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Worthing carers filmed for short dementia documentary

Three of our carers who are also members of the Worthing Dementia Alliance Steering group were pleased to be invited to participate in a short, 6-minute documentary by students from the University of Sussex.https://player.vimeo.com/video/252886104

I Will Hold On – Short Documentary from Daniel Kassim on Vimeo.

‘I Will Hold On’, by Daniel Kassim, Georgia Balson and Julia Thompson, was produced as a Digital Documentary MA. Dan explained, ‘we were keen to explore an important social issue, and through our conversations with the Worthing Dementia Action Alliance, we were inspired to create this film in order to shine a light on the often unspoken experiences of carers and partners with dementia.

It was a privilege to be able to get to know Ian, Lynda, and Maureen and we have done our best to represent their stories. Our hope is that this film will help those who are in similar situations and also improve public awareness about the effects that dementia can have on carers.’

Thanks to all three carers for talking honestly about their experiences and to the film-makers for their sensitivity. We know it will help other carers who are experiencing similar journeys.

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Explaining dementia to children

The Alzheimer’s Society has just released ‘Memories with Grandma’, a short animated video which will help younger children, particularly between the ages of 7 and 11, to understand why their grandparents, or older aunts and uncles, forget who they sometimes are.

The video can also be used for schools and youth groups and there is an accompanying lesson plan to encourage the class to become a Dementia Friend. 

The video can be found here and is available in English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic and with subtitles. The resources are on the Alzheimer’s Society website here.

The resources come along with an activity pack which enhances the messages which are important to children. 

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Local solicitor defends lasting powers of attorney

  • Local solicitor, Ian Macara from Bennett Griffin LLP, has defended lasting powers of attorney
  • This follows comments from a former senior judge that power of attorney orders are open to financial abuse
  • But national group Solicitors for the Elderly says with the right advice, powers of attorney can act as important safeguards

Local solicitor Ian Macara from Bennett Griffin LLP based in Worthing has defended lasting powers of attorney (LPA) after Denzil Lush, the former Senior Judge of the Court of Protection, warned they may leave elderly people open to abuse.

An LPA is a powerful legal document that allows a person to appoint trusted individuals to make important decisions about care and finances on their behalf, in the event of a loss of mental capacity through an accident or illness such as dementia.

In the foreword to a new book on the subject, Mr Lush raised concerns about the “lack of transparency” in how appointed attorneys manage older people’s finances. The former judge went on to criticise the Ministry of Justice as being “disingenuous” in its promotion of the legal document.

However, Ian Macara – a member of national organisation Solicitors for the Elderly – said LPAs are effective safeguards when created responsibly:

“Senior Judge Lush’s comments have given rise to fears that LPAs are a direct avenue for financial abuse. However, his comments must be put into context, as his 20-year career at the Court of Protection will have presented him with the very worst cases of financial abuse.

“An LPA can be a positive and effective legal tool, which ensures your wishes are respected should you ever lose capacity. Senior Judge Lush’s comments should highlight the clear need for professional advice when considering powerful legal documents of this nature.”

Top tips on drafting a lasting power of attorney

Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) is an independent, national organisation of over 1,500 lawyers, such as solicitors, barristers, and chartered legal executives, who provide specialist legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and carers.

SFE has been campaigning to ensure essential checks and controls are conducted when making an LPA. Here are SFE’s top tips to ensure your lasting power of attorney is effective, legally robust and safe:

Plan early – While you have capacity, it’s vital that you get your affairs in order and choose the best people to manage your affairs, in case of an accident or illness. You can’t appoint an attorney once you lose capacity.

Choose carefully – Think carefully who you want to appoint as your attorney and have an open conversation with them so they understand your wishes and what their responsibilities will include. Consider appointing more than one person as your attorney so they can share the responsibility.

Consider appointing a professional – A family member might not always be the best person to act as your attorney. Instead, you can appoint a professional such as a solicitor. They can act as a neutral third party and make unbiased decisions that are in your best interests. Bear in mind this usually involves a cost.

