Category: Blog

We had 16 carers this evening. Lisa welcomed everyone and Doctor Angela one of our Trustees. Lisa asked each to introduce and say a few words if they wanted. Lisa then gave a few updates about the Visiting in Care Homes and how she spoke at the Health, Overview and Scrutiny committee the night before and this may also be a story in the local paper.

Kevin talked briefly about his presentation to the Harrow carers and providing some good tips about conversations with social carers. One of the carers recommended that everyone should check if they are entitled to get 25% discount on your council tax. There were general personal conversations and also conversations about natural remedies that can help with various ailments. Doctor Angela also mentioned however that any natural remedies should always be checked with your GP/ pharmacist who will also advise if there are any side effects especially if other medications are already being taken.

Lisa mentioned that she would not be able to take the carers meeting on the 20th October as she has to attend a work meeting. Everyone was reluctant to miss a meeting and it was suggested that someone else could run the meeting. Kevin volunteered and said that he would be very happy and everyone was very pleased.

It was a very informative and interesting meeting.

We had 14 members today and it was a pleasure to also welcome a visitor from The London Borough of Barnet – Steve Bell from the Prevention and Wellbeing Team. Members remembered him as he attended a few times with clients to the dementia clubs before the pandemic. He couldn’t stay for the whole session as he was having problems running after his dog in the garden who was digging up his plants.

Lisa then gave some updates to members informing them that Dame Esther Rantzen who was originally visiting on the 13th October will now be visiting the carers session on the 27th October. Theresa Villiers MP will be visiting still on Wednesday 14th October and there is a possibility that an Admiral Nurse will be visiting next week’s carers session but this is not confirmed. Nigel Wray will also be popping in to say hello at one of the sessions soon.

It was then time for the Lisa and mark Karaoke session which everyone really enjoyed. We played the ABBA ‘Dancing Queen’ funny variation again which everyone thought was very funny. Lisa also wished Kevin’s wife Olivia a happy birthday for tomorrow.

Sian was unfortunately away today as her little boy ill with chicken pox and therefore Richard Kravetz took the exercise session with some Yoga which everyone really enjoys. Lisa then called out the Bingo numbers and the winners today were Helen and Chrystalla. As they have won 3 times – they are now Game 4 winners. A new game will now start again.

We had 18 members today. Lisa welcomed everyone and also welcomed Bob Hollweg – activities coordinator with 10 residents all joined in from Aarundale Manor Care Home. It was a pleasure to welcome them especially as they used to attend the dementia club sessions before the pandemic.

Lisa also gave a few updates to the members informing them that we will have a surprise visit very soon from Nigel Wray one of our Patrons. We will also be having a visit from Theresa Villiers MP next Wednesday 14th October and we will be having a visit from Dame Esther Rantzen in the carers meeting in the evening. Date TBA.

It was a surprise today to see our music entertainer introducing his dog hand muppet he calls Theodore. Members thought it was very funny. Ian informed members that he was going to use the dog hand puppet to do a children’s show. Ian as usual entertained everyone with a variety of songs. As Aarundale Care Home also knew Ian, they were happy to see him too.

The session then followed with exercises with Eon Walters which as always gets everyone working hard but its always fun too. Lisa then showed members a funny Abba –‘ Dancing Queen’ Karaoke which everyone enjoyed. This was followed by a picture quiz of Male Hollywood Actors which was challenging but fun. Lisa then called out the Bingo numbers and todays winners were Helen and Chrystalla.

We had 22 members today. Lisa welcomed everyone and it was also a pleasure to welcome volunteers Annette and Melvyn and also our Trustee Dr Angela. Lisa gave members an update about the Covid-19 virus and also announced the Silver Sunday coming up this weekend and the events listed. Dementia Club UK is also listed.

It was then time for our music entertainer James Le Bec. Members have always liked James as he interacts well and they also like Joy his partner. James sang a bit of country music to start with today and then he moved on to the music quiz which was slightly different today. James had 5 music quiz questions for members to name the voice they hear and then 5 music quiz questions to the name the song. It was good fun and members enjoyed the change. Of course Mark was also throwing the digital dice before each question and this made the quiz even more fun. It was a total score of 82 today but with the extra 10 points for naming 10 famous ladies who have a name beginning with D the grand total was 92.

Richard Kravetz was then ready to start the exercises which everyone always enjoys as Richard takes it slowly and makes it also great fun. Richard then continues after the exercises and does a general knowledge quiz. Today’s quiz was 10 questions about the 1960’s. The winners who scored high were Colin, Brian, Helen and Pam. Lisa then read out a joke as usual and then called out the Bingo numbers. There were 4 winners today – Ann and Connie, Karen and Frances, Lillian and Colin.

We had 10 carers this evening for the session. Lisa welcomed everyone and also Dr Angela. One of the carers suggested that everyone should introduce each other. Lisa therefore asked each of the carers in turn to introduce themselves and say a few words. There was no obligation on the carers but they were all happy to do so.

