PCA SUPPORT GROUP
Newsletter
Welcome to the PCA Support Group Newsletter
Issue 3 October 2008
PCA Support Group Meeting
rest of the group, and a brief summary of
18 July 2008
some of the points they made is provided
later in the newsletter. In future, we will
The third PCA Support Group meeting
was held in the Conference Suite of the
recently
refurbished
Royal
London
be encouraging others who feel able to
share of their experiences to write a few
words for the newsletter.
Homeopathic Hospital, just on the corner
of Queen Square and Great Ormond
Street. Of the three venues we have tried
so far, this seemed the best, and we have
managed to secure the suite with some
additional space for future meetings.
News
We’re sad to report that Christine Kopopo
who has run the group for the last two
meetings has left the Dementia Research
Centre to take up the post of Associate
Director of Nursing for the mental health
At the meeting there was some general
discussion about the experience of PCA,
which was particularly useful for those
attending the support group for the first
time. Martin Rossor, the head of the
Dementia
Research
Centre,
also
attended the meeting and led a question
and answer session about dementia,
PCA, risk factors and recent research
findings.
Group members Graham and Susan
Doggett also kindly shared some of their
thoughts and feelings about PCA with the
trust at Springfield Hospital. We are very
grateful to Christine for all her hard work
and wish her well in her new role. Jane
Douglas and Seb Crutch will now be
arranging the meetings jointly, so if you
have any questions or queries, please do
not hesitate to contact us.
PCA SUPPORT GROUP
Newsletter
Welcome to the PCA Support Group Newsletter
Issue 3 October 2008
PCA factsheet
Sharing the experience of PCA
The Alzheimer’s Society have kindly
Following their discussion of their
agreed to publish a factsheet specifically
experiences of PCA at the last meeting,
about PCA entitled ‘What is PCA?’. This
Graham and Susan Doggett have
will be made available through their
compiled a list of various ways that they
website and local branches. However, we
have found helpful in overcoming some of
need your help! In order to ensure that
the difficulties encountered with PCA.
the factsheet is as useful as possible, we
would greatly appreciate your opinions
and comments on the current draft of the
sheet. Space is somewhat limited, and it
may not be possible to take up all your
recommendations, but please take the
time to consider what might be missing,
and what information you would have
wanted to know when you were finding
out about PCA for the first time. A written
copy of the factsheet is enclosed, along
Practical tips
● Keep busy with chores e.g.
cooking/shopping
● Exercise as much as possible
● Eat as healthily as possible
● Mental stimulation – crosswords and
quizzes
● Try to get adequate sleep / relaxation
● Try using an audio clock
● Continue trying to take in information
and to recall it
● Persist with doing things that you find
difficult if possible
● Get help with using computers. You
can talk while another person writes
with a spoken word version on CD for
those with reading difficulties. We will aim
to discuss your feedback at the next
meeting on November 21st so that we can
get a final version back to the Alzheimer’s
Society as soon as possible for
production.
Daily activities
● Use coin holders for shopping
● Make use of shopping tokens cards to
avoid need for cash and change
● Put shirts and jumpers in colour-coded
order
● Use shoe laces that stretch or buy
shoes without shoelaces
● Use fluorescent clothing when walking
in the dark
● Ask someone to let you know when
PCA SUPPORT GROUP
Newsletter
Welcome to the PCA Support Group Newsletter
Issue 3 October 2008
you are approaching hazards
● Attach coloured ribbons on loops of
clothes to help dressing
● Put socks in different coloured bags
● Try to plan something pleasurable
every day and spoil yourself
● Laugh about your problems as much
as you can
Socialising/personal
● Mix with as large a cross-section of
people as possible
● Find people to read books aloud and
discuss with
● House / church groups for discussion /
chat
● Tell people about your situation
● When talking to people, ask that they
introduce themselves so that you know
who you are talking to
Societies and local facilities
● Age Concern
● Join the Alzheimer’s Society for
dementia-related information
● Join social groups such as a music
appreciation society
● Contact local voluntary groups
● Persist with applying for benefits, e.g.
Attendance allowance / Disability
Living Allowance (DLA)
Next PCA Meeting:
Friday 21 November 2008,
Royal London Homeopathic Hospital Conference Suite,
60 Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3HR.
Contact Us:
Jane Douglas
Telephone 08451 555 000 x 723560 or email jdouglas@drc.ion.ucl.ac.uk
Sebastian Crutch
Telephone 08451 555 000 x 723113 or email s.crutch@drc.ion.ucl.ac.uk