Hello Everyone
So a couple of updates, we went to see the heavily pregnant mother of my new puppy and it is all going ahead. I’ll be a proud Dad by mid-November, and I cannot wait. There will be no blog for the next two weeks as I am on holidy but I return on 21st September. I am off to Ireland and I cannot wait. I am staying near the Giants Causeway and it’s been a lifelong dream to see the causeway. I’m sure I will share some photos on my return.
Just a reminder to check out the calendar and request invites for the following:
8th September 2020
Carers Group for someone with a Kidney Condition 11am to 12.30pm
A peer support meeting for those carers that look after someone with kidney conditions. A chance for you to meet other carers that are in the same situation as you, share experiences and advice and support each other on common issues; please email: ayeda@ccth.org.uk
Carers Forum 2pm to 3.30pm
This monthly forum invites organisations and speakers to come discuss different topics that can inform carers on a range of services that will hopefully enhance the caring role.
Presentation will be from LBTH Care Provider Commissioners
Please email danielle@ccth.org.uk
9th September 2020
Time for a Cuppa! with the Museum of London – 10:30am to 11:30am
Join Museum of London staff for a relaxed, interactive session which brings together people living with dementia, older people, loved ones and carers over shared experiences of living or visiting London. Sing, move, meet new people, and reminisce while discovering hidden gems in the Museum of London’s collection.
To register for the session, email Marina and Amy on memories@museumoflondon.org.uk and don’t forget to let them know that you heard about it through Tony at the Tower Hamlets Carers Centre.
Zoom CV Writing and effective job search Workshop – 11am to 1pm
Working for Carers will run this workshop and will focus on harnessing the personal and employability skills of unpaid carers. To register and confirm eligibility please either Phone: 020 8514 6251 Email: wfc@rcss.org.uk
15th September 2020
The Tuesday Social Club 2pm to 3.30pm
This weekly get together gives carers a chance to meet up have some fun and discuss the highs and lows of caring. It is a peer support group and carers get a chance to discuss issues with their peers.
Email Rukshana@ccth.org.uk
16th September 2020
Zoom Interview skills Workshop 11am to 1pm
Working for Carers will run this workshop and will focus on harnessing the personal and employability skills of unpaid carers. To register and confirm eligibility please either Phone: 020 8514 6251 Email: wfc@rcss.org.uk
17th September 2020
Relaxation Day – Come stretch with Casey 11am to 12 noon
Feeling a little sluggish, aching, and full of tension? Come stretch with me and learn a 10 minute routine you can use every day to bring some balance back into your body. Let’s Stretch out those niggles together, open up and release that tension. This routine is suitable for absolutely everyone. It’s performed seated so you can also do it anywhere
Email Rukshana@ccth.org.uk
Dementia Information
London ADASS is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting to learn the songs from Julie Andrews – see attached lyrics to the songs
The session will be facilitated The Mindcare Choir master Sheila Arden. The Mindcare Choir part of Bromley, Greenwich, and Lewisham Mind was formed a year ago. During lockdown we moved onto zoom so everyone could stay connected. Carers and their loved ones are enjoying singing and seeing each other once a week. The choir is led by volunteers, the choir master Sheila Arden, assistant Linda Brown and a number of other committed supporters. The Mindcare manager Saira Addison said “it is great to see people coming together and to see the joy that everyone gets from singing along to their favourite songs!”
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99380370666?pwd=VU5iM2VqYzhTQjhveTRkdDJLQjRxUT09
Meeting ID: 993 8037 0666
Password: singalong
Julie Andrews Medley
Doe a Deer
Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself
Far a long, long way to run
Sew a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow Sew
Tea a drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to Doe. (So Doh).
Wouldn’t It Be Loverly
All I want is a room somewhere
Far away from the cold night air,
With one enormous chair
Oh, wouldn’t it be loverly?
Lots of chocolate for me to eat
Lots of coal giving lots of heat.
Warm face, warm hands, warm feet
Oh, wouldn’t it be loverly?
Oh, so loverly sitting abso- bloomin’-lutely still
I would never budge ‘til Spring crept over me windersill.
Someone’s head resting on my knee
Warm and tender as he can be
Who takes good care of me
Oh wouldn’t it be loverly?
Loverly, loverly, loverly, loverly.
Edelweiss
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white
Clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my home-land forever
I’m Getting Married in the Morning.
I’m getting married in the morning.
Ding, dong the bells are gonna chime.
Pull out the stopper, let’s ’ave a whopper,
But get me to the church on time.
I gotta be there in the morning,
Spruced up and lookin’ in me prime.
Girls come and kiss me, show how you’ll miss me,
But get me to the church on time.
If I am dancin’ roll up the floor.
If I am whistlin’ whewt me out the door.
For I’m getting married in the morning.
Ding, dong the bells are gonna chime.
Kick up a rumpus, but don’t lose the compass.
And get me to the church, get me to the church,
For god’s sake, get me to the church on time.
Supporting family carers of people living with dementia to make difficult decisions during COVID-19
Researchers based at UCL have developed a resource to help care-partners of people with dementia make decisions while caring for someone living with dementia during coronavirus pandemic. During the current pandemic, if a person living with dementia becomes unwell, the family and the person living with dementia may have to make rapid decisions. Decisions may concern hospital admission or whether to receive care at home, and which treatments the person may or may not wish to receive. These decisions will have an impact on the emotional wellbeing of both the family and person with dementia.
