Question 1 If you have read Wendy Mitchell's last blog and indeed message, what did/do you think about it?
#diversealz
Here it is again - My final hug in a mug:
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Seeing post re: Wendy Mitchell that she "will always be here". 👍 Her voice is immortalised in audiobooks 'Somebody I Used to Know'; 'What I Wish People Knew About Dementia' & 'One Last Thing'; recordings about dementia with the '4 amigos':
#diversealz
Okay, let's put it out there. Father died today. May his soul rest in peace. It's been a busy day and as we didn't want to miss this evening's topic, chose bereavement and finance. Wanted to get people's take on this issues and start conversation
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#fiancedem
click send
R.I.P. Naomi Feil, a pioneer of person centred care who died on 24th Dec. A gerontologist, she founded the Validation Training Institute with an emphasis on training & programmes re "older adults with cognitive decline". Leaves an everlasting legacy. May her soul rest in peace.
Wendy Mitchell Obituary by Anna Wharton via The Guardian:
@whartonswords
co-wrote Somebody I used to know; What I wish people knew about dementia and One Last Thing: How to live with the end in mind with Wendy.
#diversealz
Aged Care Australia article by Sarah Russell 'Aged care has been failing for years – coronavirus has merely highlighted systemic problems' via Guardian (July 2020):
‘I’ve faced my biggest fear’:
@WendyPMitchell
on young-onset dementia via Financial Times: . Sub heading:
'Over a scrabble board, the former NHS manager talks about how ‘brain training’ games can help'
#diversealz
We should revisit the conversation on male carers. There is one high profile male carer we can mention who is prolific not only on Twitter but in scholarship on dementia -
@dr_shibley
. We need to acknowledge male carers of people living with dementia.
#diversealz
Strive 4 cause MT
@Tunde_OD
It takes a lot of deliberate effort to do good work & sometimes you may feel unheard & unseen but remember to stay true to the mission & make sure you're in it for the right reasons.
Someday all those sacrifices will count for something.
#Diversealz
We acknowledge that Wendy Mitchell is/was one among many people living with dementia who are creating legacies, advocating, campaigning and teaching. Anyone want to add to why we are mentioning her now?
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This could be triggering but ahead of
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on narratives (8pmGMT/3pmET), do take a look at Wendy P Mitchell's last blog My Final Hug in Mug: How can one describe this final written act and the day it was posted? Rest in Peace Wendy P Mitchell
It's often said oral health/mouthcare gets forgotten re: dementia. Could it be the case, sometimes, that it becomes less of a priority as the dementia progresses? Think cases where supporters/carers could think person with dementia brushing when not.
#diversealz
#beginners
Another dislike (Covid) are evictions from care homes & being "locked out" of care homes (4 some) following a trip out. Eviction is something we've mentioned overtime but not focused on.
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Thurs is power of attorney but also this & legal issues
#contracts
8pmBST/3pmET
Dementia and Prescribed Disengagement™ by
@kateswaffer
via
@DementiaJournal
(2014)
#diversealz
We've spoken about this over the years. It's as relevant then as it is now and fits in with our convo.
As we mention unexpected hospital admissions, see
@JohnCampaign
campaigning "for the right to stay with people with dementia" in hospital, tho extended to situation with care home residents unable to see their relatives/friends regularly supporting
@rightsforresid2
#diversealz
For film buffs: Olivia de Havilland, Golden Age of Hollywood star, dies at 104 via BBC: The actress narrated the
@IRememberBetter
film I Remember Better When I Paint, a documentary about the value of the creative arts for people with dementia.
#diversealz
To the people who often support others on this timeline, thank you. For everyone who thinks
#diversealz
is a supportive and informative environment, thank you and may you all prosper, thrive and stay positive in your dementia journeys in whatever capacity that may be
#diversealz
Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being and virtual care for people living with dementia and care partners living in the community by
@pamelamroach
et al via
@DementiaJournal
. Full article here: . Thank you!
#diversealz
#Canada
Visiting in care homes by
@vicrayner
via
@NCFCareForum
: She argues that preventing visits "creates significant risks" and concludes with "a real life story"
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Who's reading 'Listen' by With the End in Mind author
@drkathrynmannix
, which is our focus on 25th Nov when we discuss the importance of listening?
Supplementary reading: How To Say the Unsayable via The Guardian:
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. See you 25/2 8pmGMT/3pmET?
