Scotland opens its first dementia friendly park!

Kings Park in Stirling, Scotland, has been transformed to allow those with dementia to have a stroll outdoors and still feel safe.

To create a welcoming outdoor space for people living with dementia, the park now has directional signage and more park benches. In addition, the park’s plants have been enhanced, the uneven paths have been repaired and there have been improvements to the visibility and the standard of the park facilities.

The dementia friendly park’s initiative is the result of efforts by Scotland’s walking charity Paths For All, which worked with the community to identify the best ways to make Kings Park dementia friendly.

“We want to create a welcoming environment to allow people with dementia and their carers to enjoy green space”, said a spokesman for the charity.

“There are many barriers for someone with dementia accessing the outdoors including a lack of information about accessible outdoor spaces, the services available (parking, paths, terrain, toilets, etc), required level of fitness, costs, safety concerns and transport issues.

“For someone living with dementia, getting out for a walk can reduce the feeling of isolation and help them maintain independence for longer.”

‘You forget any worries when you’re wandering’

It is estimated that Scotland has around 90,000 people with a dementia diagnosis who could benefit from more everyday walking opportunities.

People with dementia benefit from being outdoors and in contact with nature as it can help to relieve stress, increase self-esteem, produce vitamin D, and exercises the brain, helping with memory and cognitive functioning.

A leaflet with a map has also been created to assist with wayfinding and decision-making prior to visiting King’s Park.

Leymar Healthcare provide Homecare Services in Ashfield and 24 Hour Live in Care in the UK to vulnerable adults in their community. Please contact our office on 01623 360 193 or email us at info@leymarltd.co.uk.

Giant inflatable pig goes on tour to show social care crisis isn’t hogwash

#WhereIsPenny?

That’s the question being asked of people across the country, as Age UK resorts to sending a giant pig on a tour of UK cities to get the public talking about their experiences of social care.

Penny the Piggy Bank will be travelling all round the country from London to Liverpool, taking in the landmarks of England as she goes to highlight the care crisis facing the country.
In a statement, the charity Age UK said Penny ‘is highlighting how much the NHS could save if the government sorted out social care.
‘Because right now, the piggy bank is very nearly empty and it’s older people who are paying the price.’
The charity argues ‘Not enough funding for social care in England means older people are being kept in hospital longer than necessary. These delayed discharges cost the NHS £500 every minute.

‘Older people deserve better, and the government shouldn’t waste public money like this. So we’re asking them to address problems with the social care system. And you can help us spread the word.’
Fresh from a soaking on Brighton Beach due to rain showers on 10 August, Penny is heading to Telford on 23 August, with the charity urging all who see her to share their experiences of dealing with the social care system.

Members of the public are being encouraged to follow Penny’s progress across the country on Twitter and highlight sightings of her by using the hashtag #WhereIsPenny.

Leymar Healthcare provide Homecare Services in Ashfield and 24 Hour Live in Care in the UK to vulnerable adults in their community. Please contact our office on 01623 360 193 or email us at info@leymarltd.co.uk.

Robin Hood Festival 2018 – 27 August to 2 September 2018

27 August to 2 September 2018

The Robin Hood Festival returns for its 34th year in 2018 at Sherwood Forest.

For the first time, this year’s event is being organised by the RSPB; expect a fun filled week long festival that has something for everyone!

The Festival is free to enter, however there is a parking charge of £5 per car.

Daily Schedule

This year, old festival favourites like Medieval Maniax, musicians, storytellers and medieval magician Nathaniel Bagshot will be back along with brand new entertainment for 2018! The festival will be more interactive than ever before and will also include lots more nature based activities and crafts thanks to being run by the RSPB for the first time.

Throughout the week there will be archery (daily), nature connections (daily), pony rides (Tuesday-Sunday), along with daily music, magic, stalls, performers.

Find out the full daily schedule here.

*Performances are subject to change. Certain activities are subject to weather conditions. 

Stay up to date

Get the latest news and updates about the festival:

Join in the conversation: #RobinHoodFestival

Visitor Information

What should I wear?

This is an outdoor event, so come ready for our unpredictable English climate! Consider bringing with you:

Comfortable shoes are advisable as paths are uneven in places and much of the action takes place in woodland and grassy areas.

Mobility Scooters

The Robin Hood Festival has teamed up with Professional Mobility for the hire of mobility scooters at the 2018 festival. Pre-booking secures a scooter and visitors can benefit from delivery of a scooter to the car park by Professional Mobility.

There is a charge of £25 per day and proof of ID is required on collection. To book, please call Freephone: 0800 633 5711, or mobile: 07989 680034.

Getting here

By bus

Sherwood Arrow (Nottingham to Worksop or Retford via New Ollerton) stops near to the end of the main drive.

Buses do not call at the Visitor Centre during the festival week because of a road closure. Passengers will be dropped in Edwinstowe Village, which is approximately a 10 minute walk from the Visitor Centre.

Plan a journey.

Coaches and tours

Coach parking is limited and allocated on a first come first served basis.

Men in Sheds has become ‘social lifeline’ for lonely male pensioners

The garden shed is no longer a man’s sacred refuge. Retired men across the UK are being encouraged to forge social connections and friendships while wood making – all in the welcoming space of a ‘shed’.

Men in Sheds is a service run by local Age UK community groups that brings together fellow DIYers who could otherwise be home alone.