Think about different circumstances – Consider how you would like your attorney to manage your property and financial affairs in different situations. For example, are you happy for your property to be sold to pay for your care costs?

Address the difficult questions – Your attorney might have to make difficult decisions about your health and welfare. If you have specific wishes around your care plans, medical treatment, or end of life wishes, make sure you discuss this with them and make your choices clear in your document.

Seek professional advice – Shop-bought and online LPA kits may be suitable for those with very straightforward financial situations or with considerable legal experience, but for most people, seeking professional legal advice is the best way of ensuring that an LPA is effective, legally robust and safe.

Keep your plans current – Make sure you keep your LPA updated if your circumstances change. Your choices around the people you want to be responsible for your finances and wellbeing may change, such as following a marriage or divorce, when children reach adulthood, or if parents pass away.

To find out more about LPAs and and to find a solicitor near you, go to: http://www.sfe.legal

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Live Well in Worthing success

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon for South Down Leisure ‘Live Well Worthing’ for the over 50s. Held at Field Place, a stunning location in the town, the event was fully inclusive and well attended.

The event was opened by Worthing Mayor, Cllr Alex Harman, who was welcomed in by the Town Crier, Bob Smytherman and Tim Wilkins from the Alzheimer’s Society.

The afternoon started with outdoor Tai Chi on the lawns in the shade. On the tennis courts, Colin was helping people get to grips with the ball machine – and it didn’t take long before both the Town Crier and the Mayor decided to try their hand. There was table tennis and bowls on offer, pilates, meditation, croquet and petanque. Indoors people took advantage of having their hearing checked or a mini-health assessment in a totally relaxed atmosphere.

Local charities, such as Guild Care, came along with their service users and we were delighted that people with dementia took the opportunity to try out a few activities and have lots of fun with their support workers.

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Local dementia facts affecting Worthing businesses

Local dementia facts that affect all Worthing businesses and employers

Dementia Friendly Worthing has just been given the latest fact that affect local employers and businesses. Please feel free to circulate this infographic which estimates that there are 2,000 people over 65 living with dementia in Worthing. This is expected to rise to 3,000 by 2030.

  • That is one in every 12 people over 65!
  • Two-thirds of people, living with dementia, are living at home.
  • 49% of the UK public say they are more likely to support a company if they know it supports people with dementia (YouGov 2011).

In addition, there are estimated to be 6,000 family and friends caring for people with dementia in Worthing and here are some facts you need to know as an employer.

  • There are approximately 70 people of working age (under 65) living with dementia in Worthing.
  • 18% of people diagnosed with dementia under 65 continue to work after their diagnosis.
  • Early retirement of those with dementia costs businesses £627 million a year in England alone.
  • 21% of family carers give up work or reduce hours at a cost to businesses in England of £1.6 billion.
  • 51% of people caring for a family member with dementia are still in work and in need of support from their employers.

What can you do? Would you like to know more?

You can contact us at info@dementiafriendlyworthing.org and we can put you in touch with the local Alzheimer’s co-ordinator; invite you to our next Dementia Alliance Meeting; organise dementia friends sessions for your staff and support you in your action plan to become a more dementia friendly business.

Our next meeting is on 21 June at 4pm at the Bradbury Wellbeing Centre, Haviland House, Goring-by-Sea and we shall shortly be organising one with Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce. Please watch this space for more details.

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Businesses turn out for Dementia Friendly Worthing

Worthing is one of 225 communities in the UK working to become dementia friendly. On Tuesday, 28 March, local businesses from Worthing to Bognor, turned up to Worthing’s Dementia Action Alliance event to discover how they could become part of a dementia friendly community.

Following presentations on dementia friendly communities by the Alzheimer’s Society and members of Worthing Dementia Action Alliance, local businesses such as Bennett Griffin and Stagecoach Buses spoke about how they were supporting the initiative and the benefits to customers, clients and employees.

