This week is Dementia Awareness Week, Alzheimer’s Society’s annual fundraising campaign for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A celebrity normally fronts the campaign – this year it’s Actress Ruth Jones – and they try to get members of the public talking about Dementia.
Now as you know as you read the blog, my dear Mum was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia a few 
years ago and to be honest, these “society’s” set up to help the likes of my Mum didn’t give us any help at all. Infact, calling them on several occasions asking for help lead to a 20 minute merry go round of being pushed from pillar to post about things which really and truly should be at their fingertips – such as finding dementia friendly opticians, dementia friendly hairdressers as well as asking what forms to fill in for certain benefits etc. It’s not difficult to phone around as a society to get this type of information as it’s a normal part of everyday life for heaven’s sake. Who are you supposed to turn to??
When I needed help, the local mental health team weren’t much help either. After diagnosis, I was told to “take away her car keys immediately” and if she wanted to drive, I was instructed to “take her to a desolate building site and let her drive round there”. Pathetic remark from a “qualified” mental health doctor. Where’s the care in that? I wanted to maintain my Mums independence for as long as it was possible, and to talk over her demanding her keys there and then disgusted me. He cut her down and reduced her to tears. Who had to pick up the pieces then? Me!
The “specialist” wasn’t much better. I would explain to them that Mum was stressed and violent towards me for 4 weeks out of every 12 – yet they did and said nothing. Pleading with them to get some medication to help her all fell on deaf ears. Talking to her specialist was like talking to a brick wall whenever I asked for help. 9/10 shrug her shoulders, look at me with pity in her eyes and say the immortal words “well there’s not much else we can do”.
Now don’t get me wrong. Society’s such as Dementia UK, Diabetes UK and others, set up to help people in need are fantastic. But seeing first hand the way some of these Society’s work when you ask for help, hits home that they don’t really care. They need a good shake up to actually listen to those of us on the front line as carers. They seem to 
think that we are super human. We’re not. We’re humans – that’s all. Bog standard human beings with no life apart from being a carer. The pay from the Government is pathetic at just over £50 a week and the way we are treated by authority is like a second class citizen. There are those organisations such as Crossroads that will give you an hours break but an hour isn’t enough when you’ve been caring flat out 24/7, 365 days a week.
It’s not easy being a carer, at your loved ones beck and call every day and especially when they have Dementia – it’s a constant struggle. Prompting, watching, prompting, talking, prompting, prompting, prompting. My life took a back seat and everything, every day revolved around my Mum. My health suffered very badly, but not one person offered help – the social worker although seemed sympathetic could only offer “a carers payment for a hobby” – OK, and who would look after Mum when I went to do this hobby??? It’s just wrong.
Although raising funds for Dementia research is very much needed to find the cause and solution, it’s those families living with a dementia sufferers that need the help and awareness but not awareness of the public – awareness of the Government. The Government need to listen to carers since they are saving them an immense £76,000 per person, per year that is being cared for yet the carers identity and life disappear from sight. Offer the families courses on stages of dementia, and living with a Dementia sufferer but give the carer the support and advice too. Pay them more money as well. Being classed as a no one will break that person and then where does the help come from? You get no help caring for your loved one at home and so it forces you to put your loved one into a care home and unless you do the research yourself and find a good one you will continue to worry that they are not being looked after properly.
Caring for someone at home can sometimes be easy (I cared for my Dad from the age of 14 as he couldn’t walk and was totally housebound) but caring for Mum was a nightmare from the very beginning since I had no help and no advice. Dementia is a mental health issue and carers need professional help if they are to cope with it alone.
Dementia – be aware yes, but care for the carers as they need help too.
Well thanks to @msnents I was lucky enough to win tickets to see the film Epic before it is officially released in cinemas tomorrow, I took my 10yr old son Terry my 7yr old Daughter Lauren and my 14 yr old Nephew Connor and all 3 of them loved it!
It is a film about small people who live in a forest and the leaf people will do anything to protect their queen from the Boggans right from start to finish there was a lot of adventure within the film some parts were scary but not bad enough that it will scare little children just enough to make you jump a little bit!
I found the way the film was produced was excellent bright colours through out and I find it also teaches children how important nature is as it’s about saving the forest and not letting the boffans turn it to the dark side with no green grass trees flowers etc so it shows kids that looking after the world is important.
The 3d was out of this world I actually felt like I was in the movie at times!
