As Spring and Summer returned, so too did our favourite guest – the peacock! He’s back again delighting residents with his elegant presence. You can often find him walking and wandering around the home. His vibrant feathers and calm demeanour have made him a beloved part of our seasonal traditions. Keep your eyes out, you might see him showing off his colours on a sunny afternoon.

It's great that the weather has warmed up and we have been getting outside more. We recently planted up our Vegepod again. Residents and staff got their hands into the soil as we put in a variety of fresh vegetables for the season ahead. We have enjoyed a barbeque which was a lovely social, outdoor occasion.

As part of our ongoing community engagement, we’ve introduced a meaningful monthly activity with our residents: baking banana bread together and donating it to the local food bank. This brings joy and a sense of purpose to our residents and supports those in need in our wider community.

We have been fortunate to enjoy a group of dedicated entertainers such as Allan the singer, Clickety Click, and Andres. We also have volunteers from surrounding churches who visit our home throughout the year. The regular visits from our entertainers and volunteers keep our residents engaged and uplifted, whether it’s through lively music and dancing, meaningful conversation or offering gentle spiritual companionship.

As our team continues to grow and evolve, we’ve recently said goodbye to a few valued team members who have decided to move on. We are grateful for their dedication and care they’ve shown during their time with us. They will always be part of the Lindale family. We are also excited to welcome new staff members who are just beginning their journey with us. We are grateful to have them joining us.

At this time of year, our focus shifts to Christmas and the festive season. One of our favourite holiday traditions is putting up the Christmas trees. It’s a joyful activity that brings everyone together. This activity fills our home with laughter and memories.

We are excited to invite you to our Christmas family gatherings. The details of these are at the top of this newsletter. The gatherings are a truly a special time when we welcome families to come together for afternoon tea. It’s an opportunity to connect with each other and celebrate the season alongside loved ones.

We wish you a happy and relaxed festive season.

Thank you for participating in our EPOA survey

A big thank you to the families who participated in the EPOA Survey, it is great to have your engagement in this process. We received some lovely feedback on the dedication of our team, the care provided, and the efforts being made to support residents. This feedback is very special to us.

Areas will work on improving on are:-

• Clear communication with families to ensure that they are able to gain a full understanding of resident care.
• Helping families to understand our care planning process.

We have already been working on improving our food service and our range of activities.

Food and activities preferences are often very specific to each resident, and this information is vital to help us tailor our service to their needs.  If you have further feedback you would like to share with us about things your loved one might enjoy, please reach out to Hyacinth or Rowella.

We value your time and appreciate your feedback on your loved one’s care within our home. We are always happy to hear your thoughts and suggestions; we are open to your feedback at any time.

The feedback from the surveys has now been collated and if you are interested in taking a look, you will find it posted to the bulletin board in our home.

As the year draws to a close it is a time to reflect on how we are going, what we have accomplished and look forward to the year ahead.

As I travel around the homes I love hearing from residents and their families about how things are going for them and how we can improve. Please do come and have a chat if you see me around our homes.

Often over the Christmas period we learn more about our residents and their families through meeting family that aren’t able to visit as often, and sharing fond memories about summer holidays.

These memories and stories can help our staff teams to develop a deeper understanding of a resident, their families and the things that bring them joy. Sharing the journey of our residents and their whānau through the often challenging path of aging is something our staff love doing.

This involves spending time with residents:

• Listening carefully
• Helping the person fill in the blanks
• Reading facial expressions and body language and try to respond appropriately
• Giving compliments
• Asking for opinions and open ended questions
• Enjoying the person in every way possible

These techniques assist our teams to put together the stories that make us all who we are. Please use these techniques while visiting if you would like to.

I wish you all a happy holiday season. I hope you all get to spend some time connecting with the people that matter most to you.

Ngā mihi

Andrew Sheard, Managing Director

My name is Arah Cartagena, and I’m really pleased to be rejoining the team here at Dementia Care NZ. Some of you may remember me from my previous time with the organisation. After spending time working in home and community care, I’m grateful to return and reconnect with the people and values that have always meant so much to me.

Throughout my career in nursing, I’ve had the privilege of supporting people in a variety of settings. These experiences have shaped my belief that meaningful care is about more than just meeting needs. It’s about understanding what matters most to each person, honouring their story, and supporting them to live each day with dignity, purpose, and connection.

I also recognise the vital role families play in the lives of their loved ones. Your insights and experiences are an important part of the care we provide, and I’m committed to ensuring that our approach reflects the trust you place in us.

I am passionate about leading our clinical team. I look forward to developing, energising and supporting our team members, and ensuring that our team embodies our vision and values through all that we do.

Outside of work, I have a strong interest in learning and self-development. I’m always curious and enjoy discovering new perspectives and ideas.

Ngā mihi nui,
Arah Cartagena

Gift ideas for a person who has dementia

It can sometimes be tricky to think of gift ideas for someone with dementia. Here are a few ideas from our team.

Comfort and sensory items:

• Favourite food
• Soft blanket/throw
• Weighted soft pet
• Tactile or fidget items to keep hands busy
• Fidget blanket

Personalised gifts:

• Mixtape/CD/MP3 of your loved one’s favourite music
• Home movies
• Photo album, photo book- filled with photos of people they love
• Framed or laminated photos of the person’s life
• Picture for their room of a beautiful place they might remember
• Memory book or memory box – filled with items from their past, photos and trinkets
• Personalised memory cushion, made from a familiar fabric, or embroidered with special people’s names on it.

Please avoid bringing original photographs and precious items.

Things to wear:

• Dressing gown
• Sunhat
• Socks
• Summer nightie or pyjamas
• A beautiful summer scarf
• A piece of costume jewellery
• Seasonal clothing

You could check your loved one’s drawers or ask a team member for clothing your loved one might need.

Other:

• Hand cream
• Colouring pencils
• Magazine subscription
• Simple board game
• Beautiful bunch of flowers
• Speaker or music player for their room

Christmas reminders from Dementia Care NZ

Season’s greetings

The following information will help the holiday season go as smoothly as possible.

Outings

If you intend to take your loved one home for the day or afternoon over the Christmas period, or on Christmas Day, please discuss this with a Registered Nurse so that medication and comfort requirements can be arranged. Prior warning will allow us to have your loved one appropriately dressed and ready for you.

For safety reasons, outings of this nature first need to be discussed and approved by the EPOA.

Naming clothes

Please remember that all new items need to be clearly marked with the owner’s first and last name before they arrive. This is especially important at Christmas time, when many lovingly chosen new items are given as gifts by family members. We discourage expensive woolen items, which are easily damaged in the wash. Please select easy care clothing wherever possible.

We hope that you are enjoying the warmer weather and that your Christmas preparations are going really well.

Meri Kirihimete / Merry Christmas

From all of us at Dementia Care NZ

Magic Moment

Our Activities Coordinator baked a banana cake to donate to the local foodbank. One of our residents helped mix the ingredients and reminisced about her days running a food business and the joy she found in baking all day. Speaking in her own language, she shared these memories with a smile, while her daughter kindly translated. She also remarked that the aroma of freshly baked goods made the lounge feel just like home.

A resident was so happy upon receiving our soft weighted dog into her arms.  Her daughter shared that she has a dog, and the weighted dog seemed to remind her of him. Throughout the day, the resident held, kissed, and spoke fondly to the dog, staying calm and content.  Weighted pets provide emotional comfort and encourage meaningful engagement. It was so lovely to see this in action.