holiday to Hong Kong, are quite varied and are worth more than $6,000. More details will be available early next month.

We are putting the final touches to our Annual Dinner set down for early April 2013. We hope to announce a special guest sometime soon. Register now if you would like tickets when they become available.

We also welcome Dr Tus Fernando to our Board. Most of you would have had some contact with Tus and we are so grateful he has offered his time to add his wealth of knowledge to help us.

It is with a great deal of sadness that we say goodbye to Fiona who is moving with her husband to Tauranga. Fiona has been a huge part of the office and we will all miss her so much. On a happier note we had a new receptionist start on the 11th September. I am sure you will join me in welcoming Jeannie Tindall as she settles into her new role.

September is without a doubt the busiest month of the year for us.

We have a month long Awareness campaign ending with World Alzheimers Day on the 21

st which

just happens to be our annual collection day as well.

Other activities throughout the month include a one man show on Wed 19th September at Forum North called Michael James Manaia: the reviews have been amazing. If you would like a ticket or more details please contact the office.

You may have seen some advertising on TV 1, 2 and 3 suggesting that you contact your local doctor if you think you know somebody who has Alzheimers. This sort of campaign is amazingly expensive and without the support of the Ministry of Health and Pub Charity this sort of promotion would not be possible.

Our next fundraising activity will start in mid October, a mega raffle. We have had some amazing support from some wonderful sponsors. Tickets will be only $3 each or $30 for a book of 10. The 5 prizes, headed by an overseas

Alzheimers Awareness Month!

Alzheimers Society Northland (Inc)

P O Box 1179, 321 Western Hills Drive, Whangarei Ph: (09) 438 7771, Fax: (09) 438 2974 – email northland@alzheimers.org.nz

September 2012

WHAT’S ON THIS

MONTH?

19th September

Michael James Manaia

This one-man show, starring Te

Kohe Tuhaka, is a poignant story

about a New Zealand man who,

after returning from the Vietnam

War, finds himself at odds with

his culture, his history and his

memories. Tickets are available

from Alzheimers Society

Northland.

21st September

World Alzheimers Day

Look out for collections at 12

sites throughout Northland

including Countdown stores in

Okara, Tikipunga, Dargaville,

Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Paihia, New

World Regent, Kaitaia Pak n

Save, Supervalue Ruakaka, Waipu

Four Square, Kamo Four Square,

Cameron Street Mall and outside

the National Bank in Whangarei

Mufti Day

If you and your organisation

would like to help us raise funds,

hold a mufti day on Friday 21st

September for a gold coin

donation.

Socialization. Most people love animals and will enjoy sharing time together in the company of animals, talking and laughing together. An animal’s love is unconditional.

The benefits of Music Therapy may include:

Music Promotes Communication Many adults suffering from dementia have difficulty verbalizing their wants and needs.

Music is tied to our memories: Listening to music can have strong effects on people’s moods, thinking, and even their physiology, which constitutes a probable reason certain songs remind us so vividly of a specific memory and because music is charged emotionally, it can trigger past memories, good and bad.

Music Makes Us Move: It can be seen in the tapping of the toe to a popular song. Music makes us want to move.

There are, of course, many more reasons that music therapy works for older adults and dementia. On that note I’d like to thank our wonderful

Billings Kerikeri Village Diversional

Therapist) who has brought love and

comfort to not only those attending

the group but all the residents at the

village. Pet therapy is of huge benefit

for people at this stage in their lives

and I have observed a noticeable

difference in the behaviour of many

of the clients.

We are hoping at some time in the

future to improve our input in Kaeo

as this area is not as well served as

Kerikeri. Transportation of clients

from rural locations to clubs is

problematic and there is a shortage

of volunteers.

Best Wishes to you all.

It’s been business as usual in the Mid

North despite the cold and the rain but

Spring is showing itself at last and this

will lift the mood of clients and carers

alike. The support group for carers on

the first Wednesday each month at

Kingston House, Kerikeri continues to

be well supported and we have an

increase in the number of daughters

attending which contributes a different

emphasis of caring.

