Kia ora and welcome to the December pānui!

Kia ora koutou 

With the pōhutukawa bursting into full bloom we know it is Christmas time and summer has arrived!  

We are delighted to share with you the Christmas tree that has been decorated by Pippa Beams from the Home Loan Shop as part of the Cystic Fibrosis Wellington Christmas Tree Festival at the Wellington Airport – you can click here to vote online or if you or any of your friends and whānau are passing through the airport please vote for us - we think it is fabulous and deserves to win! 

This is our final newsletter for 2022 and I would like to take this opportunity to say a big and genuinely heartfelt thank you to our supporters and to acknowledge our clients, the people with mate wareware/dementia and their care partners, supporters, and whānau.  

It has been a tough few years, coping with Covid, and for us as an organisation facing a challenging year financially.  The Dementia Wellington team have demonstrated great flexibility and resilience and I am proud to lead such a dedicated and professional team. I am confident we have turned the corner and in 2023 and beyond we can focus on building a sustainable organisation that is well positioned to meet the growing demand for our services.  

Included in this newsletter we have some tips for making Christmas easier with someone with dementia and we are recruiting for a Dementia Advisor in the Hutt, read on to see how you can help us.  

With very best wishes for a very Happy Christmas and New Year. 

Anne Schumacher Chief Executive

We are asking for your support to help us fill some vacancies we are currently advertising. With the current shortage of health professionals, it is a very competitive market, and we think the best recruitment strategy is through word of mouth - please tell people we are recruiting, even if they are not looking for a new job, they might know someone who is.  

The job is advertised on our website and on Do Good Jobs. We have made a short video with Dementia Advisor Tina talking about the role of Dementia Advisor to help with our recruiting.

1. Introduce the Christmas Environment Slowly

Think about putting decorations up gradually over a few days so it doesn't come as a big change to the person's usual setting. 

2. Bring Back Old Memories

Whether it's an old favourite song or a classic Christmas film, find something fun you can all take part in. Making a family photo album or memory box could be a nice way to spend time together. 

3. Keep it Simple and Familiar

Someone living with mate wareware may feel overwhelmed over the Christmas period, so it's best not to overdo it. 

• Keeping the day's activities low-key will help everyone to relax 
• Sticking to a familiar routine is also a good idea where possible 
• Having meals at regular times and in familiar surroundings will help to minimise potential confusion. 

4. Get Everyone Involved 

There are many ways to involve people living with mate wareware/dementia at Christmas time – from something as simple as hanging a bauble on the tree to doing a spot of Christmas shopping. The important thing is that everyone feels included. 

 5. Create a Quiet Room

A large number of guests can be overwhelming, so ask whānau and friends to spread out their visits over the festive period. If things do get busy, designate one room in your house a 'quiet room' that is relaxing and without loud noise. 

6. Be Mindful of Food

Although many people eat a lot at Christmas, a full plate can be daunting for someone who has difficulties eating. Serve up small, manageable servings with each food item easily recognisable  - remember there is always the option of seconds !  

7. Be Flexible

It's easy to get caught up in Christmas traditions, but your festive season might begin to look different as dementia progresses. It's always worth having a plan B, and be prepared to change your plans if a particular element isn't working 

Our office is closed from midday Thursday 22nd December and will reopen on Wednesday 4th January.  

Click through to our What's Coming Up plan to see the dates of our upcoming activities. You can copy the relevant dates into your calendars or diaries and see what's coming up in other areas too. Our Dementia Advisors will always try to let you know if anything changes but please contact them by email or phone if you're unsure.  

In our Service Booklet you will find full details of all our services and support groups. Please feel free to share this with neighbours and friends who might find it helpful and contact us if you would like to get a printed copy.  

We would like to acknowledge and thank the following Trusts and organisations for their generous support.  

Are you able to support people affected by dementia in Wellington? 

Would you like to support our work?

Click here to donate
Donations of $5 or more are tax-deductible

DIRECT into our bank account

Dementia Wellington Charitable Trust ASB 12-3142-0258625-50 
Our GST number is 127-923-906.

Dementia Wellington is a registered charity (CC56108) and an affiliate of Dementia NZ.

www.dementiawellington.org.nz

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