One of the carers showed a 1950’s Scrapbook which she bought from Amazon. It looked very interesting and apparently you can buy all the decades. The link to this book is below if anyone is interested.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/1950s-Scrapbook-S/dp/0954795423/

Lisa then gave an update regarding the Carers ID card and also an update about the visiting care homes and mentioned that she has had to refer the matter back to Matt Hancock as the Local Director of Public Health is uncomfortable in making any decisions without any national guidelines.

There was talk about Day Centres which are opening soon and concerns as to how safe they will be. Lisa also asked everyone if they had any suggestions for any special visitors and the suggestions were for a care manager from a care home to visit, and an Admiral Nurse. It was also suggested if I could contact Esther Rantzen as one of the carers believes that Silverline which is her charity has joined together with Age UK to take action with regards to allowing a family member to visit their loved one in a care home who only responds to touch.

Lisa said she would of course do her best. There was also various other personal chats amongst the carers. Thank you to Dr Angela for attending the session.

We had 17 members today. Lisa welcomed everyone and at 3pm started the Karaoke Show. Everyone really looks forward to this especially when they have given some song requests.

Sian Kenrick is then ready to start the exercises as soon as the Karaoke is finished. Members really love Sian’s music and the exercises. Today Sian also introduced some country line dancing. It was energetic and fun and members love the variety. Lisa then continued the session with reading a joke as laughter is very important and then Lisa called out the Bingo numbers. Today’s winner was Kevin and Mable.

We had 18 members today. Lisa welcomed everyone and it was lovely to see Laurie again a recently joined new member and another new member today – Bob.

It was also a pleasure to welcome Sheila a volunteer from the Rotary Club of Golders Green and also Laurence from the Rotary Club of Hendon. Ian then started his music entertainment and today he sang some old time war songs which everyone enjoyed singing along. It was great fun.

Eon was then ready to start with the exercise to music which everyone enjoys an follows with great interest. It was lovely today to see Eon’s grandson Rafe who is 8 months old.

Lisa then carried on with the session reading a very funny joke and this was then followed with today’s picture quiz which was about naming British Birds. This was won by Connie and Frank who scored the highest points in the quiz with 8 out of 10. Lisa then called out the Bingo numbers and today’s winners were also Connie and Frank.

We had 18 members today. Sotiris one of our members was with his daughter Natasha today as his wife was away. He is proud of his daughter especially as she is also an Actor like her brother and she appears in a television series called “What we do in the Shadows”. Sotiris also showed his little dog he calls Piggy because she has a piggy tail. Everyone enjoyed seeing Piggy.

Lisa welcomed another member today joining for the first time and introduced her to the other members. Lillian joined with her daughter Karen and her carer Sonia. It was 2 members birthdays today – Mable and John – So everyone sang Happy Birthday.

James Le Bec had also started to sing but after 5 minutes his internet had broken and therefore was unable to continue with his performance. Lisa and Mark therefore had to put plan B in action and do a Karaoke Show. Members had a great time singing.

Richard Kravetz was then ready to start the chair Yoga which everyone always enjoys and then he had an interesting quiz today. He had some questions about the Monopoly game, then he had some questions about Famous people quotes and then a few general knowledge quiz questions. The top winner was Andrew followed by Lillian and then Keren.

Lisa then called the Bingo numbers and todays winners were Helen and Chrystalla.

We had 18 carers this evening. We also had a special guest who Lisa invited – Councillor Sachin Rajput, Barnet Council Chairman of the Adults and Safeguarding committee. It was also a wonderful surprise to also welcome Mike Rich the CEO of Barnet carers.

Trustee Dr Angela Parker also attended and of course Lisa and Mark. Lisa had already briefed Sachin about some of the matters that had been discussed at previous carers meetings. Carers ID cards were discussed and as Mike was also at the meeting, it was discussed together and Mike informed Sachin that he would be happy to work together with the council to develop a carer’s ID card which can also be used for emergency.

Another matter which was raised by one of the carers was regarding visiting at care homes. Lisa provided an update after her meeting with Matt Hancock and also Sachin informed everyone how I had raised this matter at the recent Adults and Safeguarding meeting. Other matter were also discussed including respite vouchers, day centres and social workers/carers doing visits remotely.

This was a very productive and interesting meeting. Lisa thanked Sachin and Mike for joining the meeting.

We had 14 members today and it was also a wonderful surprise to everyone to see Laurie one of our members join for the first time. Laurie never thought that he would do Zoom but with the help of his son and from Lisa it was a pleasure to see him. It was in fact so overwhelming for Laurie as he started to chat to other members he hadn’t seen for many months.

Lisa and Mark were then ready to start the Karaoke Show and provided a variety of songs and video clips for everyone to enjoy. Sian Kenrick was then ready to start exercise to music. Everyone enjoys Sian’s different style of exercise which also incorporate some salsa towards the end.

Lisa then did a picture quiz with everyone and today it was about classic toys which brought back lots of memories for example ‘Etch – a Sketch’ which also used to be called ‘Doodle Master’ . Lisa then read out a short joke to make everyone laugh and then it was time to call out the Bingo numbers. It was so amazing that the winner today was Laurie. His first time joining and also a winner. Laurie was delighted.