Together We Stand

An activity pamphlet for people with Dementia and their carers May 2020

Welcome Welcome to the fourth edition of ‘Together we Stand’, a short pamphlet full of activities and ideas that we hope will keep us connected, encourage us to be creative and hopefully bring some cheer into our lives. This pamphlet is created in collaboration between Portswood Dementia Action Group (a local charity who run events to raise awareness of dementia and provide support to people living with dementia and their carers), Caraway (a local charity that resources the spiritual well-being of the older person in Southampton) and the NHS Solent Admiral Nurses (Dementia UK). May normally has two events which the Portswood and area dementia action group and Admiral nursing team are heavily involved in. These are Dementia Action Week and Carers Week. This year there are no community festivals or face to face events bringing people together but we are still marking these weeks. It is estimated that informal carers save the UK more than the whole budget of the NHS which is about £116 billion per year. We applaud each and every one of you. This week we send big virtual hugs to Lesley and Pauline - we are thinking of you at this tough time. In friendship, Katherine, Erica, Ros and Freya

If you would like to contribute to the newsletter please email

Katherine Barbour at Portswood Dementia Action Group on:

portswooddag@gmail.com

07763863360

www.caraway.uk.com Page 1

Southampton Dementia Festival 2019

A Little Bit of Mental Wellbeing to Start…

At the moment, emotions and mental wellbeing are often frayed and it can feel like a task to relax and switch off from your thoughts. While there is not much we can do to change the situation the world is in currently, we do have a choice to take some time out of our day to focus on ourselves and promote our mental wellbeing. It has recently been Mental Health Awareness Week, so we thought we would share some advice on how to be kinder to yourself at this difficult time.

There are many ways to go about this, but outlined below is a quick 5 step routine that can be used as a guide. An idea is to try to tick off at least one thing in each category every day.

1. Connect

• While we cannot physically see friends and family or go to many places, there are still ways by which we can connect with the world around us. Through the power of the internet we can see members of our family and our friends via video links such as Zoom or Skype. We can send emails to people or if you would rather keep it traditional, why not send letters and cards in the post? We also have the chance to watch concerts, theatre productions and other events such as the Chelsea Flower Show via the internet and on television, all from the comfort of our own homes.

2. Be active

• It is so important that we keep moving our bodies. If you are able to and it is safe for you to do so, why not go for a walk in your local area. Or perhaps put on your favourite music and have a dance. Even doing some gardening or cleaning can help get us up on our feet and moving around. We have included some exercises in previous issues of Together We Stand so why not give those a go. Make sure to keep to physical distancing rules if you do exercise outside!

3. Notice

• Make sure to take some time each day to notice your surroundings and really connect to how you are feeling at that moment. Turn off the news, set your book to one side and take some deep breaths and allow your mind and thoughts to slow right down. If you are outside, try to listen to what you can hear around you.

4. Keep learning

• Many of us have found ourselves with a lot of free time at the moment. So how about using this time to learn a new skill, or pick up an old one. How about learning some phrases in a different language, try a new baking recipe, or turn your hand to some crafting. Keeping our minds active is just as important as keeping our bodies active.

5. Give

• While this can mean donating money to charity for those who are able, there are many other ways in which we can give ourselves to others at this time. How about picking up the phone and calling an old friend? Or drawing a rainbow to stick in your window to show support for all our key workers. Helping out others can be very rewarding. Just make sure to stay safe while you are helping others!

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Memories from World War II Written by Peter Syvret

I was born in Swaythling in 1936, the year Hitler and Mussolini are in power, the Spanish Civil War starts, the Queen Mary leaves Southampton on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic and King Edward abdicates.

The following year nearly 4000 Spanish children arrive in Southampton on the SS Habana to escape the Civil War. They are temporarily housed in a camp in Eastleigh.

When Southampton is bombed during WWII I am reluctant to go into our air raid shelter because I am fascinated by the flashes and bangs in the sky at night. My father has to carry me into the shelter. The nearby salmon pool is hit by a bomb and every window in our house is blown open. At Bitterne Park Infant School during air raids we have to stand in a reinforced section of the corridor.

On our way to school my friends and I search for bits of shiny shrapnel left from the overnight raids. My grandfather meets me half way on my way home from school. “You are slower than my pet snail” he tells me. My friends and I are slowed down because we are still looking for bits of shrapnel that we might have missed in the morning.

I hate school dinners. Sometimes a terrible smell from a sewage plant wafts across from the other side of the river during lunch time which doesn't help. The head teacher calls out “Is that Syvret again not eating?” I learn to swallow the meat quickly without chewing it.

Sudoku

Peter and friends diving into the Itchen

near the salmon pool.

Nature Notes

Enchanted Woodlands - Written by Erica Roberts

Spring is not complete for me without experiencing the hazy, drifts of violet flowers that cover our

ancient woodlands each year. Known also as a Wild Hyacinths, Cuckoo’s Boots, Lady’s Nightcap,

and Witches’ Thimbles, the Common Bluebell is one of our best-loved British flowers, incredibly

fragile, not liking to be disturbed, and yet creating majestic carpets of blue nodding flowers.

