WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.919 Adventist Radio London inspiration for the song. 2 00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:15.400 Okay, So I'm down at frog More Care and Wellbeing Center. 3 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:18.600 This is the day center that my mum actually goes to. 4 00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:23.760 So I'm kind of sitting here with the manager. 5 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:24.920 He has kind of given up their. 6 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:28.160 Time away from the activities for today just to tell 7 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:30.679 us a little bit about what she does and the 8 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:33.079 center that has been a real support to me and 9 00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:33.520 my mum. 10 00:00:33.799 --> 00:00:35.960 So Hi, Karen. 11 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:37.640 Hi, I'm Karen Jackson. 12 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:44.719 I'm the center manager at Frogmore. We are a day 13 00:00:44.759 --> 00:00:49.640 center mainly for dementia clients. I would say probably about 14 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:56.079 ninety five percent, and our aim is to just give 15 00:00:56.359 --> 00:01:01.039 our clients a lovely day in a safe environment, lots 16 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:06.439 of fun, lots of laughter, a lovely meal, and give 17 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:10.079 the cars families some respite. 18 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:10.680 Cool. 19 00:01:10.840 --> 00:01:12.239 And how long has the sense have been open? 20 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:16.200 We will have been open two years in November. 21 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.480 Okay, yes, because I kind of remember when, because I 22 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:23.799 know my mum had her diagnosis just before COVID hit, 23 00:01:25.079 --> 00:01:26.879 so a lot of things had kind of shut down 24 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:29.560 and there wasn't much available for things to do at 25 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:31.959 but then things opened back up again. This was one 26 00:01:31.959 --> 00:01:33.959 of the first places that I was like, oh, there 27 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:36.000 is this center reopening, and I thought, oh, this looks 28 00:01:36.040 --> 00:01:38.879 really cool. And I remember coming down here and kind 29 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:41.040 of having a look around and thinking, oh, this looks 30 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:44.439 like a quine, a cool place. Yeah, and my mum's 31 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:47.280 been coming here ever since, which actually is quite a 32 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:50.280 long time. So tell a little bit about yourself and 33 00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:53.079 your background and how you got into this kind of work. 34 00:01:53.879 --> 00:01:57.640 I started about seventeen years ago. I decided to have 35 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:02.560 a career change. Started as a support worker, enjoyed it 36 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:07.840 so much that I decided to go up the ladder, 37 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:11.639 if you want to call it that, and obviously now 38 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:15.319 the manager. It's the best job I can honestly say 39 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:19.240 that I've ever had. It's so fulfilling and rewarding, and 40 00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:25.919 our aim is just to really make their lives lovely. 41 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:28.680 And he said he had a career change. 42 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:31.080 What kind of drew you to support work in terms 43 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:33.199 of working, you know, in a caring environment. 44 00:02:33.960 --> 00:02:36.120 I think it was because I've. 45 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:43.159 Always looked after my sisters, and I've always looked after 46 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:48.120 my nan and granddad, so I was always caring. Yeah, 47 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:53.560 but it was just I saw the advert and just 48 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:55.280 so I don't know why, but I've really got to 49 00:02:55.319 --> 00:02:58.120 go for that, okay, And I don't know, it's just like. 50 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:00.680 A sign. 51 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:02.280 And had you had in. 52 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:05.319 Much experience or connections with dementia previous to that? 53 00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:08.560 Not one bit, okay, No, not one bit at all. 54 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:15.560 But the training that we received is next to none 55 00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:18.280 and it gives you so much confidence to deal with 56 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:22.479 any situation, which is valuable. 57 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:25.240 Yeah, And I would say it takes a real special 58 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:28.080 person to work with a dementia client. I would say, 59 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:30.240 I mean, I'm saying that for my own experience, the 60 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:33.719 town of challenges that I've found not knowing, you know, 61 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:36.479 you come across something and they're not know ever, So 62 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:39.360 what would you say would be the qualities to kind 63 00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:41.159 of do the job that you do. 64 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:43.840 I think you've got to have a care in nature. 65 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:49.439 You've got to be very patient and just want to 66 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:52.759 enrich the lives of our clients. And I can honestly 67 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:57.759 say that all my staff do that. Yeah, we are here. 68 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:01.080 One hundred percent of the clients. We ask them what 69 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:04.080 they would like to do. If somebody might want to 70 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:08.680 do a particular activity, if we would do that, and 71 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:12.039 then we would work on from there. We've got different 72 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:16.120 activities that people like, so we might split the group 73 00:04:16.199 --> 00:04:17.519 and do different things. 74 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:20.360 So we are catering always for everyone. 75 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:25.160 We've got people that don't like to join in but 76 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:29.399 like to watch other people joining in, and that's absolutely fine. 77 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:30.079 Yeah. 78 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:34.439 I feel like our clients have made friends, which is 79 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:38.519 really lovely. Yeah, and I think we do provide a 80 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:40.079 need in the community. 81 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:43.360 Okay, so tell me a little bit about Tell me 82 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:45.079 what a day at a center looks like. 83 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:46.800 Now, I say that I bring my mum. 84 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:50.279 My mum comes here at least two or three days 85 00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:54.040 a week, so and I know you obviously the center 86 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:56.120 as full in terms of how many service users you have. 87 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:58.759 So tell me what an average day kind of looks like. 88 00:04:58.920 --> 00:05:01.120 I mean, you've sort of said you want to provide activities, 89 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:06.399 have fun, you know, provide the clients with a good day. 90 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:07.639 So what does that look like? 91 00:05:08.199 --> 00:05:11.240 Well, starts off in the mornings. 92 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:15.040 We have some people coming in by families, some people 93 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:17.800 come in by taxi, and some people arrive on the bus. 94 00:05:18.360 --> 00:05:21.560 So as people come in, we sit in chat with them, 95 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:24.759 We make them tea, kate, coffee, whatever they would like. 96 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:28.680 Hot chocolate is a firm favorite. Even your mum likes 97 00:05:28.680 --> 00:05:32.759 a hot chocolate. And we start the day sort of 98 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:37.240 quite low key until everybody gets in. Then we ask 99 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:40.079 them what activities they would like to do, as I said. 100 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:42.800 And we go from there. They are. 101 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:46.600 Just completely able to do what they want to do. 102 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:47.360 There's no. 103 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:52.600 Nothing that they can't do right. Yeah, they're in a 104 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:57.639 safe environment. They can just do whatever makes them happy. 105 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:02.759 Then lunchtime, obviously they have a home cooked meal by 106 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:08.199 a lovely cook Marilyn and them. Afterwards they have teas, 107 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:12.279 coffees and sometimes I like to play bingo, sometimes croocket. 108 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:15.720 We've got lots of different activities and they can choose 109 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:21.240 and we usually go with them. Majority Then it's home 110 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:27.319 time and we get them ready for going home and 111 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:29.480 they've had a good day and where you look forward 112 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:30.279 to seeing them again. 113 00:06:30.759 --> 00:06:32.600 And it's become like a family. 114 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:36.439 Definitely to the staff, they feel like our family, and 115 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:41.480 that's how we treat them. We just actually, you just 116 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:44.959 get to love everyone. It's so love. It's such a love. 117 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:46.800 It's the best job I've ever had in my love. 118 00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:49.240 It's not a job. It's not a job, it's a vocatient. 119 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:49.759 Okay. 120 00:06:50.360 --> 00:06:52.680 The Sexy says, you kind of got a mixture of 121 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:55.920 men women and how does that what does that kind 122 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:56.319 of look like. 123 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:59.480 I mean, is it mainly women, mainly men half and half. 124 00:06:59.399 --> 00:07:04.319 Or it used to be I'd say about fifteen years 125 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:08.519 ago mainly women to quite a high degree, like there'd 126 00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:13.240 be one man. Now it's a good half and half. 127 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:18.480 We've got a lot of men. And we do find 128 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:21.680 that they can and become quite competitive on certain days 129 00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:26.199 with the games, and they will request to do boys 130 00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:30.199 against girls and they make up their own team names, 131 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:34.199 which is fantastic, and we all do have a good 132 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:37.720 laugh about that. It's lovely. It's just lovely to see 133 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:39.279 them interacting with each other. 134 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:41.319 It's wonderful. 135 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:44.560 What are some of the sort of like the highlights 136 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:49.439 that you've had working I guess in the care industry, 137 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:52.680 but also here at the center and then sort of 138 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:54.240 on the flip side. What have been some of the 139 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.920 challenges because I can imagine, I mean, you said it's 140 00:07:57.959 --> 00:07:59.800 a vacation, it's not the job. 141 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:03.959 Recording. You know, what's the highlights for you? 142 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:09.560 I think the highlights are sometimes when the clients first 143 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:14.079 start to come, they might not the men. Weirdly enough, 144 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:18.160 the men are more likely to resist attending than the 145 00:08:18.199 --> 00:08:24.199 women because I think the women in general are they've 146 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:27.240 been more social throughout their lives with going to the 147 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:31.079 school with the kids, and we chat more, don't we 148 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:35.080 We're more sort of interactive with each other, whereas the 149 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:40.240 men mainly have worked all their lives and they've got 150 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:43.200 that sort of interaction. But to come into a center 151 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:47.320 not as forward as the women. But when they come 152 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:50.559 in and they say, oh hi, I'm here again, and 153 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:52.519 when they go home and they said I've had a 154 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:55.320 fantastic day, that's heart melting. 155 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:58.840 Yeah, it's lovely, and I know sometimes you do. I 156 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:01.799 get here to up Mum, and you know, Mum's generally 157 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:06.879 in a good mood. She's often been singing, dancing, and 158 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:12.080 whilst obviously from a dementia perspective, sometimes the memories aren't there, 159 00:09:12.679 --> 00:09:14.320 I still know that she's had a good day. She 160 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:15.919 might not be able to tell me exactly what she 161 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:19.320 did all day because she can't really recall, but I 162 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:21.879 know because she's in a good mood that she's generally 163 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:23.600 had a good day. And I see the way she 164 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:26.519 interacts with the team and everything else, so you know, 165 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:30.240 and that's definitely heartwarming for me because I know whatever's 166 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:33.360 happened that's been a good day for her and definitely, 167 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:35.919 so what are some of the challenges on the flip side. 168 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:42.120 I think some times we have challenges that might be 169 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:49.559 missing the partner. And again this is usually the gentleman. 170 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:55.480 They are conscious of time, worrying if they're ever going 171 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:58.720 to be picked up, thinking that they might be staying 172 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:04.039 overnight because they may think that they are in a 173 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:07.720 home rather than a day center. But with lots of 174 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:12.320 TLC and reassurance, we get through that to the stage 175 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:16.840 where I have one gentleman that I have requested his 176 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:22.320 wife to get a medication check for his anxiety, and 177 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:26.120 he will about half two we close it three half 178 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:28.000 two will come in and sit in the office with 179 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:31.559 May and he will watch the cars go by because 180 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:34.360 he knows she's coming soon. And that's absolutely fine, and 181 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:36.240 that's a routine that he's got into. 182 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:38.200 But up to that point he's fine. 183 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:43.080 Yeah, it's just not letting go of that little last bit. 184 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:45.639 But you know, you do get there in the end. 185 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:48.480 So I guess with that you're kind of adapting to 186 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:52.600 the needs. You adapted to every individual. We treat everybody 187 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:57.159 as an individual. Yeah, so today is World Alzeimer's Day, 188 00:10:57.240 --> 00:11:02.320 and obviously September is World azim Month, and obviously dementia. 189 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:05.200 There's a lot of kind of talk around dementia and 190 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:07.840 which obviously we're doing this show, we obviously previously have 191 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:11.679 this platform to be able to highlight it. The thing 192 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:14.440 this year which what was an interesting one was time 193 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:19.000 to Act on Dementia, Time to Act on Alzheimer's How 194 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:21.960 would you interpret that, FEME and what would it mean 195 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:24.279 to you and why do you think it's important? 