Firstly, thank you again to everyone who has so generously supported Tony’s head shave.

If you’ve received a letter from the government stating that you are an extremely vulnerable person, please go to the gov website and register. You will need your NHS number if possible. We’ve heard that you will then be contacted by supermarkets offering online shopping slots.

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

We’ve just heard how good this group is from someone who regularly attends it. Online group for people living with Dementia:

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-involved/engagement-participation/three-nations-dementia-working-group

The Dementia Wellbeing Service has set up an Emergency Central Resource that concentrates on a wide range of resources from the practical to the medical. It includes food supplies, alternative to supermarkets, that can be ordered and delivered and usually by phone, to details of who is offering urgent podiatry appts and emotional/befriending support and washing and laundry service deliveries.  

The Resource is held on their Access Point so if anyone has a question they can ring on 0117 904 5151 (Mon- Fri 8-6pm).  The resources will be regularly updated. It is not something that can be printed and sent but Access Point are happy for people to ring with a question. DWS Navigators use it a lot when someone they are talking with expresses a need.

They also working on activity packs for people that do not have access to the internet. These can be emailed or posted from their Access Point  0117 904 5151 (Mon- Fri 8-6pm). Hopefully BDAA will be able to share the next with you soon.

The Easton Food Bank is experiencing a 200% increase in requests and are running out of the following: Hair conditioner, soap, toothpaste, shower gel and nappies (sizes 4,5,6). If you are able to help with any of these items – by ordering with your online shopping or if you are able to go to your local shop or you may have a surplus you can spare – that would be so appreciated.  Leave items in my porch- perhaps on your daily exercise outing –  and I will take them down when I have a reasonable amount. Thank you. Sheila Cooper  Tel: 9620618   12, Downs Cote Ave BS9 3JX

BOPF has been working closely on the Support Hub with Age UK Bristol, and other local charities including LinkAge, Bristol Ageing Better, the Marmalade Trust, and St Monica’s, to ensure that coordinated, relevant and up-to-date information and support is provided to older people in Bristol during this emergency. Just a reminder that the Helpline number is: 0117 929 7537. You can also look on the Support Hub website:

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/bristol/our-services/support-hub/

There is as well the Bristol City Council ‘We Are Bristol’ Helpline for support at this time: 0800 694 0184.

Matthew from Engage & Immerse has a new free video series called ‘Song Journeys for Wellbeing’ made with people living with dementia in mind. He invites you to play, sing or simply listen along with him as he takes popular tunes on a trip through a tapestry of sounds to promote wellbeing and happiness. New Song Journeys are added every week. Care-givers please watch the introduction video which has some useful information re supporting your music-partner to get the most out of the videos.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyD_3EmWwLLfBF4H39yTmcJ09XYz1ebOA

CASS has some great articles on sleep and positive mental health (see attached document). Subitha, who works as a freelancer for BDAA, as well as working for CASS, has made this short guided mindfulness towards rest/sleep: http://www.cassbristol.org/sleep-sound-bristol/

Prof Elizabeth Coulthard and colleagues have launched a very rapidly developed research study to understand sleep, circadian rhythms and mental health in older people during lock down with a view to finding out how to improve quality of life and protect brain health (prevent dementia) through good sleep in the longer term.
New research to understand the impact of COVID19 on sleep and circadian rhythms and brain health in later life. Got 20 mins to spare? Visit Sleep Quest Study to take our questionnaire https://sscmredcap.bris.ac.uk/redcap/surveys/?s=HHH3W94KKD

Alzheimer’s Society has created a volunteers tool kit

We’ve recently heard about Pilltime which will post your prescriptions to you for free. They pre-sort your medication into easy-to-open pouches, by dose, in the order that you need to take them, so you can have peace of mind that your medication is correct and ready to take. See their website for further information.