Singing For The Brain has been so popular at The Peggy Dodd Centre that they will now meet on a weekly basis. It starts at 10.00am with light refreshments and is followed at 10.30am with an hour of singing and musical activities. It is led by Lindy Platt, a retired primary school teacher, and supported financially by the Trustees of Peggy Dodd. It is run in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Society. These events are for carers and the ones they care for. There is no charge for this activity, but donations for refreshments are welcome. For more information contact: Margaret Klestadt 0n 01225 864464. You will always get a really warm welcome, so do give Margaret a call.

Christmas and New Year, although a time to be with family and friends and have fun, for many carers this can add additional pressure. Too often we can all rush around buying, making things that don’t really matter, to help reduce the worry here are a few tips:

• If family and friends are coming, make life a little easier don’t make cakes and mince pies buy them. Get the super market to deliver!
• Let the family know you are keeping things simple and if they offer to bring food accept it, make suggestions of what you need so you don’t end up with tons of sausage rolls.
• If they offer help so you can do shopping or help on the day – accept it!
• If family and friends don’t offer help – don’t be afraid to ask for  it.
• When you are asked what you would like for a present, suggest  things that you would find helpful: sitting for a couple of hours with the person you care for, gardening, cooking a meal, decorating or even some equipment that would make life easier. 
• In the New Year make a resolution to make your role as a carer easier, there are several support groups – the Carers Centre always has a great selection of events taking place as well as the opportunity to talk to professionals and other carers. Try one of the training sessions that take place at RICE.

Carers Centre – 0800 0388 885

RICE – 01225 476420

RICE (Research Institute for the Care of Older People) is to be featured on the BBC Lifeline Christmas Charity Appeal. The broadcast is on BBC1 on Sunday 16 December at 4.05pm, and again on BBC2 on Wednesday 19 December at 1.30pm. Hosting the appeal is Tony Robinson, whose personal experience of dementia with his Mother and Father gives him an insight into the devastation the disease can cause. Also explaining the challenges of living with dementia and how RICE has helped them are Sir Terry Pratchett and Ingrid Aspell, whose husband Terry has Alzheimer’s disease. For more details……

RICE is an internationally renowned dementia research and treatment centre located in Bath. It is a registered charity focused on essential research and providing support for people with dementia, their families and carers, dedicated to improving the quality of life of everyone involved.