|
Next meeting March 1st at the Day Hospital, Berwick Infirmary from 7.00pm – 9.00pm Guest speaker is Paramedic Dave Redman from North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust
The North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust was formed in 1999 following the merger of Northumbria and Durham Ambulance Services. It covers the counties of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and Durham, an area of approximately 3000 square miles, and is bordered with Scotland to the north, Cumbria to the west and North Yorkshire to the south. A workforce of 1385 people serves a population of 2 million
*****
Our speaker for the March meeting, on Wed 1st. was Jean Worth of Carers Link. “Now who are they?” I hear you ask, well as a group it started about 3 years ago when some Carers got together to discussed some of the problems Carers where experiencing. The meetings became regular and it was decided they should become official and so a registered charity was formed, run mainly by volunteers but with some paid part time positions, it is supported by Northumberland NHS, The Countryside Agency and The Northern Rock Foundation and the Project Patron is Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland.
As the name suggests their aim is to link carers. This is achieved by telephone or E Mail contact, or through local support groups, and is for the purpose of offering mutual support, sharing information and knowledge, and friendship, for old and new Carers.
Jean started the evening by asking if anyone knew what a Carer was, and if anyone knew any. Whilst most of us had a basic idea, and a few admitted knowing some, Jean explained her groups’ version of what a Carer is as, “Someone who looks after family; a partner or friends in need of help because they are ill, frail or have a disability. The care they provide is unpaid”.
I think this last bit means they are not paid, as a job, by the person who they look after, not whether or not they receive a Carer’s Allowance.
After thinking about it, most of us know carers in one or more of the categories.Some of us are Carers ourselves, so the fact that there is a group to whom anyone of us could turn to at any time is a great comfort.
A Telephone Listening Service is also available for new Carers, or those in transition. This means if the person for whom a Carer is caring if their condition worsens, and the carer needs a listening ear or some advice it is there at the end of a telephone. These are manned (or to be politically correct operated) by current or former carers who have understanding and/or advice to pass on. Training is given to all listeners, some of whom specialise on different areas of caring.
I am going to try and reproduce the centre pages of Jean’s leaflet which may explain things better. but it needs most of a page to get it in, so now I’ve got to try and fill up the rest of this page.
If you are interested in becoming a Carer, or wish to find out more you can contact either Kate who is responsible for the Alnwick area or Jean for the Berwick area. Their usual office hours are Monday 9am. to 12md, Tuesday 10am to 12md, Wednesday 10am to 12md, and 2pm to 4pm. and Friday 9am. To 2pm. There is an answer phone at all other times. None of this is any use without a telephone number which is 01668 219951,or web site co-ords@carerlink.org
*****
Correction
In the meeting report of the March newsletter we reported that CAB received no funding from Berwick Borough Council, This should have read Northumberland. County Council. Berwick Borough Council do support CAB
*****
Recipe of the month
Salmon pasta bake
Ingredients
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 oz butter
4 fl oz double cream
4oz piece of salmon
2oz spinach
7oz cooked pasta
2 egg
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7.
2. Gently soften the onion and garlic in the butter for 5-6 minutes. Add the cream and heat through.
3. Poach the salmon in boiling water for 2-3 minutes and drain.
4. Break the salmon into large chunks and add to the sauce. Stir in the spinach and cook for one minute.
5. Add the pasta and stir through.
6. Lightly beat the two eggs and stir in.
7. Put the mixture into an ovenproof dish and bake in the oven for 12-14 minutes.
8. Serve hot
*****
Wally’s Yarn
The Lord of the Manor, who was staying at his Gentlemen’s Club in London, summoned his farm manager from the depths of rural England.
He asked the manager for an update of the farm as he had not been home for a few weeks.
The manager told him there was some good news, but as always with good news this is often tinged with a little bit bad new
“What’s happened” enquired the Lord.
“Your little terrier, Bugle, has died”
This was the Lords favourite dog, and he was quite upset to hear it had died. “How did
it happen?”, asked the Lord.
“We are not rightly sure”, said the manager, “But we think it was kicked by your horse”.
“That’s nonsense man, my horse is so docile, it’s never kicked anything in its life” said the Lord
“Well” said the manager “We think it may have been frightened by the fire”.
“What fire”, said the Lord
“The fire in the stable” replied the manager.
“Was there much damage?, and what caused the fire” , asked the Lord
“There’s nothing left, even the horse has bolted and hasn’t been seen since”, said the manager, “and we can’t be sure as to how it started, but it may have been a spark from the Manor House”.
“What do you mean, a spark from the Manor House”, said the Lord angrily
“Well, there was a little fire at the big house”, said the manager.
“Was there much damage?”, said the Lord
“Razed to the ground, nothing left” , said the manager.