The researchers say: “We have worked with current and former carers and experts who support people living with dementia and their carers to develop a decision guide to help carers when making decisions during this difficult time. The guide covers a number of decisions carers may need to make if the person they are caring for has or is suspected to have COVID-19. These include decisions such as how to care for them if they are unable to visit them, whether they should go to hospital if they become unwell and what it means to have a do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation order. The document will guide carers through the process of making these difficult decisions whilst taking into consideration wishes and preferences of the person living with dementia and the legal aspects of making decisions. We also provide useful tips for carers such as the COVID-19 symptoms to watch out for which may differ to the commonly recognised symptoms, where to find help and support when making decisions and how to look after yourself as a carer.”
To access the decision guide, please see: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychiatry/research/marie-curie-palliative-care-research-department/research/decision-aid
Creative & Connected: August edition
Browse, download and print this month’s activity booklet which focuses on the ‘Tastes of London’ here: https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/memories/creative-connected/august-2020
Please note that this month we are not distributing printed copies as we are re-assessing the feasibility of doing so.
Live Zoom session
To register for our increasingly popular Zoom session, ‘Time for a Cuppa with the Museum of London’, email Marina & Amy at memories@museumoflondon.org.uk or call 07780 504506 Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm
London Lives Podcast
https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/memories/london-lives/august-2020
This month, our podcast is hosted by Marina & Amy and is very different!
We chat about food and identity with 8-year-old Saami and his mum, Nafisa, who have recently taken part in our Ramadan Collecting Covid Project and we also hear from Hubert and Thelma who attend Ashford Place in Brent. A huge thank you goes to them all, as well as Ashford Place’s Kamlesh and Sally for permission to use their stories. Museum of London Docklands Community History Curator, Aleema Gray; Atiba, a talented Trinidadian poet and Delphina James, a steel pan musician, also respond and reflect on the stories of Caribbean migrants to the UK.
Share your stories
We invite people with lived experience of dementia to share their own memories, just as Hubert and Thelma did this month, Helena did last month and Derek did back in June, about their favourite films, music, shows and events. Memories will be posted on our website or used in next month’s podcast.
Other resources
Finally, do check out some of our partner organisations;
- We encourage you to download the free My House of Memories app onto your phone or tablet. We have partnered with National Museums Liverpool to enjoy reminiscing with your loved ones.
- StAn’s Cafe on Facebook. At the moment they are running a dementia-inclusive virtual community event on the 3rd Saturday of every month. The Museum of London will be presenting on August 15th.
- Arts 4 Dementia also provide a comprehensive list of all online activities: https://arts4dementia.org.uk/
Covid-19 cases increase in Tower Hamlets
In recent weeks there has been a rise in cases of Covid-19 across London and we now know that the highest number of positive test results in London are among people aged 20-29.
In line with what we are seeing in London, cases are also on the rise in Tower Hamlets. We are concerned about this and want to make sure that numbers of cases do not continue to increase. In June, there were 37 cases of Covid-19 recorded in Tower Hamlets; this rose to 131 cases in August.
Some of the most common activities or events among people of all ages who test positive include going on holiday, eating out, shopping, travel and commuting.
Doing the things we enjoy makes us feel more positive, but it’s crucial that we do these fun things safely.
We are urging all residents to continue to protect their family, friends and community by following government advice and staying alert to the risks of Covid-19. Remember:
- Wash your hands regularly, for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water is not available, then use hand sanitiser.
- Keep a safe distance from other people outside your household (two metres where possible).
- Wear a face covering on public transport, in shops and other enclosed areas, or anywhere it is difficult to socially distance.
- Book a free test now if you have any symptoms of Covid-19 (a high temperature, a new or continuous cough or a change/loss in your normal sense of taste or smell) and stay at home until you get your result. A mobile testing unit will be near Canary Wharf on 6, 9, 12 and 15 September.
- Stay at home if you test positive for Covid-19 or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive and been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace.
- Support to self-isolate is available from the council.
- Keep up to date with the latest advice and cases of Covid-19 in Tower Hamlets.
By remaining vigilant and all playing our part, we can keep Tower Hamlets safe and open for business.
Keeping young people safe from violence and exploitation
We want to make sure that Tower Hamlets is a place where every child and young person is healthy, safe, and successful.
Even though most children and young people are safe in our borough, some are affected by serious violence, criminal and sexual exploitation, which have devastating consequences for them and their families.
We are seeking your views on our violence, vulnerability and exploitation (VVE) strategy, which aims to ensure that every child and young person in Tower Hamlets is kept safe from violence and exploitation and is supported to achieve their aspirations.
Important Numbers
Unpaid carers can still access FREE PPE supplies. If you would like to receive PPE, Please contact the Carers Centre on 0207 790 1765 or Ayeda directly.
Domestic Violence Duty Line: 020 7364 4986 between 9am – 5pm.Victim Support: 020 7364 2448/7957
Just wishing everyone a peaceful, safe and week and remember if you need information and advice from the Carers Centre just email enquiries@ccth.org.uk
Tony Collins-Moore
Carers Academy Manager
Opening hours
Monday - Friday – 9.30am – 5pm
Saturday and Sunday – Closed
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