The Rainbow group held each week at

Kerikeri Village provides a welcome

socialisation for the clients and a break

for their carers. A new addition

attending the club weekly is Willet a

small Shiatsu (owned by Christine

Day Centre: Cheryl Magee,

Day Centre Co-ordinator

Kia ora from everyone at Alz Club.

In the last newsletter I spoke about the importance and reasons of activities. This time I will focus on the benefits of Animal Therapy and music. The benefits of Animal interaction may include:

Mental stimulation through the interaction, entertainment, humour and enjoyment provided by pets.

Shifting of focus. Animals can provide a new focus of conversation if a person with Dementia is fixated or agitated.

Acceptance. Animals accept people unconditionally and this can be really heartwarming and soothing for people with dementia.

Rapport. Pets are emotionally safe and non-threatening. They don’t discriminate or impose demands. They live for the moment and interacting with them often helps people with dementia.

Reminiscing. Will often evoke wonderful memories of the past.

Improvement in physical activity. Caring for a pet dog may encourage physical activity: playing with a ball and going for a walk.

Keeping up with the team...

Mid-North News - Lizzi Hulbert

Page 2 September 2012

Far North News - Kia ora from Ria Leef-Smith

Kia ora koutau

In July I attended the Rawene Health

Expo. The theme was the Olympic

Games. It was great to see so many

of the stall holders, including myself,

dress up and there were some very

colourful outfits.

The number attending was a little

disappointing - only 50 adults and

several school children visited.

However, there were many other

events happening in the surrounding

communities on the same day which

could explain the low number.

I did make contact with the

Outreach Nurses in the Kohukohu,

Rawene and Taheke areas. A

positive note was that the Taheke

Clinic has agreed to display our

annual appeal posters during the

Alzheimers Society Northland’s

annual awareness week this month.

I continue to provide the best

possible experience for my clients,

carers and all who need our support

and information in the Far North.

entertainers that regularly enhance our client’s days with us.

One other Therapy I must mention are babies. Angie, one of our Day Care Assistants, gave birth to a beautiful baby daughter on Saturday. Congratulations. Alz Club Reminder: Alz Club hours are

10am – 3pm. Also should your family

member that attends Alz Club not be

able to attend please phone.

Message from the Acting Chairperson : Margaret Malcolm

Greetings

You will probably have noticed by now

that this is ‘Alzheimers Month’. The

media, including television, newspapers

and various articles, is bringing to our

notice that there is much that can be

done to improve the situation of those

dealing with the disease either directly

or indirectly.

We know that at present there is no

cure for Alzheimers, but there is intense

worldwide research into the causes and

possible cures of this devastating

disease. In the meantime Alzheimers

Northland is dedicated to doing

everything possible to support those

affected with the disease and their

carers and whanau. We know we can

make a difference in those lives but

we need your help too. Please help

us. With your support we can

continue to meet the, sadly, growing

demand for our services.

And on a brighter

note, spring is here at

last! Aren’t the

magnolias and other

flowering trees and

shrubs a joy to

behold!

Page 3 September 2012

During the past 3 months Anne and I

have been focusing on offering

education programmes in Whangarei

and Kaitaia. There is such a need in

the community for training and

awareness building for all forms of

dementia and we are receiving good

feedback from our courses.

In July we held a one-day dementia

training workshop for health

professionals at the Spire Pavilion,

Cobham Oval in Whangarei and had

27 participants all giving excellent

feedback. At the same location we

facilitated 3 sessions of the carers

education programme aimed at the

home carer. This also had good

attendance.

In September we ran the dementia

training workshop for health

professionals at the Te Ahu Centre in

Kaitaia. This was attended by 19

people including staff from the local

rest home, needs assessors from the

hospital and care givers from the

largest local Maori provider and also

by 4 home based care givers.

As the number of people affected by

dementia continues to increase so too

do our caseloads. Recently a new

To everyone who made donations

and helped in so many ways so far

this year.

Forest Hill Farm

Oxford Sports Trust

Lion Foundation

COGS Far North

COGS Whangarei/Kaipara

Our deepest gratitude...

community advisor was appointed

to work 2 days a week which has

helped spread the workload

enormously and we are really

enjoying having her as part of the

team.

We hold monthly Support Groups

in Whangarei, Dargaville,

Mangawhai, Kaitaia and Kerikeri.