“What about the family silver, the art work, is it safe it is worth hundreds of thousands of pounds” said the Lord.
“All gone”, said the manager, “There’s just a little brickwork standing”.
“Why has my wife not been in contact”, said the Lord, “She knows where I am”
“Never seen her since the fire, we think she may have perished”, added the manager.
“What else is there man, surly there is nothing else. My dogs dead, my horse is gone, the stables and big house destroyed, my wife believed dead, and the family silver and my art collection gone up in flames” despaired the Lord.
“We have been in touch with your Insurance Company to get advice, but it would appear that they have gone out of business”, said the manager
“What am I going to do, I’ve nothing left”, said the Lord, “but wait a minute you did say there was some good news”.
“Yes my Lord”, said the manager, excitedly “I think this is very good news, we are not sure why it should have happen, we can only think that it was all that heat from the big house but the tomato plants in the green house have come on a treat, they are a fortnight ahead of everyone else’s for miles around”.
*****
Healthy Lifestyle May Ward Off Memory Loss
Do you sometimes misplace your keys, have difficulty remembering names of people you've met, or find yourself forgetting in mid- sentence what you were saying?
By age 50, many healthy adults begin to notice symptoms of memory loss. Indeed, as we age, researchers have found our memory function can decline by as much as 45 percent.
How do you know whether your memory loss is a normal process of aging or a symptom of a medical problem? What can you do to prevent memory loss and keep your mind sharp? For answers, I talked to Dr. David Trinkle, a geriatric psychiatrist and medical director for the Carilion Center for Healthy Aging.
The brain is an incredible computer that stores information in different files. Information stored in short-term memory include the name of a person you met moments ago. Recent memory may include such information as what you had for dinner last night. Memories from years ago are stored in remote memory. Since these types of memories are stored in different parts of the brain, the effects of aging or disease vary.
Short-term and remote memories aren't usually affected by the process of aging, while recent memory may be. A memory problem may be serious and require medical evaluation when it affects your daily living.
"A key worry is if you lose mental skills for familiar activities," Trinkle said. "For example, if you are a person who has always been good at remembering people's names, and you find that you can't do that as well anymore."
Some of the medical conditions that can cause memory loss include depression, strokes, a head injury, alcoholism, side effects of drugs, and dementia (severe problems with thinking, such as Alzheimer's disease). Any serious concerns about memory loss should be discussed with your physician.
The Carilion Center for Healthy Aging offers several types of clinics for evaluation and resources for patients and families. Patients may be referred by their primary care physicians, or may self-refer (though they do need a primary care physician as a contact to follow up with test results and recommendations that may be made).
Additional specialty clinics and services offered include a "mild cognitive impairment clinic" (offering more intensive testing for early memory loss), a "behavioral disorders" program (focusing on dementia or Alzheimer's, offering help for both patients and caregivers), a "continence clinic" (with OB/GYN assistance for patients with urinary incontinence) and "outreach programs" (including working with patients in nursing homes, making home visits, and teaching community and medical professionals).
Trinkle recommends anyone concerned about his or her memory should discuss it with a physician.
"Worrying itself can interfere with mental function, as can stress and depression," he said. Also, he added that people should be aware their vascular health.
Keeping normal memory loss at bay is possible by making healthy lifestyle choices. Since the brain relies upon a healthy blood supply to function optimally, things that are good for heart health are also good for brain health. Some recommendations include:
- Stay active. Exercise increases blood flow to all parts of the body, including the brain.
- Eat well. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, containing antioxidants, helps to protect and nourish brain cells. A Harvard study conducted from 1976-2001 tracked eating habits and mental function of a group of subjects and showed that those who ate the highest amounts of green, leafy vegetables had the slowest rate of mental decline.
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Permanent brain damage can occur in people who drink heavily over a period of years. Moderate consumption is considered no more than one drink per day for women, no more than two for men.
- Manage your stress. Under stress, hormones are released throughout the body that can interfere with brain function.
- Don't smoke. Anything that interferes with healthy cardiovascular functioning affects the brain. It's never too late to quit smoking and reduce this risk.
Research has shown that the brain does retain its ability to create new neural pathways, even as we age. In fact, a recent Time magazine article (Jan. 16, 2006) on the subject reported that an active mind after mid-life is more capable of creating communication pathways between right and left brain than a younger brain.
Exercising the brain is like exercising the body -- keep the organ flexible, in good physical shape and functioning well. You can challenge your brain in the following ways:
- Do crossword puzzles, or other "mental calisthenics" such as Sudoku puzzles or playing chess.
- Learn to speak a foreign language.
- Learn to play a new musical instrument.
- Start a new hobby such as woodworking, painting or bird- watching.
- Read and stay informed on current events.
- Expand your ability to use your computer, taking classes if you need to.
- Interact with others in meaningful ways, such as volunteering.
|