196 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:29.480 I think that a lot of time, people that are 197 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:34.840 at the beginning of the dementia journey are missed and 198 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:39.639 it progresses quite a lot, and then you're a crisis 199 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.600 by the time you get any help. And I do 200 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:46.440 think time is the most important thing once you start 201 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:49.759 realizing there's little things that are going on to get 202 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:55.120 a diagnosis, because obviously medication is an important part of 203 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:58.279 we're not controlling it, but slowing it down a little, 204 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:04.720 so give a the client person extra sort of quality time. 205 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:09.279 So that is we find that we don't get people 206 00:12:10.039 --> 00:12:15.039 until there's been a breakdown, perhaps in the family, which 207 00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:19.600 is so sad because then everybody is affected and. 208 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:22.879 You know families do break down because of it. 209 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:25.559 Yeah, do you think then there's a kind of a 210 00:12:25.559 --> 00:12:30.919 lot of kind of misconceptions and myths around dementias. I mean, 211 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:33.639 I've sort of read that sometimes people think, you know, 212 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:36.960 memory loss or some of the sort of unusual behaviors 213 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:39.480 that you might start to see or present itself or 214 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:43.360 just part of the aging process, which actually and that 215 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:46.080 seems to kind of normalize it. But then as you said, 216 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:49.799 they're probably the signs that something is going on. 217 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:52.039 And I know from my own personal experience. 218 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:55.679 I don't think I don't think I considered dementia at all, 219 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:58.200 even though interesting enough, it kind of is in my 220 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:01.919 mum's family and you know, of her sisters have sadly 221 00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:04.799 passed away from that, but I'd never really given any thought. 222 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:08.440 I noticed there were some strange things going on, but 223 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:12.159 it just didn't just didn't think. So it's interesting that 224 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:15.480 you're saying that, actually people come to you quite late 225 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:19.320 in the process maybe or in their journey. Is there 226 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:21.600 anything when you think actually for you to say the 227 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:23.480 things that we should be and if people could be 228 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:28.080 looking out for to sort of say, okay, that's unusual 229 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:28.720 or different. 230 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:30.519 I mean, what kind of things should people be looking 231 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:30.919 out for? 232 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:33.759 Would you say I think that obviously as you get older, 233 00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:37.279 well you all will have a bit of memory loss. 234 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:41.879 Well I hope that's okase anyway, So that's quite normal 235 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:44.639 to get upstairs and forget what you've gone for and 236 00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:47.039 you know, put the kettle on, but forget to make 237 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:47.399 the tea. 238 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:50.279 That's all sort of getting older in general. 239 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:54.200 But I think when you're in a situation where things 240 00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:57.759 might be getting to the point where they might be 241 00:13:57.879 --> 00:14:02.639 cooking and forget they've got a pot on the stove, 242 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:06.799 or they might go out and not remember, get a 243 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:10.120 little bit lost and you panic because they can't find 244 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:14.000 their way home, that's when you need to start thinking, well, 245 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:16.159 this isn't just a little bit of forgetfulness. 246 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:19.639 This is becoming more regular. 247 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:24.320 Also, even though they might forget things, they might start 248 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:31.559 forgetting like people's names, who people are, or what it 249 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:35.919 might have happened when you're talking about a situation, but 250 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:41.480 probably remember what might have happened ten years ago or something. 251 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:50.000 I think that's more of the science. Also, when they 252 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:54.960 can sometimes present as getting agitated because they're not fully 253 00:14:55.039 --> 00:15:02.600 understanding what might be going on or said so overwhelming feeling. 254 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:05.600 When a lot if they go to a party, they 255 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:09.879 wouldn't be able to handle everything going on, because we 256 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:16.080 do find here that Christmas. When we come back after Christmas, 257 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:20.799 a lot of the clients are totally overwhelmed because they've 258 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:24.320 been they've seen a lot of people, they've been to 259 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:27.399 different places than they would normal normally. 260 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:30.720 See that happened actually at Easter. 261 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:35.240 Right, Okay, Father's Day, Mother's Day, because they've got everyone 262 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:39.000 coming around perhaps together, and that's a big sign. 263 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:41.919 Okay, interesting, I guess it's you know, that's the way 264 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:44.799 we do shows like this because things like that, it's 265 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:46.919 really important to talk about stuff because I guess in 266 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:50.519 some ways, I mean, I mean, for my mom, I 267 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:52.519 think there were things going on, and I think my 268 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:54.960 mom was probably aware of what was going on. She 269 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:57.080 has WISIDS. He worked as a nurse, so she's got 270 00:15:57.080 --> 00:16:00.000 a medical background. But I don't think she really said. 271 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:03.120 She didn't say anything to us, and I think other 272 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:05.679 people may have noticed. But because I wasn't living with 273 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:07.919 her and I don't see her all the time, you. 274 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:09.240 Notice little things. 