These are all well attended and

numbers remain consistent. In

August we sent out evaluation

forms to members of each group.

Here are a few of the comments

received:

‘We learn ways to cope with the challenges

we face daily from others who have been

there’.

‘An absolute lifeline. Support and advice

is freely given with a non-judgmental

attitude and a complete understanding of

people’s situations.’

‘It’s great meeting people who are in a

similar situation as myself’.

If you would like further

information about our support

groups please contact the office on

(09) 438 7771 and ask for one of

our Support Group pamphlets.

WORDS OF WISDOM

The following words of wisdom are

taken from a column written by

Regina Brett, 90, of Ohio to

celebrate growing older….

Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

When in doubt, just take the next

small step.

Life is too short - enjoy it.

When it comes to chocolate,

resistance is futile.

Don't compare your life to others.

You have no idea what their

journey is all about.

Take a deep breath. It calms the

mind.

What other people think of you is

none of your business.

However good or bad a situation

is, it will change.

All that truly matters in the end is

that you loved.

Get outside every day. Miracles

are waiting everywhere.

If we all threw our problems in a

pile and saw everyone else's, we'd

grab ours back.

Envy is a waste of time. Accept

what you already have not what

you need.

News from Anne and Robyn

Our Whangarei office is open

Monday—Friday 8.00am to

4.30pm, 321 Western Hills Drive.

Phone: (09) 438 7771

A Community Advisor is available

in Kaitaia: phone 09 408 1123

and also in Kerikeri: phone 09

407 3010 for details.

Specialist Dementia Care Unit

Continuing Hospital Care

Rest Home Care

& Not coping at home, call us

We’re the best choice

24 hour Nursing Care if necessary

Individual Rooms

Quality Caregiving with Respect &

Dignity

Registered Nurses on duty 24hrs daily

Organised Activities and Outings

Hairdresser & Podiatrist

Safe, Secure Country Setting

Resident Rights are Paramount

All 3 services under one roof

Where Age is a Celebration and The

Resident and Family are our first

consideration.

Short Term or Long Term Professional Care

Call to arrange for a copy of our brochure

7 Nova Scotia Drive, Waipu

Ranburn is proud to sponsor the

Alzheimers Society Northland

Newsletter

Reasons why you should consider

Ranburn for the care of your loved

Ph 432 0675

RANBURN L I FECARE

RANBURN L I FECARE

Thank you to all who have sent donations in

lieu of flowers following the death of a loved

one or friend. Our condolences to all those

recently bereaved. In particular our thoughts are

with the families of Hugh McLean, Sandy

Rhynd, Alec Main, Win Plim, Alice Nyssen,

John Wells and Colin Jones.

Alzheimers Society Northland Inc. is a not-for-profit charitable organization

providing information, support and education to people with dementia and their

caregivers throughout Northland through home visits, support groups, education

seminars, resources and day care services.

Our services are provided free of charge to anyone who needs them. To

ensure that this will always be the case the Society relies on the financial support

of many individuals and organisations. You can help us in many different ways:

through membership, one-off or regular donations or a bequest in your Will.

Your support in any of these ways would provide the Society with great benefit.

Thank you to all who have made donations, bequests and/or renewed

their membership subscriptions.

My choice of Membership is:

[ ] Family/Individual (Annual) $35 $ …….

[ ] Life Time Membership $200 $ …….

[ ] Corporate (Annual) $100 $ …….

[ ] Donation $ …….

Total $ …….

Name: __________________________ Phone: ______________________

Address: ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Email:________________________________________________________

We accept payment by cash, cheque, bank deposit, EFTPOS and Credit Card. Cheques payable to Alzheimers Society Northland. Please debit my credit card for the following amount $ ___________

Exp. ____ / ____

Name on Card: __________________ Signature: _______________

If making payment by bank deposit please use your surname and ‘donation’ or ‘membership’ as the reference. Account Name: Alzheimers Society Northland Account No: 12-3099-0534312-00

Are you a member of our society? As a Member you will receive regular newsletters and invitations to special events/activities. Becoming a member also gives you voting rights at our Annual General Meeting and helps us with much-needed funds.