Please click on the month/s below which you would like to see the latest news for:

February and March 2010

December 2009

Free Cinema Tickets for Carers

The Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card is a national card that entitles the holder  to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema.

To apply for the card, you will need to meet one or more of the following criteria:

a) Be in receipt of the disability living allowance or attendance allowance.

b) Be a registered blind person.

The card is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. Application forms are available from cinemas across the UK supporting this card or can be downloaded from their internet site at www.ceacard.co.uk. There is a processing fee of £5.50 is chargeable per card which needs to be sent along with the completed application.

Participating Cinemas in the Maidstone area are listed below:

New exercise sessions to start using the latest technology

Our new exercise sessions named "WII and a Tea" uses the help of an Nintendo WII Fit to improve posture, balance and overall well being.

Participants will play competitive games such as bowling, golf and tennis and get the chance throughout the session to have a cuppa and a chat.

Those who are mobile and aged over 50 can enjoy our free fun-filled sessions being held at Shepway Court centre in Maidstone.

Those who are interested should ring the office on 01622 753618 for more details and to add their name to the list.

The next session is due to start on the 12th January 2.30pm at Shepway Court housing centre

November

Mince Pies amongst the flowers

Christmas is nearly here and it’s the perfect time for sampling mince pies and having a look for some Christmas decorations. Throughout November and into the beginning of December each day centre annually visits Highgrove garden centre in Staplehurst for a festive afternoon. I went along with the Harbledown House Wednesday members to nab a mince pie or two.

We were greeted by the Highrove staff with warm smiles, (and umbrellas) then shown to comfy chairs in the garden cafe where promptly, traditional mince pies were served up along with a nice cuppa. Once our
bellies were full we took a look around the centre. I eyed upped the food goodies on offer, strolled amongst the Christmas trees, and twinkly fairy light then perused the trinkets and plants.

At half three it was home time, we gathered back at the garden café to nosey at peoples purchases, Bill Baker 91, showed me some ginger biscuits he brought and when I asked him if they were his favourite he quip “I’m a compulsive shopper, I have to get something anytime I go out it doesn't matter if I need it!”

Everyone then received a cheery Christmas mug to take home as a keepsake.

October

Sending a little reminder of England to Afghanistan

Clients and staff at Staplehurst Day centre have been busy collecting items to send as Christmas presents to the soldiers in Afghanistan and this week they assembled their gift boxes.

The staff members and clients have been buying and donating grocery items, magazines and toiletries for a number of weeks ready to be packed into a shoebox wrapped with festive paper, to send out to the soldiers stuck in the war zone over Christmas.  

The idea came from long- term volunteer Jean Winyard, who felt that, “It was good way for the elderly to be involved in helping to bring a little bit of cheer to the soldiers. I knew the scheme was happening and I thought the clients would enjoy knowing that they can do something useful towards the war.”

Volunteer, Jean Winyard

above left.

In the middle, client Pauline Tovell and on the far right Helen, Staplehursts centre leader

Jean added that “…everyone has been enthusiastic, Iris, one the centres clients got the shoes boxes from her daughter and just take a look at some of the stuff they brought in. There are loads of brilliant items and useful things too, like toothbrushes.” 

Yummy food stuff included toffees, miniature Christmas puddings, tasty biscuits, tea bags, chewing gum and the unpredictable marmite. Alcohol and jelly were not allowed and unfortunately, chocolate. Each box also contained a message reading ‘Donated and packed with love by clients who attend the Age Concern centre at Staplehurst Kent.’ 

Age Concern Maidstone is pleased to promote a dementia clinic run by a team of admiral nurses, here in the borough of Maidstone.

Admiral Nurses are a very scarce breed, they are specialist in supporting dementia patients of any age and their carers, currently there is only handful working in the South East and we are very lucky to have their expertise with us.

The clinic aims to provide much needed to support to those who have dementia and their direct support network. There is particular emphasis towards the carers needs starting at the pre-diagnosis stage through to the point of diagnosis, help with respite information, applications for benefits and bereavement counseling.

The referral run scheme will mean that a nurse will assess all aspects and needs of the sufferer’s carer and the sufferer themselves; they will then arrange the appropriate practical and emotional help for them and be a source of comfort and guidance to all of those involved.  

Please contact us on 01622 759618 to be referred or email lyn.rootes@ageconcernmaidstone.org.uk for more information.

Age Concern Maidstone is delighted to announce the arrival of a wheelchair fleet to our Mill Street offices, which you can hire out now.

If you have an elderly friend or relative visiting you or someone who is a little unsteady on their feet then drop by at 11 Mill Street, Maidstone to take a look at what we have for hire.

The wheelchairs can be hired out for blocks of seven days at £10 or either a few hours or a couple of days for a rate of £3 per day. Clients will need to pay a £50 refundable deposit; this is to cover any loss or damage occurred to the wheelchair whilst in the clients care.  

