03.04.2020
Our guest editor this week is Jeri - our Befriending Project Lead and the newsletter focusses on our older client needs.
Hello everyone!
While none of us would ever choose to isolate ourselves, every day we do, we are preventing the spread of the COVID 19 virus so we are all doing very well collectively in keeping our friends and family of our community safe.
Ashford Place know how hard it has been over the last few weeks staying indoors but so many of you have shown great strength and you are keeping the spirits up so a big well done to you all!
We are sad that we don’t get to see your smiling faces coming in to Ashford Place every day but even though we don’t have the facilities of an office or the usual IT equipment to hand, we continue to work hard to think of creative ways to communicate with you, stay in touch and have fun!
We would like to assure all our clients that we will keep in touch with you constantly until this pandemic is over and we can all get back to normal life. Please keep the spirits up as you have been doing, continue to get creative, continue to sing songs, stop and listen to the birds and look forward to the day you can walk back out and come to see us!
I together with Renee, Blerina, Mary, Elizabeth and Reena have had the pleasure and privilege of talking to all of you regularly during this difficult time. Your optimism always puts a smile on our faces so we thank you! Please feel free to call any of us anytime.
I hope you find the articles in this week’s newsletter useful and that we will be back to normal soon.
Jeri
Our Shop ‘n’ Drop service
We have set up a shop and drop service for our older clients. We will collect your prescriptions if your pharmacy will not deliver them, we will drop food parcels of essential items to you and we will allocate a volunteer to you who will do your shopping and drop it to you.
Please do not be afraid to ask us for help. There are an endless number of wonderful volunteers ready and willing to help us to help you.
If you don’t already have Ashford Place’s phone number it is 020 8208 8590. Please call, leave a message and we will pick it up and deal with your query.
Also, if you yourself, or you know someone who is isolated or particularly vulnerable at this time please call us and we will help.
Time to reflect and get creative!
We are always thinking of ways in which you can pass these longer days and perhaps you could use this time, to reflect on things such as when you were younger and think about your hobbies you used to have and how you spent your time. Perhaps you have not thought for a while about what interests you used to have or what music you used to like.
Some Tips and ideas for keeping busy while being indoors
Here are some ideas you might like to think about while being indoors over the next few weeks:
- Crosswords
- Drawing/Painting
- Writing poetry
- Writing a song
- Writing a story from your youth
- Learning to knit
- Card making
- Organising a family album with photos you have in your house
- Create a scrapbook
Research has found that creative activities can help people in so many different ways and can turn anxiety and negative emotions in to positive ones. Singing has the power to reduce stress, anxiety and pain. It also improves immune function and sleep as well as helping memory. We miss our singing group and hope we can arrange a singsong via Whatsapp or zoom at some point!
Perhaps if you finish one of the projects listed above you might like to share your wonderful creation with us when we see you again at Ashford Place over a cup of tea!
Home Exercises
You can also do home exercises to keep you fit while you are indoors – You can click HERE and download an ‘Exercise and Wellness tips’ programme from Megan who is one of our weekly fitness teachers at Ashford Place.
Wellness with Megan – Exercise and Wellness Tips
- Get outside in the garden for some vitamin D. Get bare feet in the grass if you can.
- Take a sip of water every 15 mins
- Drink lots of tea and herbal teas to avoid having a dry palate
- Call a friend/family member and have a nice chat!
- Wash hands after touching doors, handles etc - wash them to the happy birthday song!
- Exercise you can do at home! Everyday!
- Starting position
- Sit up nice and tall on a comfortable chair
- Toes in front of knees, feet hip bones distance apart.
- Arms long shoulders back
Warm up 10 of each!
- Shoulder rolls - loosen up the shoulders!
- Arm circles - inhale to life, exhale to circle
- Roll the feet onto toes and heels - loosen the ankles
- Circle the ankles
- Lift your heel and step the foot out to the side - opens the hips!
- Take deep breaths inhale for 5 count/exhale for 5 counts.
Having any discomfort breathing? Tell someone.
Main exercise for strength improves circulation and mobility!
- Sprints! 10 seconds on 10 seconds for 1 minute.
- Chest expansion - start with straight arms in front of the chest. Press your arms past the front
- of your body and open up for chest x5
- Lift straight arms in front of you pull down like you are grabbing something off the top shelf! x5
- Reach one arm overhead, other arm to your ear, reach arm overhead and stretch out your
side body! X5 each side
Cool down and stretch - reach arms in front of you interlace fingers to stretch your upper
back, reach your arms out to side stretch your chest. Reach straight legs out in front of you
once at a time and touch your laces! Do each stretch for 5 breaths.
Dealing with Anxiety
We understand that your days have changed dramatically over the last couple of weeks and not being able to see your friends and family can cause anxiety – below are some tips to help:
- Rephrase “I am stuck inside” with “I can finally focus on my home and myself”
- Stay close to your normal day to day routine
- Avoid watching continuous Coronavirus news coverage
- Start a new schedule – create a new routine
- Take time to sit and listen to the world around you. The city is a much quieter place now and you can hear the birds singing in the trees. Enjoy some peaceful moments as Spring arrives.
- Phone a friend
Families & Friends of the elderly – where to get advice
If you need any advice on how to look after your elderly relatives or neighbours during the COVID 19 pandemic here are some links which may be useful.
Get the latest advice, information and support you need as a resident or business in Brent by visiting the following link below:
Stay up-to-date with the latest health guidelines on NHS website: