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staywell news
a local, independent charity providing services that change lives

This issue:

Survey results page 2

Staying social page 4

Meet our Chair page 3

Dementia remains the biggest health

concern of people aged over 55.
With an unacceptable stigma still
surrounding the condition, people with
dementia continue to be affected by
discrimination. However, attitudes are
starting to change.
Angela Rippon and Joan Bakewell are
two of the well-known broadcasters
who have recently fronted TV and radio
programmes on the subject, and acting
couple Timothy West and Prunella
Scales openly share their experience
of living with dementia.
The condition has even featured in
soaps, with a storyline in Eastenders
following the character Sylvie Carter,
returning to The Square with news of
her Alzheimers diagnosis.

Charles Fearn

Talking about dementia

Prunella Scales
and Timothy
West enjoying
their great
canal journey
through Venice

Singing

Misconception
While the disease is being more widely
talked about, there is still a common
misconception that dementia is an
inevitable consequence of ageing, and
this simply isnt true.
Dementia describes different brain
disorders that trigger a loss of brain
function, from memory loss to
confusion and difficulties with speech
and understanding. While theres
currently no cure for dementia, research
shows that staying socially, mentally
and physically active can help.
The evidence that staying physically
fit keeps your brain healthy into old
age is compelling, and most concrete
is the link between aerobic fitness and
cognitive preservation. Brisk walks of
3045 minutes three times a week can
help fend off mental wear and tear,
and may delay the onset of dementia.
Its recognised that dancing can have a

coordination and muscle function. As

in our early years, when rhythm helps
learning and memory, for people living
with dementia, it can aid recall and
physical movement.

restorative effect on the brain too, as

the physical and social stimulation can
bolster cognitive wellbeing.

Uplifting
Staywells Fit as a Fiddle programme
recently featured a dance course
specifically designed for people living
with dementia and their carers. The
dancers found it was an uplifting way
of meeting people and being in the
moment, with one couple commenting,
It was a great opportunity to meet
people with something in common,
and have a bit of a laugh!
Increasingly, classes like aerobics,
Zumba Gold and Tai Chi are being
aimed at seniors all over the country,
giving us access to exercise at a level
thats welcome.

But its not just physical exercise that

boosts our brains. Research shows that
musical memory survives relatively
well in dementia. Rhythm acts as a
kind of sensory timer, helping the part
of the brain that controls timing,

Music learned earlier in life can bring

access to memories and the language
to talk about them, and in a small way
helps people with dementia to function
better in general. Veteran MP Dennis
Skinner, recently spoke about this with
Jeremy Vine on Radio 2. When his
mother was in the grip of dementia and
no longer recognised him, she was still
able to sing along to one of his Desert
Island Discs.
We now know that by keeping
socially, physically and mentally active,
we can help delay the onset, or reduce
the progression of dementia, and
mitigate its effects. Social centres are a
great way to get started if you feel you
could be more active in this way. Go to
staywellservices.org.uk to find the
centre nearest to you and contact us
for a look around.

l There are currently 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, with numbers
set to rise to over 1 million by 2025, to 2 million by 2051.
l 1 in 6 people over the age of 80 have dementia.
l There are over 40,000 people under 65 with dementia in the UK.
l Research shows the percentage of people with dementia is now decreasing,
but numbers are rising due to people living longer.
l Unpaid carers supporting someone with dementia save the economy 11
billion a year.
l Dementia is one of the main causes of disability later in life, ahead of cancer,
cardiovascular disease and stroke.
l Delaying the onset of dementia by five years would halve the number of
deaths from the condition, saving 30,000 lives a year.

Issue twenty-nine l Autumn 2016

Feedback survey results

Over 900 users of our
three centres in Banstead,
Horley and Woodhatch
responded to our feedback
survey this summer.
Following on from our
spring roadshows, weve been
asking people what is working
well at their local centre, what
could be done differently and
what kinds of things they
might like to see developed
in the future.
The message has come
through loud and clear from
existing customers that the
Banstead Centre, Regent
House and Woodhatch Centre
are all highly valued
community assets. Holidays,
outings and all kinds of
exercise are all very popular.
Satisfaction ratings are high,
with most survey respondents

satisfied or extremely
satisfied with most aspects of
the service: The Centre seems
to have a very good range of
activities a very important
asset to Banstead Village.
After 10 years attending I
feel you cater for everything,
Woodhatch member.
When asked for more detail,
however, there were quite a
few common suggestions and
themes for development and
improvement. Most frequently
highlighted was food quality,
variety, availability and the
settings in which meals are
served. Many of you also
suggested that more could be
done to make the entrances to
the buildings easier to access
and more welcoming, and also
that more could be done to
welcome new visitors.