All in all the storyline is fab and I never guessed it would end the way it did it was so unexpected as normally you can tell how films will end but this 1 I actually did try to guess but my guess was wrong, There was parts that made me laugh and parts that made me want to cry, The film was adventurous, moving, emotional and all in all a brilliant movie It lives up to it’s title It is a EPIC film! Please see below for words from the kids of what they thought of it!
Lauren age 7: I loved it the girl was so pretty but normal like us and I loved the 3 legged doggy its nice they not put everything perfect the snail and slug made me laugh I’ve never seen slug or snail in a movie before I also like that I want to fly on a bird like they did I want to see the film again!
Terry age 10: I thought the film was Epic it lives up to it’s name, It was the best film I have ever seen it reminds me of Avatar but a kids style and better.
I like it when Ronin The general of the leaf people was fighting all the bad guys on his own being brave and looking after his people and the nature. The best bit was when the 2 soldiers were talking about stompers (big People) and how they talk so slooooowwwwwww! Especially when they say the I hurt my elbow and the stomper than says it but the film did it so we heard it slow and it was so funny!
Connor age 14: I thought the film was amazing because it was about little people and I’m little myself so it reminded me of myself and it’s not bad being small you can still be tough and take on the world!
The part I liked was when he said I hurt my elbow so slow.
It’s a film for all ages and I will be telling my friends about it as I think they will enjoy it aswell as it’s got scary parts in aswell some bits made me jump like when the boffans come out of the ground and trees! It was truly a EPIC film.
Continuing my series of Ozeri Product reviews, I have been fortunate enough to be asked to test their latest line in Kitchen scales – the Epicurean Digital Kitchen Scale. I 
jumped at the chance to test these beauties since discovering their products has ignited my passion for cooking once again and after using the Ozeri Bathroom Scale, I already know that their devotion to providing accurate readings is paramount so I have full confidence in knowing that what I weigh will be pin sharp.
Packed tightly in polystyrene and covered in a plastic bag, I see the scales reflective glass covering glistening from inside. Revealing them feels like unveiling a piece of delicate artwork. Not wanting to actually mark the surface with any fingerprints, I quickly give the scale a wipe over with a soft cloth. This exposed the beautifully finished mirror on the base as well as the stunning clear green tinted shatter resistant glass weighing platform. It’s so incredibly elegant, something that I’ve become to expect from Ozeri and to which they never fail, indulging me with class and design.
The Ozeri Epicurean Digital Kitchen Scale, taking just 4 “AAA” batteries (as supplied) is cheap to run and boasts a capacity of up to 5000g (176oz) – the equivalent to 5kg (11lb) – the very same as the new Salter GEO Scale, being ideal to weigh out for smaller bakes.
First thing I notice in the design between the two is the fact the Ozeri Epicurean Digital 
Kitchen Scale platform is completely removable making cleaning a doddle. Just unscrew the platform and wash in warm soapy water, then wipe over the base with an antibacterial wipe – quick and simple making it germ free in a matter of seconds. The Salter GEO is also wipe clean but their display has a groove around the dial which I would prefer molded as a whole so it doesn’t encourage the grime to collect around it and harbor germs.
Next feature to try and compare to the Salter GEO scales is the accuracy of their weighing platforms. Here the Ozeri won hands down. After weighing the same can of soft drink on both, the Ozeri weighed correctly every time 350g compared to the GEO which weighed the same can at a disappointing 344g. Same table, same can – such a shame that the difference was so huge between the 2 since they both claim to be accurate to within 1 gram. This result 
scaled up to 1kg could be the difference between a well baked cake and a cake with a soggy bottom so it’s always best to test a scale with something that you know has already been weighed accurately for the consumer since if manufacturers get it wrong they can have issues with trading standards for breaking the Weights and Measures Act of 1985.
Should you be slightly short sighted – or like me, a little less mobile than those around me, you will find these scales a godsend. If you are using a a wheelchair or sitting in a chair which is slightly below the work surface, the bright green LED display they exhibit is effortless to read unlike the Salter GEO which is aimed at those that can to stand over them to read being the flatter of the 2 scales.
Overall these scales epitomize class and sophistication for a nominal amount of money. At 
just £19.95 (at present since they are on sale) from Amazon they romp ahead of their nearest competitor which retails at £35. In the style ranks the Ozeri Epicurean Digital Kitchen Scale leads by example giving the consumer something not only eye catching and worthy of it’s place but practical enough to become one of the mainstays in your busy kitchen environment. Yet again Ozeri know just what we need and deliver it time and time again.
Jacqui