Alzheimers Society Southland Inc.

26/11/2025

26/11/2025

A diagnosis of dementia | mate wareware brings a range of changes for the person with the diagnosis and their partner / whānau and friends.

Common feelings at the time of diagnosis are shock, sadness, anger and fear, or for some people, relief at having an explanation for the changes that have been occurring. Actively coming to terms with the changes that dementia brings and the feelings associated with them is an important part of learning to live well with dementia.

Read more on what you can do to help navigate this process: https://dementia.nz/grief-and-loss/

24/11/2025

Next Tuesday at 1:30pm Jim and Craig Waddell are performing here at the centre! You won't want to miss it!🤩🥳

23/11/2025

20/11/2025

🌟 Our Dementia Learning Centre is really excited to launch CAREPLAY in Aotearoa – a new, hands-on way for people working in dementia care to learn together 🎮💛

It’s been shaped by the simple idea that the best learning comes from the real moments we have with each other, like conversations and challenges, not PowerPoint slides or lectures.

A lot of research – and plenty of stories from the workforce – tell us that traditional training doesn’t always shift what happens on the floor. Information isn’t the same as knowledge. Knowledge grows when people can explore, try things out, and make sense of situations in the context of their own relationships and roles.

That’s what CAREPLAY aims to support. It creates a safe space where teams can work through realistic dementia care scenarios together and translate those experiences directly into their everyday practice.

Why it works:
• It aligns with how adults naturally learn
• It’s grounded in real-life situations that teams recognise
• It lifts engagement, confidence, and motivation
• It reduces overwhelm and cognitive load
• It builds empathy and emotional understanding
• It helps overcome common barriers in a stretched workforce
• It turns theory into small, practical steps that stick

We’ve completed two pilots so far, and the feedback has been genuinely heartening. One participant told us they “felt more connected to their team and clearer about what good support looks like”.

If you’re curious about how game-based learning might support your service, we’re running a session on 11 December at 11am.

Book your place and join us 👉 https://ow.ly/rEYp50Xuk1R

18/11/2025

Come join the fun on Monday.

12/11/2025

When someone you love is diagnosed with dementia | mate wareware, life changes - but love doesn’t.

It helps to remember:
❤️ They are still the same person.
❤️ They may need patience and understanding.
❤️ Laughter, music, and kindness go a long way.
❤️ Connection matters more than perfection.

Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep loving.

Learn more about how friends and whānau can support someone with dementia: https://dementia.nz/information-for-family-and-friends/

11/11/2025

We are excited to be moving in January to a new venue.

10/11/2025

NB: A change of venue for the monthly Riverton/Aparima Support Group meeting, which is on next Monday 17th November at 10.30am.
To be held at the Longwood Village Community Centre, 10 Albany Street, Riverton.
Guest speaker is Jane from the Loss and Grief Centre.
Join us for a cuppa, everyone is welcome.

10/11/2025

Copied too important not to share. Affects every family. IF I GET DEMENTIA…..
I’d like my family to hang this wish list up on the wall where I live. I want them to remember these things.
1a. Every time you enter the room announce yourself. “Hi Dad - it’s Amanda.”
NEVER ask- Do you know who I am??? That causes anxiety.
1. If I get dementia, I want my friends and family to embrace my reality.
2. If I think my spouse is still alive, or if I think we’re visiting my parents for dinner, let me believe those things. I’ll be much happier for it.
3. If I get dementia, don’t argue with me about what is true for me versus what is true for you.
4. If I get dementia, and I am not sure who you are, do not take it personally. My timeline is confusing to me.
5. If I get dementia, and can no longer use utensils, do not start feeding me. Instead, switch me to a finger-food diet, and see if I can still feed myself.
6. If I get dementia, and I am sad or anxious, hold my hand and listen. Do not tell me that my feelings are unfounded.
7. If I get dementia, I don’t want to be treated like a child. Talk to me like the adult that I am.
8. If I get dementia, I still want to enjoy the things that I’ve always enjoyed. Help me find a way to exercise, read, and visit with friends.
9. If I get dementia, ask me to tell you a story from my past.
10. If I get dementia, and I become agitated, take the time to figure out what is bothering me.
11. If I get dementia, treat me the way that you would want to be treated.
12. If I get dementia, make sure that there are plenty of snacks for me in the house. Even now if I don’t eat I get angry, and if I have dementia, I may have trouble explaining what I need.
13. If I get dementia, don’t talk about me as if I’m not in the room.
14. If I get dementia, don’t feel guilty if you cannot care for me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s not your fault, and you’ve done your best. Find someone who can help you, or choose a great new place for me to live. With a bus and activities!!
15. If I get dementia, and I live in a dementia care community, please visit me often.
16. If I get dementia, don’t act frustrated if I mix up names, events, or places. Take a deep breath. It’s not my fault.
17. If I get dementia, make sure I always have my favorite music playing within earshot.
18. If I get dementia, and I like to pick up items and carry them around, help me return those items to their original place.
19. If I get dementia, don’t exclude me from parties and family gatherings.
20. If I get dementia, know that I still like receiving hugs or handshakes.
21. If I get dementia, remember that I am still the person you know and love.”
ᴄᴏᴘʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴀsᴛᴇ in Honor of someone you know or knew who has dementia. In Honor of all those I know and love and lost who are fighting Dementia.

Wish I had known someone of these valuable quotations,the information offered regarding dementia is very limited if caring for someone suffering!!

06/11/2025

Amazing hamper! Support Alzheimers Society Southland Inc. and be in to win with a raffle ticket. Get yours from New World Windsor, Friday 7th.