Bennett Griffin’s journey began with a Dementia Friends information session for a team of fifteen. Following positive feedback, the firm invested in two of their solicitors, Ian Macara and Elin Dukes, being accredited by the Alzheimer’s Society as Dementia Friends Champions. They now facilitate sessions in-house for all employees providing a better understanding of what dementia is and how they can tailor their advice and assistance to meet growing needs. In addition, they offer monthly open sessions to members of the public and are strong advocates within the business community. Ian Macara said, ‘The sessions show how some seemingly small things our staff can do help those affected by dementia or their carers and can make a huge difference to their experience as their clients.’

Southdown Leisure, which includes Splashpoint and Worthing Leisure Centre, have around 200 staff. Their four Dementia Champions are rolling the programme out across their centres and, local bus company Stagecoach, are just getting off the ground with their admin staff and hope to start their roll-out to 180+ drivers as soon as they are able.

Dawn Fairbrother, from the Alzheimer’s Society, explained how people who are affected by dementia, wanted to be better understood and included so that they could continue to contribute to their local community. ‘Everyone, from governments and health boards to the local corner shop and hairdressers, has a responsibility to make sure people with dementia feel active, engaged and valued’ said Dawn.

How can businesses become dementia friendly?

  • Improve staff awareness and understand of the impact of dementia and how it changes customers’ needs.
  • Review the physical environment of your business and consider how a customer with dementia may be confused with a process to purchase and how you might improve this.
  • Support staff who develop dementia or care for a person with dementia, by permitting flexible working hours so a carer can attend a monthly carers support meeting, hospital/doctor’s appointments. A little understanding from a boss can help relieve some of the stress and anxiety carers are often under.
  • Support the local community. Be involved in Dementia Awareness Week, hold your own event or, attend and support another. Hold a Dementia Friends session or a bake-off to help raise awareness.

The Worthing Dementia Action Alliance is able to offer Dementia Friends sessions to local businesses and also put you in touch with business support if you have carers in your workforce.

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The business advantages of being dementia friendly

Dementia affects every workplace, but things are looking brighter in Worthing, where local businesses are recognising this issue and signing up to the Worthing Dementia Action Alliance to support the town in becoming a Dementia Friendly Community.

The Worthing Dementia Action Alliance is holding a Dementia Friendly Community event for businesses on 28th March 2017, Worthing Leisure Centre, Shaftesbury Avenue, Worthing from 5.30pm with buffet and networking.

Local businesses leading the way include Bennett Griffin, Southdown Leisure, Barclays Bank, Relative matters, Hanover Housing, Breathing Spaces and Fine Marketing, who are all supporting their community through a range of action plans.

Local charities and providers, Guild Care, Alzheimer’s Society, Coastal West Sussex Mind, Crossroads, St Barnabas Hospital and Darlington Court Care Home, are all members as are St Lawrence Surgery, Offington Park Methodist Church; Worthing Library and West Sussex County Council. Two of the town’s largest employers, Worthing & Adur District Council and the Stagecoach Bus Company, are currently formulating their action plans.

‘This will have an enormous impact on people who live and work in the town,’ said Julia Johnson. ‘Making a positive change through offering staff Dementia Friends information sessions (all free and delivered by volunteers), will help reduce the stigma associated with the disease and provide a workplace culture where people can talk openly. With 1 in 9 working people caring for someone older, ill or disabled, dementia is frequently a hidden issue in the workplace.’

Over 14,000 people live with dementia in West Sussex using shops, public houses, restaurants, hairdressers, public transport, banks and theatres. It has been found, by local businesses who have encouraged their staff to have Dementia Friends sessions, that a greater knowledge and understanding of dementia better equips them for phone calls and face to face conversations. A little knowledge goes a long way, encouraging patience, promoting understand and improving customer experiences.

For more details or email us on info@dementiafriendlyworthing.org