Dying Matters Week begins today and to mark the week, Lambeth Advance Care Planning Consortium has a range of initiatives to support yo in thinking abot advance planning.

Dying Matters Week events

Healthwatch Lambeth is hosting two zoom Death Cafes, informal chats with local people about any aspect of death and dying you’d like to explore – join by internet or phone on:

• Monday 11 May, 3-5pm
• Thursday 14 May, 5-7pm

Carers Hub Lambeth is running an Advance Care Planning Information Session for unpaid/informal carers on how to record your future treatment and care wishes – join by internet or phone

• Friday 15 May, afternoon

To register your interest, contact the Carers Hub team, email: connect@carershub.org.uk, tel: 020 7501 8970.

For more information on advance care planning read Healthwatch Lambeth's latest post about having your say during Dying Matters Week.

Advance Care Planning Champions             

The Consortium are looking for volunteers to help run stalls and workshops across Lambeth to raise awareness about how people can plan ahead and record their future treatment and care wishes.  Team members will receive training and support every step of the way, and have the chance to help devise alternative ways to deliver activities during the covid-19 pandemic.  

For more information about the consortium’s work, visit their website.

The latest edition of the Lambeth Safeguarding Adults Board newsletter has been published.

This edition includes focuses on information and resources to support professionals and residents during the lockdown period.

To read the full update, please see below.

If you'd like to be first to hear these updates, email LSABAdmin@Lambeth.gov.uk to find out how you can be added to our mailing list!

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 currently prohibit us all from leaving the place where we live to visit friends and relatives. This has been brought into force due to the current Coronavirus pandemic and is an essential order given to reduce the spread of this virus.

In Lambeth, we have a number of Care Providers, who have had to take swift action to protect their residents and this has meant restrictions on contact with the outside world, including visits by family members and friends, in line with Regulation 6 of the above regulations.

Lambeth has advised all our Providers, that they must do whatever they can to facilitate other types of contact with loved ones such as telephone, Skype, Whatsapp video calling, Zoom or Facetime.

We recognise that there will be some cases, where a resident may be very unwell or considered terminal and in these circumstances, care home providers will consider what arrangements can be made to safely enable contact, which does not place other vulnerable residents at risk. This is likely to include that visitors will be expected to wear personal protective equipment (provided to them) for these visits and allowed access only at agreed times.

We appreciate that this can be a very distressing situation for families wanting to be near loved ones and we will endeavour to do all we can to facilitate this whilst trying to ensure everyone is kept safe.

The Alzheimer's Society has launched an emergency appeal for funds so it can continue to help people who may be isolated and without support to eat, wash and take medication.

The charity received nearly 3,300 calls about coronavirus during March – roughly 100 a day. Meanwhile, its online community, Talking Point, saw a 600% increase in sign-ups. 

Kate Lee, the charity's CEO, said "People living with dementia are completely cut off from their families, their communities and the support networks they rely on due to the coronavirus pandemic. This is having a devastating effect on their wellbeing. With your support, Alzheimer’s Society will be there to put a virtual arm around the shoulders of people with dementia and let them know they are not alone".

You can visit the Alzheimer's Society to read the latest advice  for people affected by dementia. Anyone affected by dementia can also call their support line  on  0333 150 3456.

Lambeth Council have also compiled details on some of the support services that are available, to help people and their families who are impacted by dementia during this crisis.