You can hire out the wheelchairs Monday- Thursday between 10am and 4pm and Friday 10-2pm, so that means if you were popping into Maidstone for a bit shopping and felt that a wheelchair would be beneficial to you then you can drop by our offices in the morning, pay £3, and bring it back at the end of the day.

Celebrating our Older Citizens

October the first was a day to celebrate the part that older people play in our society.

Building on from the success of last year’s UK Olders Peoples Day, the 2009 theme remained the same  ‘bringing generations together.’

The events held throughout the United Kingdom aimed to put a positive view on later life and what there is available to them, it brought together friends and family from all ages and backgrounds.

Up north in Newcastle, they held a family fun day with the opportunity to try out new sporting activities. Eastbourne celebrated with poetry readings from an anthology about ageing and the city of Southampton had a vintage bus touring throughout the town centre with music from a Dixie band playing, along with the opportunity to step inside the bus for advice and information.

Saying a Big Thank-You

Mote Park cricket pavilion was the setting for Age Concern Maidstone’s annual volunteer evening and the big thank-you was led by the chief executive, Paul Coles and client service manager, Lynda Rootes with the chairman Patricia Thomas also showing her appreciation.

Speeches were given by Lynda, Paul and Patricia explaining how the volunteers are essential to the charity and how the evening was about recognising their hard work, dedication and continued support to the charity over the year.  
Paul outlined in his speech what Age Concern achieved during the year and plans for the future, including revealing exciting new development plans for a dementia day centre to be opening in Maidstone.

Everyone was then treated to a free drink from the bar and a buffet; certificates of thanks were handed out to each volunteer.

Tony Randell has been voluntary driver for over 14 years and commented “The evenings are a good idea and because I’m retired, volunteering breaks up the week. You feel like you’re doing something worthwhile and the clients appreciate it.”

Another volunteer veteran, Jean Floyd, who has been helping in the day centres for 16 years, said “…it’s nice to still be useful and feel needed.”

The evening was a resounding success and much social merriment was had throughout, with volunteers swapping stories, reminiscing and looking forward to the future.

 “…Every single person here helps to make the charity a success and without them we wouldn’t be able to give the kind of support to the clients as we do now”, remarked Lynda Rootes, client service manager.

New technology is set to revolutionise home life

On Thursday the 4th June at the Village Leisure Hotel in Sandling, Maidstone, client service manager Lynda Rootes and 20 Age Concern clients were introduced to a new innovative way of living.

Two scenarios were shown to them demonstrating how the technology aims to improve the elderly and their carers’ lives drastically.

The first was of a 70-year old man living with his 65-year old wife; he is suffering with the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Their technology included a flat screen television in the living room, which allowed rolling messages and reminds to come on screen that had been written by his wife on a computer. In the kitchen there was a digital corkboard with more reminders, and the ability to video call people. The wife had set a message to pop up on the television to remind him to eat his lunch and on the digital corkboard in the kitchen, a reminder to phone his granddaughter. The man decided against his cold lunch and put a toasty in the oven, but he forgot about it and set the smoke alarm off, the cooker turned itself off and the wife was sent an alarm notice to her mobile phone, where she could video call her husband to check everything was fine.

The second scenario was of an elderly lady living alone with type-2 diabetes, she hadn’t been feeling well and her son put a message on his mothers’ digital television informing the community nurse. The nurse was then able to set up a video appointment between herself, doctor, son and the lady. The doctor was then able to send out an e-prescription that was delivered to her.

The technology is 3-5 years away from completion, and they are still working on a power generating backing system. The exact cost is still unclear.

Lyn Rootes commented on the scheme, “It’s a very good idea and it will be an excellent way of security and reassurance amongst the families, who may worry or look after a person that suffers from such things as dementia.

There was a mixed response amongst my clients though, some were worried about the cost, but most of us already have a television screen at home anyway. ”

Spaces available at Staplehurst day centre

The Staplehurst day care centre is now taking on new clients.

If you are over 65, or have an elderly friend or relative that lives in the village or surrounding areas, and you think they would benefit from what the centre has to offer, this includes day trips, guest speakers and quizzes then please contact our Mill street offices for details on 01622 753618.

The day centre charges £3.90 and includes a freshly cooked lunch. A door-to-door pick up service is currently operating in the villages of Marden, Yalding and Staplehurst and is an extra 30p.

"The store donations mainly come from the clothes van collection" Carol added "we save things for people now, if they are looking for a specific designer or item and we get it in, we will ring them up to let them know. There is no distinction who we help."

In their busy week £1300 was taken alone in clothes and Carol proudly adds "...customers always go away happy."

Rugby boys take a bashing for Age Concern Maidstone

Keen rugby players from the area got together on the 25th April 2009 at Mote Park Rugby club to help raise funds for a mini bus.

The match was organised by the Age Concern accountant, Stephen Quinn. Each player paid £10 to take part and several collection buckets were circulated amongst the merry crowd cheering from the sidelines.

At the end of the fun filled match, each team member was rewarded with an optional beer, and a few manly pats on the back.

The event raised a fantastic £564.24 for the charity.