Empowered Conversations

22/08/2025

We need your help!

Have you been on the Empowered Conversations course? We need your help to understand how it has helped and how it has changed the conversations that you have. Roshae is undertaking research on this for us, it just involves taking a couple of videos on your phone and completing a short survey. Can you help? Details in the poster below.

In anticipation of your glorious help, thank you!

For ease -

roshae.postill@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

21/08/2025

Healthwatch is your health and social care champion. Every town and city has one. They give us all a voice to challenge the health and social care system.

They have the power to make sure NHS leaders and other decision makers listen to your feedback and improve standards of care. They can also help you to find reliable and trustworthy advice and information.

Government have decided that we don't need this voice!

Sign a petition to ask a review of this decision

We are asking the government to: • Revisit its decision to abolish local independent services that speak up for the public • Consult with the public to codesign a service which meets their needs and supports the NHS to realise its ambitions • Invest in and strengthen independent services

21/08/2025

Join Dancing with Dementia and friends as they 'Walk for Dementia' at the RHS Bridgewater. This is the Salford part of a global walk to raise awareness and bring people together.

Free entrance to the RHS. Starts at 10am. For details - email Lesley.

DANCING WITH DEMENTIA Age UK Salford and Trafford Salford Older People, Dementia and Carers Information and Communication Salford CVS Salford Health Improvement Salford City Radio Salford Now Salford Angels WI Salford Poverty Truth Commission Salford Mad Pride

18/08/2025

Do you have somebody with dementia in your family?

Do you live in Greater Manchester?

Are you getting frustrated around communication?

We have 3 places left for our next course to help families affected by dementia to stay connected.

Empowered Conversations is delivered on zoom, our next course starts on Wednesday 3rd September, 1 - 3pm. The course runs at the same time for 6 weeks.

To book your place - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1469968799249?aff=oddtdtcreator

or email

emmasmith@ageuksalfordandtrafford.org.uk

Carers Manchester Bolton Carers Support Springboard Oldham Dementia Carers Support Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre Gaddum Together Dementia Support Age UK Salford and Trafford

17/08/2025

On Sunday 7 September at 3pm the UK government will be carrying out a national test of the Emergency Alerts system which provides warning and advice in a life threatening emergency.

What happens when you get an emergency alert:

Your mobile phone or tablet may:
* make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent
* vibrate
* read out the alert

The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.

An alert will include a phone number or a link to the GOV.UK website for more information. You’ll get alerts based on your current location - not where you live or work. You do not need to turn on location services to receive alerts.

For more info - https://www.gov.uk/alerts?utm_source=https%3a%2f%2fnews.dwp.gov.uk%2fdwplz%2f&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Touchbase+-+25+July+2025&utm_term=Touchbase+-+25+July+2025&utm_content=118702

Your mobile phone or tablet may get an emergency alert if there’s a danger to life nearby. Alerts tell you what to do to stay safe.

16/08/2025

Can you spend a little time for yourself? Join these free sessions running in September and October.

UK Salford and Trafford Salford CVS Salford Health Improvement

15/08/2025

Dementia can result in sensory changes, so a favourite meal might now taste awful, a pleasant smell could absolutely stink. To find out more about why this happens and how you can support somebody experiencing these changes, check out this workshop.

15/08/2025

Can you help? If you've been on Empowered Conversations and benefited from the course within the last year we could really do with your help.

We just need a couple of short recordings of you chatting with your family member living with dementia taken on your phone or tablet. The recordings will only be seen by Roshae (Researcher) and she'll be looking out for ways that the course has helped communication.

14/08/2025

The Young Dementia Network asked its members to share their experiences of young onset dementia, asking questions around diagnosis, the symptoms that most affect daily life and the impact of the condition on the person and their family.

Some of the replies have been collated into a short animation which shares Network members’ experiences in their own words.

The Young Dementia Network asked its members to share their experiences of young onset dementia, asking questions around diagnosis, the symptoms that most af...

25/07/2025

Anne-Marie shares her Empowered experience.

With funding support, the team provide affected by with and support.

Empowered Conversations is a project of Age UK Salford and TraffordAgeUKSalfordandTrafford.

For more Info - www.empowered-conversations.co.uk

Please share with people who may benefit.

25/07/2025

Sun is shining! It's get warmer, again. Staying hydrated is vital for us all, read these great tips from the Alzheimer's Society around staying hydrated.

From an Empowered perspective - using an Invitation to Respond around drinking might really help - 'crikey I'm thirsty', 'I really fancy a nice glass of squash', 'I'm spitting feathers!!'

Leave beakers or jugs of water within easy reach. This is especially important for people with limited mobility, who aren’t able to get up and make themselves a drink.

Make drinking easier. Have a clear beaker so the person can see what’s inside (this may not work so well with water) or a brightly coloured cup to draw attention. Make sure the beaker is within the line of sight. Having a beaker that is suitable (not too heavy or an odd shape) can help. Straws might also be a good idea.

Share a drink together. Have a cup of tea or a soft drink with the person and make sure they're drinking during mealtimes.

Leave prompts and reminders. Make sure the person with dementia remembers to drink regularly by leaving notes out for them or putting up notices around the house. You could also set up a phone reminder or set an alarm clock.

Provide high water content foods. Supplement water and other drinks with foods that are high in fluids. Some good options include ice lollies, jelly, ice cream, soup and fruit such as melon. ‘Water sweets’, such as Jelly Drops, can also help the person stay hydrated.

Dehydration is a common challenge for older people, especially those living with dementia. Take note of these ways to support people with dementia during periods of hot weather.

23/07/2025

How can we all make a difference to improve the lives of people affected by dementia? Professor Alison Wray talks here about the Four Reserves (if you've been on the course you will have seen this film). We might know about Cognitive and Brain Reserve, but Social and Emotional Reserves may be new!

Have a watch - only 20 minutes, let us know what you think!

In this short film, Alison talks to Emma about - Brain, Cognitive, Social and Emotional Reserve. The first two are well know, Social and Emotional Reserves ...