Home Instead
York & Ryedale newsletter
elder THE
February 2017
Dementia ID Cards Age UK – LifeBook Helpcards are for people with dementia to use and carry with them, to help maintain independence. They can be filled out with personal details. The front of a helpcard can say one of the following ‘I have dementia’ ‘I have Alzheimer’s disease’ or ‘I have memory problems’. People can record their name, any medical conditions they may have, and what they might need help with. It also has space to record the name and contact details of someone who can be contacted in an emergency, such as a family member or the GP. You can order a copy free from the Alzheimer’s Society at www.alzheimers.org.uk, by telephoning 0300 303 5933 or email orders@alzheimers.org.uk
The LifeBook is a free booklet where you write important and useful information about your life, from who provides your insurance to where you put the TV licence. Sometimes it is easy to mislay important documents and information, so Age UK have developed the LifeBook to help you find exactly what you need without searching. The LifeBook will not only help you to be more organised but could also be invaluable to a family member or a friend if they need to find important information about you in an emergency. It’s easy to use and all you need to do is follow the step-bystep instructions to fill in the various sections with your details, contacts and locations of important documents. You don’t have to do it all at once - just complete it at your own pace. The LifeBook is available as a booklet or Age UK can email you a copy to complete and store on your computer. For more information and to get your free LifeBook call 0345 685 1061 quoting ALL 721 or visit www.ageuk.org/lifebook
Vision tests at home
An eye test is not just good for checking whether your glasses are up to date. It’s also a vital check on the health of your eyes. An eye test can pick up eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts, as well as general health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure. The good news is that if you’re 60 or over, you can have a free NHS eye test every two years. You can have a free test every year if you’re 70 or over. If you can’t leave your home because of illness or disability, you can have an NHS eye test at home. Contact your usual optician to find out if they can visit you at home. Otherwise, NHS England has a list of opticians in your area that do home visits. Contact NHS England on 0300 311 223 or email england.contactus@nhs.net
Kelly receives her Care Certificate Congratulations to one of Home Instead York & Ryedale’s CAREGivers Kelly, who was signed off her Care Certificate last month. We understand that training is important to our CAREGivers for their personal development which will benefit all our Clients. Kelly is pictured here with Care Manager Carol, and Head of CAREGiver Experience Andy.
Do you pay for care? The cost of living in a care home or paying for help in your own home can be expensive. Researchers in the Social Policy Research Unit are starting work on a project looking into how people access financial advice when thinking about paying for care, and how useful they find this kind of advice. This will involve talking to people who have received advice, as well as people who give it. We are setting up a ‘Public Involvement Group’. This will be a small group of about 10 people, to help make sure that we ask the right sorts of questions when we talk to people, and to help us think about how our findings can be of the most use to the public and
Have you ever considered talking to an independent financial adviser about paying for care in later life? Are you interested in using your experience to advise a research project at The University of York? to local councils and charities. The meetings will be focussed but informal. If you think your experience is relevant to our project, and you would be interested in joining the group, please get in touch.
The language of flowers Red roses symbolise love and desire, but roses come in a variety of colours and each has their own meaning. For example, the white rose meaning is purity and innocence. • Dark red rose: unconscious beauty • White rose: purity, innocence, reverence, silence • Pink rose: grace, happiness, gentleness • Yellow rose: joy, friendship, the promise of a new beginning • Orange rose: desire and enthusiasm • Lavender rose: love at first sight • Coral rose: friendship, modesty, sympathy Other flowers have meanings too such as the lily and the carnation which symbolise beauty, asters patience, chrysanthemums joy and long life, the daffodil chivalry and daisies purity.
The group will meet about four times in 2017. We will reimburse your travel costs for attending meetings and we can arrange taxis. We will also provide light refreshments and give you a £20 shopping voucher as a thank you for each meeting you attend. You don’t need any experience of advising on research, just a willingness to talk about your experiences and opinions on the topic, in a small group of people with similar experiences. We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact Emily Heavey by telephone 01904 321952, email emily.heavey@york.ac.uk, or post Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD.
Back stroke, front stroke, doggy paddle! Not put your swimming costume on for a while? Then dig it out because swimming is especially good for older people. Swimming is a great fun way to help you keep fit and stay healthy. It’s low impact and is one of the best ways to keep fit and socialise too. It can help you improve mobility, muscle tone and joint structure, reduce risk from arthritis, strokes, diabetes, coronary disease and can really help as part of rehabilitation after illness. Have a look at www.york.gov.uk to find a session that might suit you at Yearsley Pool or Energise.
Caring for your dentures Make sure you prolong the life of your dentures and remaining teeth by following some simple guidelines on cleaning. ▶ Put a couple of inches of water in the sink when you clean dentures to avoid breakages when cleaning. ▶ Use plain soap and brush to clean the fit surface and outer surface. ▶ Avoid hot water as it can bleach your dentures. ▶ Rinse thoroughly before placing
A trip to Vangarde If you enjoy going out then Vangarde Shopping Park is a great destination. With lots of free parking and facilities it also has easy access especially for wheelchairs and plenty of places to have a coffee break or even a bite to eat including York’s first Giraffe Restaurant, Prezzo, Nandos, Ed’s Easy Diner, Frankie & Benny’s, Costa Coffee, Caffé Nero and Hotel Chocolat. The shops are great too with: • York’s first John Lewis department store • The region’s largest M&S department store • A state of the art Next store So, this might just be the perfect place to visit. Check out www.vangardeshopping.co.uk for further information.
in plain water and if desired a lukewarm solution of denture cleaner. ▶C lean your supporting teeth really well especially where they touch your dentures. ▶ T ake your denture out at night. Make sure you see your dentist annually to ensure they can help prolong the life of your remaining teeth and reline or replace your dentures before they cause a problem. You can find out more at www.nhs.uk.
Wrap up warm Layer your clothes to stay warm, the layers will trap warm air in between them. Wear a hat and gloves when you go outside and wrap a scarf around your face to warm the air you breathe in. Take care when going outside in icy weather If you absolutely must go out when it’s icy, wear shoes with good grip and a warm lining, and put on thick socks. Keep grit and/or salt to put on your path. Some councils provide free bags of this or you can buy it from a DIY store. Eat Well Have hot drinks and hot meals regularly throughout the day. Food is a vital source of energy which keeps you warm. Have plenty of fruit and vegetables to boost your
immune system and give you more energy. Drink more milk The NHS recommends drinking more milk and having more dairy products in winter to boost your immune system and help prevent colds. They contain protein and vitamins A and B12 as well as calcium to keep your bones strong. Keep your cupboards and freezer well stocked Keep basic food items for times when it’s too cold to go out. Think about stocking up on tinned soup, baked beans, long life milk and fruit juice, ready-made sauces, pasta and rice. Keep frozen vegetables, meat, fish and bread in your freezer. Stay Active Get outside if it isn’t icy or too cold – it can boost your mood to
Carol’s Corner Looking after yourself
get outdoors while it’s still daylight. If you’re indoors, don’t sit still for more than an hour. Moving around your home can help to keep you warm.
Dementia-friendly screening for February 2017 Dementia-Friendly Screening at York City Screen is open to all but especially for people with dementia and their family, friends and carers. Complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits will be on offer before the screening and there will be a 20-minute interval halfway through the film. Funny Face – Monday 27th February • 1.15 pm Beautiful as well as intellectual, shy book-store clerk
Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn) is spotted as the new face of fashion by editor Maggie Prescott (Kay Thompson) and photographer Dick Avery (Fred Astair). Can she be persuaded to model? A classy musical with Hepburn singing songs by George and Ira Gershwin. For more information go to www.picturehouses.com/ cinema/York_Picturehouse or telephone 0871 902 5747.
A glorious display of colour Now’s the time to start thinking about your summer bulbs for the best displays. Begin to plant summer flowering bulbs, corms and tubers in borders and containers in spring, just as the weather starts to warm up. As a rule of thumb, most bulbs should be planted at 3 times their depth, but there are a few exceptions so it’s worth checking on the packet. Make sure there’s plenty of mulch on the top of your planters and choose something that makes you smile. There are plenty of options to pick from including the Oriental Lily, Begonia, Freesia, Gladiolus, Bearded Iris and many others.
Home Instead Senior Care 10 Clifton Moor Business Village James Nicolson Link, Clifton Moor York YO30 4XG Telephone: 01904 690884 Email: info@hiscyork.co.uk Web: www.homeinstead.co.uk/york
www.facebook.com/homeinsteadyork @homeinsteadyork www.instagram.com/homeinsteadyork www.youtube.com/YorkHomeInstead “Each Home Instead Senior Care franchise office is independently owned and operated.” ®