Standing in the dappled shade of a woodland, this picture of spring transformation takes on an

enchanted quality, and it’s not surprising perhaps in ancient folklore that bluebells were also

known as ‘fairy flowers; one of many myths surrounding the bluebell, it that they would be rung to

call fairies to a convention! Although we may not all get to our favourite woodland this year, I do

hope you all see some bluebells in the hedgerows or maybe even your garden and enjoy their

delicate and yet transient beauty described so eloquently in this poem by Anne Bronte.

A fine and subtle spirit dwells

In every little flower,

Each one its own sweet feeling breathes

With more or less of power.

There is a silent eloquence

In every wild bluebell

That fills my softened heart with bliss

That words could never tell.

Anne Bronte

Flower pot garden - Written by Katherine Barbour

Here are two photos of how much can be done in a very small space. Barbara and Cara Sandys

have a small balcony outside their flat in Portswood and in this space are cultivating beans,

potatoes, tomatoes, herbs, pumpkins and courgettes.

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Colouring in

Reader’s Photographs These lovely photographs were taken by Simon and Zelda Hill. If you have any photographs you would like to share with us, please send them to the email address at the bottom of the page.

We would love to see your finished colouring, so please do send a photo to

portswooddag@gmail.com or put a physical copy through the door of 18 Grosvenor Road,

Highfield. The best colourings will receive a prize so be sure to put your contact details on the back

or in the body of the email.

Page 6 Answers

1.The Pacific 2.A Bird 3.A Horse 4.Glasgow 5.George Orwell 6.In The Thigh 7.The Mayflower 8.Blenheim

Palace 9.HMS Victory 10.Blood Groups 11.Isle Of Man 12.A Leopard 13.Stamps 14. 118 15. None - It’s A Fish

Quiz

1. In which ocean is Bikini found?

2. What is a kittiwake?

3. What is a mustang?

4. What city stands on the River Clyde?

5. Who wrote ‘animal farm’?

6. Where in the body is the femur?

7. Which ship took the pilgrim fathers to America?

8. In which palace was Winston Churchill born?

9. What is Nelson’s flagship called?

10. What are a-ab-0-b?

11. Where is the town of Douglas?

12. Give another name for a panther.

13. What does a philatelist collect?

14. How many islands has Venice? 18 or 118?

15. How many legs has a sea horse?

Many thanks to Gillian Gain of Highfield for this quiz.

This lovely photograph is of a rose that is outside her

flat and it brings her much joy.

Austin Healey Frog Eye Sprite Written by Paul Sheppard

I have owned this car for about 5 years, every trip out in

it is a little adventure. It is in very good condition and has

all the original parts. These little cars were made from

the late 1950s to the early 1960s and are very similar to

the MGA Midget.

At that time, if you wanted a British made sports car you

had to buy a Jaguar or an Aston Martin and they were too

expensive for most people to afford. So Mr Austin and

Mr Healey got together to design a British sports car and

sell it at a low price (about £600) that most people could

afford. They decided to use the ‘A’ series engine which

was already used by the Morris Minor and would be used

in the famous Mini. With only 948cc it wasn’t a very

powerful engine, but the car was very light so it gave a

good performance and is great fun driving around

twisting country lanes.

Things didn’t quite go to plan and some

economies had to be made. You will see from the

photo that it didn’t have external door handles,

you have to reach into the car and use the

internal handles. They didn’t bother with a boot,

although there is some space behind the driver

and passenger, there is no boot lid so you can’t

use it. Finally, they planned to make the

headlights dip down into the bonnet when

switched on, but instead they just got left on the

bonnet. However, these distinctive headlights

gave it the nick-name “Frog Eye” and they are

instantly recognisable.

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Information that might help you during this time

• Admiral Nurses: 0300 123 4026 - support to carers’ of people living with dementia

• Alzheimer’s Society: 0330 333 0804 - huge range of information sheets and support for

carers and people living with dementia

• Carers in Southampton: 023 8058 2387 - offer the services below on weekdays by

phone/email 9am-5pm.

- Email: enquiries@carersinsouthampton.co.uk

- Website at https://www.carersinsouthampton.co.uk has information on many support

services.

o Carers’ Assessments evaluate support needs and eligibility for a personal wellbeing

payment.

o Carers’ Cards give you access to some discounts and identify you as a carer.

o Carers’ Support Workers signpost relevant support services and make referrals on

your behalf.

• Independent Age: 0800 319 6789 - Advice and support for older age, information sheets on

money, housing, health, future planning, personal life, support and care

• Meals on Wheels accepting new referrals on 023 80 83 38 66 or by email on

care@citycateringsouthampton.co.uk

• Southampton City Council: 023 8083 4800 - Community Support Hub, to ensure vulnerable

people have access to the support they need, helpline open Monday to Friday 8.30am-5pm

• Southampton: Help for self-isolating members of our communities – if you live in

Southampton and are self-isolating or quarantined due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is

help at hand. We are a group of volunteers who can help you with shopping and other

necessities. Call or text on 07923 353365 to arrange this.

Note: this is not a medical advice line. Please call 111 for medical advice.

• Headspace: This app can be used to relax with guided mediations and

mindfulness techniques to bring calm and wellness. This can also be used

to support with sleep and practicing good sleep hygiene. (Payment is

required after the basic free course if offered). Download it from your

smart phone / tablet’s app store.

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