275 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:11.320 We don't put two in two together, and I don't 276 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:13.320 think she said, but I think she was probably aware. 277 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:17.399 And actually, when I reflect back, actually the signs were 278 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:20.559 completely there, and I think, you know, how could I've 279 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:20.960 missed them? 280 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:22.320 But I had no awareness. 281 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:25.000 So again it's really important to kind of, I suppose, 282 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:27.320 educate yourself, which is why we're doing shows like this 283 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:30.720 to kind of raise awareness and then to say, actually 284 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:35.240 notice these things, you know, and kind of be aware 285 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:37.519 of what's going on and actually just go and get 286 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:40.759 things checked out. I think generally, sometimes people in their health, 287 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:44.519 you recognize things are happening, and I get it, people 288 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:47.440 are scared of going to the doctor and what have you. 289 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:50.960 But as you said, early diagnosis is really important because 290 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:54.000 things can be done, support can be put in place, 291 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:57.120 because I know, I know sometimes I feel I might 292 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:59.879 I've missed the boat on some things just to kind 293 00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:02.879 of get things done. But you know, here we are, 294 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:07.799 and you know, days like today is important to say, actually, 295 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:12.319 you know, it's a very sad disease that actually we're 296 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:15.200 raising awareness to sort of say, actually, more work can 297 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.079 be done, more. 298 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.759 Support can be given, et cetera. 299 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:22.119 So I mean, obviously you're supporting the service users that 300 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:26.640 come here, how does the center also help the families? 301 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:30.799 And I'm asking that question, and I'm going to speak 302 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:32.519 for myself. I know how it helps the family. I've 303 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:34.200 got an idea how it might help the families, But 304 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:37.319 how do you think it helps? You know, the families 305 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:40.960 manage and the challenges of caring with somebody with dementia. 306 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.359 You know why is this essential? 307 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:46.720 When we have new clients, we always talk to the 308 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:48.480 families and. 309 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:51.200 Explain that we are. 310 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:57.680 Here for them at any point, for their for the partners, 311 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:04.359 and for the family members, daughters, whoever cares, because we 312 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:08.640 see a different side usually to the clients than they 313 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:14.519 would at home. They have the dementia diagnosis twenty four 314 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:18.839 to seven. We have it for a few hours a day. 315 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:23.440 The break that they have is the only time that 316 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:27.599 they can do shopping without worrying or going to appointments 317 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:30.319 for their own health, because a lot of the time 318 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:35.240 they are actually worn out and they can't even go 319 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:42.440 to the doctors or appointments, So that obviously helps. We 320 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:47.160 often have people in that get quite emotional and we 321 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:50.599 get them in the office, give them a cuppa and 322 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:54.960 say yeah, and you just say, come on, spill it 323 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.880 all out, get it all out, get it all out, 324 00:18:56.920 --> 00:19:01.119 and let's talk through. And I had a lady a 325 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:04.519 few weeks ago, and it was heartbreaking. She was so 326 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:07.680 upset and when she and I gave her lots of 327 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:12.519 different numbers and told her about respite because people think. 328 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:16.559 Respite is getting rid of your loved ones, it is not. 329 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:21.960 It is a chance for the care family member to 330 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:25.920 have a break and it's essential for their well being 331 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:27.039 because no. 332 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:31.839 One thinks about the care and that is terrible. 