September is World Alzheimers Month
Here in Taranaki we are so privileged to have a wonderful Centre that provides a range of services to support people affected by dementia.
There are two sites here, one in Hawera operated out of the Nolantown Bowling Club and in New Plymouth where after much fundraising and hard mahi they managed to build a purpose-built centre situated at 14 Manakohi Street, Spotswood.
This has enabled the team in North Taranaki to work from one place and so each team is able to work more efficiently.
The New Plymouth site is a great asset and the arrangement of the building is very user friendly for those with dementia who attend the day programme and other services.
The following services are available to Taranaki community:
1) Day Respite Programme.
This provides social and cognitive stimulation, entertainment and activities for people in the early to moderate stages of dementia, whilst also providing respite for the care partner, carers and family/whanau. Both centres utilize volunteers to support the staff in the activities; and having visited both these clubs, I observed that this is a great place to be involved as a volunteer.
Currently New Plymouth are looking for some handy people to support the activities with their
Tool Box – to help with small projects as another hand on activity.
In Hawera they also offer the Day Programme/ Club, with similar activities to New Plymouth – with a South Taranaki flavour.
2) Navigation Services
This service has experienced Community Advisors who provide support to people in the community, which includes facilitating Carer Support Groups and Alz Café Social Groups around the region.
3) Education Services
A Community Educator provides education, up to date information and promotes dementia awareness to aid the goal of a Dementia Friendly Taranaki. They can visit workplaces to give presentations and they also run post diagnostic education courses for people who are newly diagnosed.
There are currently 70,000 people living with dementia mate wareware in Aotearoa New Zealand and this is expected to increase 240 percent in the next 30 years. There are some misconceptions around dementia mate wareware but with the right support people can continue doing the things they love
As part of Alzheimers month there are always activities, and the following are this year’s options:
3rd September - About Dementia evening workshop 6.pm – 7.30pm in person and online (booking required)
9th September – Reducing the risk Public talk 14 Manakohi Street, Spotswood 10am – 11.30am (bookings required)
16th – 20th September - Library display & drop-in sessions – Puke Ariki, Hawera and Opunake
20th September – An evening with Sir Richard Faull – 6pm – 7.30pm – 14 Manakohi Street, Spotswood (Bookings required)
22nd September Memory Walk from 10am – wear purple and walk with the community from East End Reserve to Tasman Prospect
Where can you learn more?
If you are interested to learn more about Alzheimers Taranaki, listen to Volly Voices on Access Radio when Helen chats about what is happening at the local centre and what is involved and where their locations are.
This can also be listened to on:
Spotify open.spotify.com...
Apple Podcast podcasts.apple.com...
Access Radio website www.accessradiotaranaki.com...
Volunteering New Plymouth website www.volunteeringnewplymouth.org.nz...
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about Alzheimers Taranaki and / or you are interested in becoming a volunteer with this great group, please contact Wendy at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986; E: admin@vnp.nz or Ph/Text: 022 571 4228 to take the next step.
Did you know that there are over 250 Heart Kids members in Taranaki?
Yes that is a true fact and did you also know that this Organisation is the only one in Aotearoa New Zealand dedicated to providing lifelong care and support for children, teens, adults and families impacted by childhood heart conditions? These vital services are provided at no cost to ensure that all those impacted will feel supported, informed, educated and connected. The practical and emotional support is vital in helping individuals and families cope with the day-to-day challenges of living with a childhood heart condition.
There are over 40 different types of childhood heart conditions. Nationwide each week 12 children are being diagnosed with a childhood heart condition and over 500 major heart surgeries are carried out on heart kids every year – that is almost 10 per week. Generally these will be for congenital heart disease and are the most common serious birth abnormality in Aotearoa New Zealand.
There are also Acquired Childhood Heart Disease, and this is an issue with a child’s heart that develops after birth. They can be caused by bacterial or viral infections or be the result of chronic diseases or medications that affect other parts of the body.
All these conditions are ones that Heart Kids offer support to and here in Taranaki we are very lucky to have the Wonderful Narelle who is the Family Support Taituarā. She is available to support families through their journey from diagnosis for life. Once a heart kid, always a heart kid. Heart families can be faced with separation, isolation, stress, financial hardship and loneliness during their journey, The future is uncertain, and these families need support, whether it is at home or visits to the local hospitals and / or Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital, all these unknown possibilities can be stressful and to know that they are not alone in their journey can be really helpful.
If the little one does require surgery, they receive a Maia Bear which they treasure, however, if they are not requiring surgery Volunteering New Plymouth now have knitters and crocheters who are producing tiny teddies to be gifted to these little ones, and are always grateful to all of these volunteer for the hours they put in to help a little one feel supported and cared about. We also have volunteers who are knitting beanies, booties, cardies and singlets. Volunteers are also required to support Narelle with events and fundraising.
If you would like to hear Narelle talk about the support, she and others around the country offer Heart Kids you can find the recorded session of Volly Voices on Spotify and Apple Podcast - to find these go the either Access Radio Taranaki website where these recordings can be found under Community or to Volunteering New Plymouth website and look under Volunteers and Volly Calls.
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about what is involved and / or how you can get involved then contact Wendy at (Monday to Thursday) at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, Ph/Text: 022 571 4228 or Email: admin@vnp.nz. to take the next step.
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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5% Second half of November
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44.6% 1st December
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16.7% A week before Christmas
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32.5% Whenever you wish
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One?
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