More activities were proposed,

especially: exercise classes,
language courses, lunches with
talks from a guest speaker and
creative classes, games, showing
films / televised events. Some
of you said that we should
introduce more activities that
would appeal to younger older
people, and others also
expressed the need for activities
that can accommodate people
who are more frail, or who are
living with dementia.
Well be using your feedback
to inform and influence the
way that we develop our
services and activities at all
three centres over the coming
year. Look out for displays
showing the survey results at
each centre, and do let the staff
at the centres know if you have
any other comments or ideas.

Congratulations M&S voucher winners!

A big thank you to all those who completed and returned the
surveys we circulated earlier in the year. This really helps us to
understand what you like about the centres and what youd like
to see more of, or changed.
As you may recall, we put the entries into a Free Prize Draw to
win 50 worth of M&S vouchers. This was drawn on 8 August,
and we are delighted to announce the following winners:
Woodhatch Centre: Sheila Wright
Banstead Centre: Gordon Davies
Regent House Community Centre:
Jean Rhodes
Congratulations to all of you!
Please continue to share your views
and ideas by either dropping a note
into the offices at the centres, or
emailing us at staywellnews@staywellservices.org.uk

Staywell, 14 Nelson Road, New Malden, KT3 5EA

t: 020 8942 8256
e: hello@staywellservices.org.uk
w: www.staywellservices.org.uk
staywell news email: staywellnews@staywellservices.org.uk
The views expressed in staywell news are not necessarily those of the trustees,
staff or volunteers.
Published by Staywell (Age Concern Kingston upon Thames )
Registered charity no. 299988 Company no. 2272550

Design: Eileen Higgins, e: ehdesign@virginmedia.com

Print: Full Spectrum Print Media Ltd, t: 01268 288637.
Printed on 100% recycled paper

2 l Issue twenty-nine

In May, the Colorado

Country Music Club
(CCMC), based at
Horleys Regent Hall,
was nominated for the
prestigious CCN* Club
of the Year Award
2016. With over 900
country music clubs
operating in Britain,
this nomination was
not only unexpected,
but a real honour.
Despite losing out to
London club, Wheelers
Avenue, the CCMC
finished in the top ten
clubs, which is a
tremendous
achievement for a
small local club.
Daniel Berry thrills the dancefloor
We were very proud
of coming in the top ten thats a real achievement in itself,
commented Tony Wallis, who runs the club with his wife, Jill.
When we took over the club in 2000, numbers were really
dwindling. So we changed venues, gave it a refresh and set
out to make this the friendliest club in the south east.
Regular attendees Duncan and Carole Marshall said, We
love coming theres great live music, fun dancing and lots
of friends, both old and new!
The CCMC holds around 22 dances a year. They start at
8pm on a Friday night, with one of the UKs top country
music bands playing three sets of live music. At 8 entry and
BYO for refreshments, its great value for a terrific night out.
All styles of dancing are inter-mingled, be it Line Dancing,
Western Partner or free style. If youre new to country music
dancing, Tony will introduce you to the more experienced
dancers so you can learn the ropes.
With Living and Ageing Well Week just around the corner,
perhaps this is the time to try something new. Call Tony on
01342 892381 or email tonywallis45@btinternet.com to
find out more.
*CCN is Cross Country Magazine (the UKs number 1 country music magazine) &
Nashveel Artist Management

Who we are

How to contact us:

Colorado Country Music Club

nominated for prestigious award

stay well

services that change lives

Staywell is an independent charity, based in New Malden.
We have 70 years experience of supporting people to live safely
and independently in their own homes and over the years have won
awards for this, the most recent being the 2013 Charity Award for
Social Care and Welfare.
Our vision is to make your life a greater life. We have a history of working in innovative ways
with local people to deliver the services that they want, and of working in partnership.
We provide a range of community-based services which help and support people to live in
their own homes. These include information, advice and advocacy; practical help in the home
(e.g. handyperson services, cleaning and domestic help, shopping, support after a hospital
stay) and social activities (social centres, lunch clubs, telephone befriending, dementia club).
These services are accessed by hundreds of people each year.
Our staff are supported by over 120 trained volunteers who add value and huge
commitment to all the services we provide.

