 rooms are available. Susan has provisionally booked the Parish Centre (one advantage is that it is familiar to lots of people). In addition to the cost of room hire, each session will cost £50.00 to pay for Bob and Elizabeth’s time and effort. Therefore the total amount for each session is £70.00, with a suggested charge of £5.00 per couple. It is worth thinking through what group members can do in terms of volunteering towards running the group (3 volunteers per session desirable) which ideally will be fortnightly (first and third Thursdays of each month). Susan has identified two potential volunteers already. Elizabeth can offer a workshop/training session. Susan will try and arrange a workshop run by Elizabeth for Thursday 15th December 2016. Niccola suggested some separate planning meetings i.e. a Memory Tree subgroup. It is worth looking into dbs requirements. It was also noted that our monthly meetings might have to move to another time.
A big thank you was offered to Susan whose work on this initiative was much appreciated. Members of the Group were encouraged to visit one of her Memory Tree Groups but to ring Elizabeth first before visiting.
8. A.O.B.
- Dr Penny Wright, Leeds University, has offered to talk to us about her research into carers of people with dementia. It was agreed to invite Penny to the next community event which could be held during Dementia Awareness Week (15-21 May) next year.
- Dementia Friendly churches – Salem (U.R.C.) is to consider becoming a dementia friendly church at their November vision meeting. Susan has in mind to put a similar proposal to St Mary’s when time allows. Perhaps this is something for Churches Together in Burley and Menston to discuss.
- Dementia Friendly Keighley – Susan visited and found a very professional organisation. A paid person acts as project lead. Dementia Friendly Keighley are keen to help us and for us to learn from what they have already done.
- Visits to Burley Hall NH – Bernadette and Susan have had a useful meeting recently. Bernadette felt that useful contacts had been made and that this is leading to a domino effect. Bupa is keen to work with the community around dementia. Bernadette is a dementia champion and can help us in this respect. Burley Hall has a specialist dementia unit with 17 dementia beds and also has 31 nursing beds.
- Slow Shopping – Progressing slowly. Future work will include personal visits to managers of stores. Quentin and Sylvia will report back in January. Val recommended the Waitrose scanner for couples shopping together.
- DAA Meeting Monday 12th Sept – focus on Businesses and Shops and Dementia. Quentin will send out a report about this event.
Next Meeting Thursday 17th November 2016, 2pm at the Parish Centre.