@KateLeeCEO
@JohnCampaign
Second your sentiment for the fearless duo Julia Jones & Nicci Gerrard and quest for care homes to open up for visiting again. Tweeting to say some people may want to be you one day for your steer on equalities and looking at some of the issues with action in mind
Using social media for continuous professional development by
@CalvinMoorley
and
@WeNurses
founder
@AgencyNurse
via Wiley: . Though a focus is on the WeNurses tweetchat, the tips and reflective questions apply to all and make useful reading.
#Diversealz
Bestselling author, dementia advocate and blogger ()
@WendyPMitchell
(WPM) is on
#diversealz
timeline via
@piponthecommons
. WPM's new book 'What I Wish People Knew About Dementia' is out Jan 2022. Watch out for our tweet-up.
#dembk
Listening 2 Solving Alzheimer's: Fear & Stigma the BBC documentary () mentioned by
@Mycarematters
. Striking from beginning is language used and narrative....got an idea about this the narrative and hope not right
#diversealz
#alzchat
#stigma
Thank you so much for chatting with us
@lorenzos_house
and for making us think even more about brotherhood and sisterhood. Indeed, we are
#diversealzers
or the
#diversealz
family as several followers named us! We hope that researchers focus on your work at some stage.
Hi
#Alzchat
A Chevrolet advert - A Holiday to Remember is trending. See the powerful story behind this car promotion. Glen Campbell's Sunshine on My Shoulder plays:
#lifestory
#dementia
#memories
Wishing you all a joyous holiday & peaceful 2024!
This is Sarah and Gemma, Wendy’s daughters. Our mum died peacefully early this morning. She wrote a blog post before she died so you can read about it from her perspective.
Sarah and Gemma
#Diversealz
on Thursday is about dementia narratives/lifestories & importance. We're going to devote a bit of time to Wendy P Mitchell who died today (announced by her daughters). Wendy left a final blog. We send condolences to her family. May her soul rest in peace.
Question 5 what can be done about staff shortages in care homes and let’s ask this who cares? Will we ever know the impact of this, including Covid situations and with reference to dementia?
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Cc
@rightsforresid2
Supplementary reading for
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extra on Tuesday 22 Feb:
@WendyPMitchell
reveals all is not lost…via Daily Mail: This supports our convo on her book What I Wish People Knew About Dementia
#Diversealz
8pmGMT/3pmET
Question 9 Men. We forget about men and yet, this affects men too. The question: how/why are they forgotten? For sure, we applaud single men who are caring for parents with dementia. More stories needed here, still
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RT
@KarrieMarshall
Interesting that many care homes still full on with restrictions. Interested in how other care homes manage risks to be more flexible with times and number of visitors. Building design & creative thinking may feature in this.
#AlzChat
Seeing a conversation on anticipatory grief. Many people do not recognise it or are aware that it exists. Can be mistaken for sadness or depression. Why would you grieve for a living person?
First off we say thanks to
@MiliDoshi7
who didn't hesitate and never does when we mention oral health and participation. Tonight's topic is thanks to her and we have an additional hashtag
#pohdem
#diversealz
C is for campaign. Sending good wishes to
@rightsforresid2
for their continued efforts re: rights of residents in care homes and addressing visitor restrictions.
#Diversealz
Thurs: dementia and research. Three points: 1) why's it a challenge for caregivers/people with dementia to have research/work accepted; 2) collaborations; 3) researcher perspectives. Joining us:
@nchadborn
collaborations,
@ClarissaGiebel
perspectives. 8pmGMT/3pmET
Should dementia be part of formal medical training/doctors increase knowledge rather than awareness?
#oomf
mentions doc won't change medication as not a dementia specialist. As waiting lists re: specialists can be long, how important is primary care here?
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All that's left is to say thank you for joining
#Diversealz
and for your interest throughout the year. Sending you all good wishes for a prosperous, safe and happy 2024. See you then! We'll pick up any posts tomorrow
Question 4 We automatically speak of family members and advocacy, but what about people who are single or ageing without children. Who is speaking for them and when do we remember?
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Just hearing via
@NLWheeler4583
and tweeting with a heavy heart that Derek Fisher died suddenly yesterday. Many people on the timeline knew Derek for his devotion to dementia awareness, dementia care & Arsenal. We send condolences to his family. R.I.P Derek.
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Those hard parts about dementia: when it becomes harder to find ways to let your loved one/friend with dementia know how much they are loved/care for. What do you do?
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It's your last
#alzchat
before Christmas so taking time out to wish you & your followers peace, good health and safety at this time. Best wishes to you all cc
@IRememberBetter
We need to chat about supporting carers/supporters of people with dementia during Covid. We'll focus on this next Tuesday 15th September 8pmBST/3pmET. It matters. We know it matters all the time but the pandemic also provides an additional focus. Some may say urgency
#diversealz
Reading that
@karenwatchman
is now a Professor. To recap, Dr Watchman is known for her pioneering and award-winning work re: learning disability and dementia, training and teaching. She also enlightens us from time to time and we appreciate it. Congratulations Prof!
