News at Alzheimers Northland

As the number of people in New Zealand being diagnosed with dementia skyrockets Alzheimers Northland wants to be ahead of the game in ensuring Northland families are not left short.

At Alzheimers Northland we not only care for people with dementia, their families and caregivers we are also a mouthpiece for dementia in Northland. As the experts in dementia in the region we are best placed to advocate and campaign to make sure Northland families’ needs are being met and right now we are concerned about the future.

Alzheimers Northland General Manager Kevin Salmon has put together an insightful paper for the DHB that asks what can we do to address the problem of too few dementia respite beds in Northland.

Kevin said, “The private sector is just not adding dementia beds at a rate that will keep up with demand, some direction to the industry from the DHB around possible requirements in the future will encourage investment in this area. In our opinion Respite, either day, organised short term or organised long term is the best tool to address carer stress, investing in this area without doubt will provide the best support.”

Kevin has highlighted three care facilities that could have the capacity, with funding commitment, to increase their dementia beds. The paper also identifies ways in which we can work towards reducing the immediate need for dementia care by helping families to stay together at home:

– Increasing supervision hours and making them easily available to more carers, helping carers to cope better at home.

– Delivering care plans for all and sharing them with all health providers so that support can be better tailored to suit families needs.

– Access for carers to services which suits their needs the best, supervision, day program or a combination of both.

– Decreased timeframes for assessments; people deteriorate quickly and have higher levels of stress while waiting, without a doubt leading to earlier admissions to dementia units.

– Increasing access to day programs.

– More widely publicised rest home respite care options.

– Investment in carer education training in dementia and coping mechanisms to reduce stress levels and helping families to stay together at home for longer.

Kevin said “These points and more are covered in a detailed paper that I have put together for the DHB so that we can be ahead of the game. I will be working closely with them to make sure the needs of our Northland families are being heard.”

Twenty Eight brave Northlanders have hit new heights in our event Dare to Dive and raised over $11,000 for Alzheimers Northland.

In this unique experience participants received a free tandem skydive when they raised over $600 for Alzheimers Northland. The special Dare to Dive skydive day took place on Saturday 21st July at Skydive Bay of Islands, Kerikeri.

Hannah Hunter, fundraiser at Alzheimers Northland said, “We were absolutely delighted to spend the morning watching our fantastic fundraiser experience the ultimate challenge of jumping out of a plane for Alzheimers Northland. All the participants have been working so hard to raise not only the minimum funds but much more on top. The event has been such a great success; we are very keen to do it again next year! Anyone keen to take part should get in touch to be the first to hear about it.”

Northland Rugby Union and Alzheimers Northland are getting together to celebrate the beginning of a partnership which will see the two organisations working together to improve the communities health and wellbeing.

On September 14, Manawatu will feel the power and the passion of the Taniwha in the second home game of the Mitre 10 Cup competition.    Northland Rugby has designated this game to highlight the work of Alzheimers Northland in supporting people with dementia and their families throughout Northland.  The 5.35pm kick off will see players wearing purple socks, ground signage, information material to raise awareness and volunteers in purple shirts collecting for Alzheimers.

Alistair McGinn, CEO for Northland Rugby said, “We are working closely with Alzheimers Northland because they do such amazing work in helping people who are afflicted with dementia throughout Northland.  Like Alzheimers Northland, we are also committed to working to improve community’s health and wellbeing”

The players and management are all getting behind the charity.  They have committed to finding out how they can make a difference as individuals and a team.  CEO of Alzheimers Northland, Kevin Salmon is over the moon that Northland Rugby has embraced the charity.  “Northland Rugby Union have been so positive and helpful in providing us with opportunities to showcase Alzheimers Northland and educate people about what we do and more importantly what each individual can do to support not only Alzheimers Northland but also people with dementia”

Head Coach, Derren Whitcombe said, “The Community Coordinators for Alzheimers Northland are running an education programme for the players about the effects of dementia at the preseason camp at Taipa.  We whole-heartedly support the work of Alzheimers Northland and the squad has undertaken to become “Friends of Dementia” through an online programme”.

The partnership will not only help raise awareness for the difference that Alzheimers Northland can make to the lives of Northlanders it will also raise vital funds to help the organisation achieve their vision that all Northlanders affected by dementia should receive the support they deserve.