333 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:37.039 It's just terrible because you can't you burn out because 334 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:41.240 you've got it constantly. So we explain that and often 335 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:43.839 people will say, oh, no, I couldn't possibly do that, 336 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:46.119 but they really do have to. 337 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:48.200 They need that break, and. 338 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:50.920 When they finally do do it, I do feel like 339 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:55.799 they feel more refreshed and able to manage for the 340 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:57.640 next couple of months. 341 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:02.799 To get through because it a hard disease to live. 342 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:06.480 With, for the care as family members as well as 343 00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:12.359 the actual person who's got it. And I was very 344 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:14.880 happy because the lady that I spoke to a few 345 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:20.160 weeks ago, she was so upset, and I spoke with 346 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:24.000 her for about fifty minutes actually, and when she went 347 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:27.799 home she was armed with everything that I'd given her, 348 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:32.480 all the numbers, help lines, social services numbers and everything 349 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:36.400 to ring and she came back and she had a 350 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:38.440 big smile on her face and she said, thank you 351 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:40.880 so much. I'm so happy. And I was just so 352 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:44.240 happy because she'd come in thinking that her life was 353 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:48.319 just in tatters and she turns it all round in 354 00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:52.079 a few phone calls and that just makes the difference. 355 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:54.440 And we are here for everyone. 356 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:58.799 I had a lady ring up on the land just 357 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:04.880 saying would I be able to come. This lady had cancer, 358 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:10.200 but she wanted her husband to have some respite. When 359 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:12.359 I explained to her that it was obviously a dementia, 360 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:16.960 she was very young, unfortunately very young, she didn't feel 361 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:19.039 like it was for her, and I don't think it 362 00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:21.200 was for her either. But I spoke with her for 363 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:26.440 a long time and afterwards I said to her, ring, 364 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:30.000 if you want to chat, just ring May, and she goes, well, 365 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:31.960 but I'm not going to come. I said, I don't care. 366 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:35.279 You're in the community. If you want to chat, ring May, 367 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:38.359 I'll have time for you, because it doesn't matter who's 368 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:41.799 got what. We're all together, aren't we We're a community, 369 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:43.079 so we should help each other. 370 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:45.200 Yeah, And that's really that's really, that is really key, 371 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:47.960 because I guess you know, sometimes you know somebody has 372 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:51.680 gets a diagnosis, and whether that's a partner or for 373 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:54.440 me it was my mum, it's a very it's quite 374 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:57.119 a lonely road because you're suddenly faced with you know, 375 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:59.319 you see it from a sort of the medical perspective, 376 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:01.799 and then and once they kind of give you all 377 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:04.039 of these bits and pieces, you're kind of on your own. 378 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:07.200 I know I've been quite fortunate to be able to 379 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:10.559 access different support things. I know I was supported by 380 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:13.480 and over mind. I think that's how I heard about 381 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:18.640 this center. But for many people, I know that doesn't 382 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:20.880 necessarily happen. And I think you have to be quite 383 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:24.039 very proactive to really go out there and find things. 384 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:25.480 And I know I did a lot of research and 385 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:25.920 what have you. 386 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:29.559 But actually having someone to speak to who's got the 387 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:33.640 experience the knowledge makes everything feel a little bit more manageable. 388 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:35.799 So it's fantastic that you know your team is able 389 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:38.319 to you know, able and willing to do that as well, 390 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:41.519 because you know, sometimes you can call up people or 391 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:45.359 call something and it feels very impersonal, it's very factual. 392 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.319 We get cuddles and. 393 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:51.519 They really do, they really do. I know there's been 394 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.599 a few times i've come. 395 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:55.160 Here, and I've clearly and it shows on my face 396 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:57.079 that I've had a really stressful morning with my mum, 397 00:22:57.079 --> 00:23:00.759 and it's just like it's okay, Angela, leave her go home. 398 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.200 I don't know. 399 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:03.400 I mean, even the first time I came here just 400 00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:05.119 as a kind of taste to day with my mum. 401 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:07.319