The scheme has become a ‘social lifeline’ for Simon Farr and Neil Macdonald, who regularly attend Age UK Cheshire’s Men in Sheds project. Mr Macdonald has dementia but his confidence and sense of purpose has been helped ‘immeasurably’ by his friendship with Mr Farr, who despite being younger than most of the men, is recovering from a stroke.

“It’s helped me out so much with my rehabilitation,” said Mr Farr. “Neil and I both have memory problems…we both are one another’s bit of medicine and when you get the two of us together, you can imagine the fun we have.”

During his time at the shed, Mr Macdonald has made a large selection of bespoke pens that he has gifted to The Queen and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as a school for underprivileged children in New Zealand.

Lead researcher, Dr Jenny Fisher, said: “The number of older adults who live alone in the UK is increasing and while this is of concern for men and women, older men are particularly at risk of being lonely and socially isolated. Weak social connections, loneliness and social isolation are linked to poor health and wellbeing, especially for older men.

“We found that men often don’t have the same opportunities for social activities as women or older men are just less likely to join community groups. With the exception of Men in Sheds, there are limited opportunities for men to engage in community-based social activities.”

According to Age UK, men can often hide their feelings of isolation and loneliness, which can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. For more information visit:www.ageuk.org.uk/services/in-your-area/men-in-sheds/

 

Leymar Healthcare provide Homecare Services in Ashfield and 24 Hour Live in Care in the UK to vulnerable adults in their community. Please contact our office on 01623 360 193 or email us at info@leymarltd.co.uk.

 

Pensioner escapes iTunes fraudster’s trap thanks to quick-thinking staff

A 65-year-old woman has been saved from giving £1,500 worth of iTunes vouchers to a fraudster who called her home, thanks to staff at her local Tesco store.

The woman was left shaking after being threatened with arrest and fines totalling £96,000 for unpaid taxes by a fraudster who telephoned her home pretending to work for the HMRC.

“I was absolutely terrified”, she told Grimsby Telegraph.

“He said that I owed the government money which I needed to pay immediately or I would be arrested.”

The pensioner agreed to pay the caller hundreds of thousands of pounds in iTunes vouchers.

“He warned me that if I didn’t do what he said, I could be fined £96,000 and we could lose our house or my husband’s car.

“He told me that if I spoke to anyone on the way, I would also be arrested.”

She was only stopped from making the large purchase by shop workers at a Tesco store in Grimsby.

Staff quickly realised the woman had fallen victim to a popular scam, after questioning her and called the police.

She said: “They asked me what the vouchers were for, and I told them it was for my grandchildren.

“When they asked again, I burst out crying and told them what was really happening.”

The store’s manager then telephoned the conman telling him to stop calling the woman.

‘My chest has been tight all day since it happened’

She said: “I have asthma, and my chest has been tight all day since it happened.

“If I’d had a heart condition, it could have been much, much worse.”

A statement from Humberside Police said: “We have received a number of recent reports of fraudsters contacting victims via telephone and demanding payment by way of gift card or iTunes vouchers.

“A recent victim gave away over £200 by purchasing iTunes vouchers and providing the codes to the suspect.”

Police advise anyone who receives a suspicious call to put the phone down straight away and contact Humberside Police on 101.

Leymar Healthcare provide Homecare Services in Ashfield and 24 Hour Live in Care in the UK to vulnerable adults in their community. Please contact our office on 01623 360 193 or email us at info@leymarltd.co.uk.

Sainsbury’s introduce ‘slow-moving’ checkout lanes for dementia shoppers

Sainsbury’s has begun rolling out ‘slow-moving’ checkout lanes throughout the UK, so people with dementia can shop at a “more relaxed pace”.

The supermarket giant has already been running the initiative at a store in Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, for nearly two years and has now introduced Slow Shopping at a branch in Prestwick in South Ayrshire. Staff at the store have been given training to help them support shoppers with dementia.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “Our aim is to be the most inclusive retailer and we want all of our customers to have a great shopping experience in our stores.
“There are many aspects of a visit to the supermarket which can be stressful for those with dementia, so by trialling a slow shopping option we hope we can make their lives easier.”
The idea of Slow Shopping came from Katherine Vero who lives in Newcastle and used to find it hard to go shopping with her mother who had dementia. Alzheimer’s Society revealed that eight out of ten of the 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK list shopping as their favourite activity. However, since being diagnosed, one in four have given up shopping.
Katherine Vero, founder of Slow Shopping said: “My mum used to love shopping but as her dementia developed it became increasingly difficult and stressful for us both. But I didn’t want her to stop going out and become isolated. I wondered if there was a way to help us enjoy shopping.
“After she passed away I was inspired to come up with the idea of Slow Shopping and was delighted when Sainsbury’s agreed to help me trial it. I hope other retailers will follow.”

Paul Edwards, director of clinical services at Dementia UK, said: ‘We welcome all initiatives which show an understanding of the challenges that people with dementia live with on a day-to-day basis.

 

“Clashing noises, fast-paced environments and bright lights can be quite overwhelming for people with dementia.

“Sainsbury’s idea for a slower lane is exactly the type of patient, considerate move that helps people with dementia to continue living fulfilling lives.”

 

Leymar Healthcare provide Homecare Services in Ashfield and 24 Hour Live in Care in the UK to vulnerable adults in their community. Please contact our office on 01623 360 193 or email us at info@leymarltd.co.uk.