' Dancing With Dementia: Exploring the Embodied Dimensions of Creativity and Social Engagement' (2021) via The Gerontologist
@geronsociety
by
@piakontos
et al mentions our point about use & includes information on Sharing Dance Seniors project:
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To everyone who: works to help raise awareness of Alzheimer's; is part of Alzheimer's care; an advocate; someone who works to raise awareness of dementia....World Alzheimer's Month should be celebrating you. Take a bow even if it is a silent one.
#diversealz
On 4th March we focus on book With the End in Mind by
@drkathrynmannix
to discuss end of life care and death.
#diversealz
. We'll talk about the book and the issues. Do join this important conversation 8pmGMT/3pmET
Food and we should add drink and the importance of hydration. Saying congratulations to
@JellyDrops_
whose brand will be seen in America soon. See: My Mum has Alzheimer's, these hydrating jelly drops sweets help boost her water intake
#diversealz
Reminiscing about Twitter and X following news Naomi Feil died 24/12. Why? Gladys Wilson & Naomi Feil: This video connected & continues to reconnect so many of us here re: discussions and validation of the power of music. More on
#diversealz
Thurs 8pmGMT
#Diversealz
Thurs: All fair in dementia?: dementia & health inequalities focusing on postcode lotteries, access to services, caring and impact. That's our agenda - yours? Join us with
@ClarissaGiebel
who will be co-hosting 8pmGMT, 3pmET
#groups
Question 3 How important is it to "feel good" when providing care or attention? Please think of this in the context of self care. Could it be possible that if you don't look after yourself well or feel good, you can't exude confidence or give the care really needed?
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Thinking back on
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Thursday and the news of Wendy Mitchell's death, just thinking about her humility, which does not detract from her enormous contribution, which includes book. Although the dementia world may think a light has gone, a guiding light remains.
#Legacy
.
So great to have
@2centscorner
on the chat tonight.
#diversealz
-ers please send hugs. Again, we are so sorry to hear about loss of your mum. She has left you with many gifts. Remember that.
We always intended to discuss dementia and narratives/stories for
#diversealz
Thurs 22/2. It's the day we hear of Wendy P Mitchell's death. We'll start by looking briefly at her contribution to dementia/care and last blog My Final Hug in a Mug:
Point about newsletters and care homes is frequency and, importantly, consistency.
@KT2690
highlights infrequency at mother's care home adding "it is like a life line that never quite happens".
#diversealz
clearly Newsletters can be an important way to know what's going on
Reminder via
@MiliDoshi7
of partnership approaches RT It would be great if we could utilise our dental care professionals - dental nurses, hygienists and therapists.
#diversealz
#pohod
. Reminds us of proverb, if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.
Briefly stopping by
#alzchat
as online. Would like to emphasise that treating people with dignity closely linked to respect includes tone of voice, words, actions, body language. Arguably, we can all understand this. Feel strongly start with the approach first
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Question 3: music can play an important part in changing the mood of a person living with dementia. Has anyone tried this with success? Yes! But calling for examples all the same!
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Reality check:
#Diversealz
does not exist in a vacuum. Everybody makes it, so thank you. We are all sharing, making a difference and talking or facing things we may not have done once upon a time. That’s the engagement
#Diversealz
Question: .is phrase living well...with dementia, most appropriate one to use?
#Diversealz
asked before. Think
@dr_shibley
@KateSwaffer
have views. Now
@WendyPMitchell
who raised in blog has had notable response: . This tweet picks up on this. Thoughts?
The S word and dementia suffer, suffering, sufferer. It has become such a loaded word and one to examine in many different contexts. We've mentioned it often, as is the case here, but let's ask...what do you think about it?
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Question 6 Why are attitudes about/towards dementia important and why is attitude key?
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Second part in relation to
@WendyPMitchell
discussing the attitude one adopts to approaching something.
A quote adopted by the dementia community is Dr Maya Angelou's much cited "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Did you know she was a dementia advocate?
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There, we've said it on the timeline...suicide is a real possibility for some carers given situations around covid, caring and dementia. Wonder who's looking at this?
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It is great seeing all the ideas about ways to manage anxiety and depression yet the hardest, for many, and arguably, one of the most important ones is reaching out to ask for help or talk about it. Think of people who are alone for example. So easy to mask feelings
#alzchat