As a fitting follow-up to our Memory Walk we thought we’d post a Dementia Poem a week throughout World Alzheimer’s Month. These are in honour of everyone who is on, or caring for someone who is on, a dementia pathway.
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As a fitting follow-up to our Memory Walk we thought we’d post a Dementia Poem a week throughout World Alzheimer’s Month. These are in honour of everyone who is on, or caring for someone who is on, a dementia pathway.
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Well: the CareShield Walkers had a whale of a time on our Memory Walk in aid of dementia research on Saturday morning. The atmosphere was brilliant, the sun shone (at least at first!), the oldest person walking was 90 – yes, 90! – and the event was opened by the actor Kevin Whately (Robbie Lewis in Inspector Morse and Lewis, Nev Hope in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Dr. Kerruish in Peak Practice.)
The age range of people walking for loved ones must have covered every age range possible – from toddlers in pushchairs who slept through the whole event, to this amazing 90 year old, who walked the longer 9km route. Read More
So, it’s been a busy week for us here at CareShield, looking after guests visiting from China.
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Aaagh – my team did have a name – the CareShield Walkers. My only excuse is that I haven’t been in the office much during the past couple of weeks. I’m sure Gloria and Leno - and the dog - told me but I obviously failed to take it in. We’re all really looking forward to our team walk (whichever distance we finally agree on, as we’re still in negotiations) but the dog wants to be the sponsored point of contact.
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I’m walking the annual Memory Walk on Saturday 3rd September in Bedford as part of the CareShield team on behalf of my Dad, Geoff Maggs. His 11 year mixed dementia journey – probably combined Alzheimer’s and Vascular – appeared to be initiated by my Mum’s death and ended 12 years ago when he sailed off into the sunset on an unshakeable wave of pneumonia.
Tennessee Williams wrote that “Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.” This quote and digging out the above pic’ of Dad have resulted in a flood of memories of him that I realise I’m so lucky to have. Yes, there was heartache, but we also had some jolly good laughs along the way.
I’ve been meaning to undertake a Memory Walk on his behalf for ages – so am really pleased that my work colleagues have sorted me out and made it so easy for me to actually sign up this year. But I’ve just realised that we haven’t finalised the route and are still negotiating about walking the 2km or the 9km route!
I know that me and my dog would prefer the 9km footpath, but not sure how to convince my co-workers (or should that be co-walkers?). Hmmmmm ………. I shall put my thinking cap on!
Yes: you did read that right! Today, (August 20) is World Honey Bee Day and although I love all bees, I have to confess Bumbles are actually my favourite. Most people have heard the phrase – attributed to Einstein – that for every third mouthful of food you eat, thank a bee (although I have heard that this statistic was probably not put forward by the great man*).
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The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan’s biggest fundraising event for people facing cancer. They ask people all over the UK to host their own Coffee Mornings and donations on the day are made to Macmillan. Last year alone they raised £25 million and this year they are aiming to raise even more.
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- Always remember that your first duty, which should be laid out in your Code of Conduct, is to those in your care, even if that means having to report your mistakes, or those made by others.
- Wherever you’re working, you have a right to be informed of the processes for managing feedback and handling complaints that are in place.
- If you see something happening in your workplace that you feel is poor practice or unsafe, you have an obligation to raise or report your concerns. If this is difficult, you have the right to inform a senior member of staff and to expect that they will act upon your concerns.
- Don’t try to do things, or promise things, if you are not trained in handling complaints or unqualified to do so. It is safer to tell someone that you cannot help them directly but that you will get someone who can, than risk causing dissatisfaction or, even worse, possible harm
- Make sure you access any available complaints handling training and, if relevant, conflict resolution. If training isn’t available, ask management whether it could be provided.
- You should be made aware of the appropriate senior colleague to whom you can re-direct any complaints. Ideally, you should be able to take someone with a concern directly to them in the event that you are unable to resolve a problem.
Raising and responding to concerns is something that staff should all be comfortably able to do. But we know that being able to speak out is not always as easy as it sounds, but you must have the courage to report and concerns you have, so that lessons can be learned and best practice and processes developed.
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