staywell interview

Meet our Chair Debbie Stinson

Dr Deborah M. Stinson is Chair of Staywells Trustee Board. Joining the Board in October
2013, she was elected Chair the following March. A practising clinician working in the
London Borough of Sutton for over 20 years, Debbie, as she prefers to be known, has been
a Consultant Psychiatrist in Older Peoples Mental Health Services since 1991 and sees
patients living with dementia daily.
staywell news met with Debbie to find out a little more about her, and her views on
ageing and retirement.
How did you first hear of Staywell?
I was invited to visit Staywells centre for
active seniors, The Bradbury, as a part
of a national event relating to health
and social care. I was very impressed
by what I saw, and how elevating it
was for people to have a modern, lively
place they could visit that offered
opportunities to make new friends
and engage in a variety of activities.

How did you progress from first

impressions to being Chair of
the Board?
Id been very involved in clinical
management, and when I stood down
from that I started to think about what I
might do in retirement. I was invited to
meet the Chief Executive of Staywell,
Shane Brennan, as they were looking
for volunteers with my type of
professional background. Up to this
point, Id only seen The Bradbury, and
this meeting really opened my eyes to

all the remarkable services Staywell

offers. I was struck by the vibrancy of
Raleigh House and its staff, and felt this
really was a lively and progressive
organisation. Shane mentioned they
were looking for volunteer Trustees,
and I was delighted to be invited to join
the Board at such an exciting time in
the charitys development. Six months
later I was honoured to accept the
position of Chair.

What do you consider to be the

greatest challenges for people as
they get older?
Research has shown us that the thing
people over 55 fear the most is the
onset of dementia. With the continued
reduction in statutory adult social care,
one of the greatest challenges we face
is how to manage this downturn in care
with an increase in the number of
people living with this long-term
condition. Although evidence shows

Staywells trustees
Staywells trustees, as with all charitable
trustees, are the people who share
ultimate responsibility for the
organisation. The executive is responsible
for the day to day operations and reports
to the trustees at regular board meetings.
Our trustees, who are all volunteers, come
from a wide range of backgrounds, social
care, health and business, bringing with
them their experience and knowledge to
help ensure Staywell continues to evolve
and provide great services.

the percentage incidence of dementia

is decreasing, the actual number of
people living with the condition is
rising due to the fact that people are
living so much longer. The key
challenges therefore, are how we
manage to keep people with dementia
living independently and safely in their
own homes, while receiving the
support they need. More centres like
Raleigh House will be needed to fill
increasing gaps, and our dependence
on volunteers, and support from the
wider community, will grow.

case, we should find the percentage

incidence of dementia continues to
decline, while quality of life increases.
There is great potential for older people
to be major contributors to their
communities, and as people stay
stronger and fitter longer, they will
have even more to contribute.

What do you feel are positive

aspects of growing older?

What do you feel is the key to

a happy, greater, later life?

We recognise the percentage incidence

of dementia is decreasing as people are
more physically, mentally and socially
active into older age than ever before.
Theres also evidence to show that
healthier diets are contributing to this
decrease. As this continues to be the

I agree with all the evidence that points

to being physically, mentally and
socially active. We need to feel engaged
with the wider community, have a real
sense of purpose and feel valued.

You mentioned youd been

thinking about retirement
do you have any plans?
Retirement is very much a shifting goal
post for me. Ive always said, never
retire, just do something else. And for
all those reasons relating to a happy
later life, Im most likely to be looking
for something different to do rather
than retiring.

In our last issue, we wrote about

the feats of several inspiring
people in their 70s and 80s thats
still a long way off for you, but what
would you hope to be doing at 80?
I have recently taken up cycling, so if I
could cycle from my home to Kingston
at 80, I would be delighted!
Issue twenty-nine

l3

 Staying social
Staywell offers a wide variety of social, adult learning and therapeutic activities through our centres in Reigate,
Banstead and Horley. They are friendly places where you can meet people for a chat, play a game or take part
in one of the many activities. If youve not been before, give us a call and come along to one near you.

Woodhatch Centre
The Woodhatch
Centre is a modern
community centre
providing a warm and
friendly environment for
all those seeking activity
and companionship.
While the centre offers
activities for all age groups, it acts as a lively social
hub for the over 50s. A wide range of activities are on
offer, from line dancing to tai chi; painting for pleasure
to IT & iPad tuition; and singing to board games.
Reasonably priced homemade hot and cold food is
available from the centres caf, Down the Hatch just
place your order before 11.30am.
The centre has a large comfortable reception area,
a dining area, and various activity rooms. Also on site,
youll find a hairdressers, podiatrist and beauty
therapist all reasonably priced and available by
appointment for members and non-members.
The building has car parking facilities and full access
for those requiring mobility assistance.
Opening times: Monday Friday 9.30am 4.00pm.
Contact Linda Cope or Anne Ager on 01737 221030
or email enquiries_woodhatch@staywellservices.
org.uk for more information or to book a look around.

Banstead Centre
Conveniently located
across from the library,
The Banstead Centre
offers people a friendly
and sociable place to
meet for fun activities,
exercise classes or just
a chat over coffee.
Membership is available for the over 50s, and
provides access to activities such as art classes,
table tennis, tai chi, bridge and IT tuition in the
Internet Caf. Members can also enjoy a home
cooked hot lunch in the dining room, or just a light
snack from the Hammond Caf. Transport is
available Monday Friday, to and from the centre,
for those who need it.
There is a reasonably priced hairdresser on site
call 01737 361329 to book an appointment. Also
within the premises you will find Age Concern
Banstead and Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead.
Opening times: Monday Friday, 10.00am 4.00pm.
Contact Lisa Barwick on 01737 361712 or email
enquiries_banstead@staywellservices.org.uk
for more information or to book a look around.

Room hire

Room hire

There is a Meeting Suite called the Lambert Room

(ideal for training/corporate meetings) and a
In addition to the services we provide for older people, smaller meeting room called the Libby Room
there are 5 rooms available for business, community or available for hire at any time. In addition, rooms or
private hire, accommodating 12-100 people. Bookings the whole centre can be hired in the evenings and
are available throughout the week including evenings at weekends.
and Saturdays.
Bookings: Lisa Barwick tel: 01737 361712 or email

The Woodhatch Community Centre, Whitebeam

Drive, Woodhatch, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7LS.

Situated in the centre of

Horley, Regent House
Community Centre
offers a wide range of
activities for all ages,
specialising in activities
and services for the over
50s. Through the 50+
Club, you can take part in the weekly art club, bingo,
join the ramblers group or play short mat bowls.
Home cooked hot and cold snacks and lunches are
available daily and can be booked on arrival.
Transport is usually available Monday Friday to and
from the centre for those who need it. For transport
costs and bookings, call 01293 772240.
There is a hairdressing and beauty salon providing a
variety of hair, beauty and massage treatments. To
make an appointment call Carolyn on 01293 774366.
Opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and
Friday, 9.00am 4.00pm. Thursday, 9.00am 7.00pm.
Contact Vanessa Pinion or Kim Joselyn on 01293
772240 / 774770 or email enquiries_regenthouse@
staywellservices.org.uk for more information or to
book a look around.

Room hire

Bookings: Annabel Ellis tel: 01737 271030 or email

bookings_woodhatch@staywellservices.org.uk

Regent House

The Regent Hall, accommodating up to 200 people,

and the Meeting Room (max 10 people) are available
for hire Monday Saturday at various times.
The 50+ Club on the ground floor of the centre can
also be hired after 4.30pm from Monday Friday and
is also available for hire on a Saturday.

bookings_banstead@staywellservices.org.uk

Bookings: 01293 772240 / 774770 or email:

bookings_regenthouse@staywellservices.org.uk

The Banstead Centre, The Horseshoe, Bolters

Lane, Banstead Village, Surrey SM7 2BQ.

Regent House Community Centre, Albert Road,

Horley, Surrey RH6 7JA.

Living and Ageing Well Week 2016

Monday 26 September to Saturday 1 October
Reigate and Banstead Borough Councils Living and Ageing Well Week returns to the community for the
fourth consecutive year in September. The week-long event is aimed at encouraging retired people to try
something new or return to an activity they might have enjoyed in their younger days. There are events
taking place all over the borough in the leisure centres, community centres, the theatre and parks.
The event will also promote the many support services the borough has to offer. For more information,
look out for the Living and Ageing Well Week Guide in the local libraries, community centres and leisure
centres. You can also call the councils Ageing Well Coordinator, Helen Dredge on 01737 276430.

4 l Issue twenty-nine

Look out for

this years
Guide to find
out more