News and Education
- Written by Dementia Wellington
March is Brain Health Awareness month, and Steps for Dementia is your opportunity to improve your own brain health. You'll be helping to raise vital funds for people living with dementia and their whānau across Aotearoa, to access the support they need to live their best life. Click here to read more about the campaign.
Here is how it works.
Choose the step you'd like to take for 31 days to improve your brain health, and set your target. Then get your whānau/family and friends to pledge their financial support for you achieving it.
So, let's get started.
It could be as easy as pledging to get 8 hours sleep a night, going dry for March or committing to a running goal, all while raising vital funds for services that Dementia New Zealand provides.
Click here for more information or to register!
- Written by Dementia Wellington
Community singing for people with cognitive memory loss
Dementia choirs are popular, well researched, established interventions overseas. Australia is running one of the biggest multi-million-dollar research in the world, looking at the effects of music for those living with dementia and quality of life.
For a few years now there has been interest in piloting one in the Hutt Valley. Rani Allan, owner of Music for Life a private music therapy practice is well known in the Hutt Valley and together with her team, has worked with many people with dementia with great success. One of her clients was Barbara Green, former opera singer who responded well to Rani's warmth and empathy. At the beginning of a session Barbara could be passive and unresponsive, a couple of songs in, her foot would be tapping, then she would be humming and engaging with the music. Music uses many parts of the brain and people with dementia who can no longer speak coherently, can often still sing and thus engage with others. Old memories usually include music, so songs from childhood and youth will be remembered. Barbara particularly loved ‘Pokarekare ana’, ‘You are my Sunshine’ and ‘Madame Butterfly”.
Barbara's partner Jenny asked Rani to sing at Barbara's funeral last year, in part as a tribute to all the many people who helped care for Barbara in the last part of her journey with dementia. Generous donations were made in Barbara's name to Dementia Wellington and together with money from Hutt Council Creative Community Grant and Barbara's estate, sufficient money was raised to support a music group for people with cognitive memory loss in the Hutt Valley.
The group meets fortnightly on a Friday afternoon at 2.30pm for tea and coffee, then singing with Rani from 3pm to 4pm. No musical experience is required and carers are welcome to join in. We meet at Petone Baptist church, 38 Buick street. Vaccination certificates are required and we will operate within Covid restrictions.
Contact Jenny Williams 04 5627124, 027 2219460 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information and to register your interest.
The next session is 4 March, followed by 18 March, 1 April, a break over Easter, then 29 April, 13 May, 27 May, 10 June, 8 July, 22 July, 5 Aug, 19 August, 2nd September, 16 September, 30 September, 14 October, 28 October, 11 November, 25 November, 9 December. It is important to register your contact details in case of any change to this.
- Written by Dementia Wellington
Dementia Wellington's Connect Newsletter
Our Connect newsletter has recently moved to an email format. Now designed to be published every two months - it's about keeping you up-to-date with our services, education events, and letting you know about anything that can help with your journey with dementia - either as a person with dementia or a carer. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter if you haven't already!
Please let us know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions on how we can make the newsletter more interesting and useful to you by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Read the latest Connect issue by clicking below:
Previous issues of Connect
Winter 2020
March 2020
Christmas 2019
- Written by Dementia Wellington
Dementia Advisors contact details
If you aren't already working with a Dementia Advisor, please contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Kāpiti Dementia Advisor
Sheena Farquhar This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Porirua Dementia Advisor
Debbie Mustard This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Central Wellington Dementia Advisor
Tina Carter This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Hutt Valley Dementia Advisor/Educator
Sarah Togher This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dementia Advisor Referrals/Living Well Co-ordinator
Jackie Cole This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Written by Dementia Wellington
Dementia Essentials seminars - What you need to know about dementia
Dementia Wellington has developed a series of seminars to answer the most common questions we get about dementia.
Each topic will be presented by a subject matter expert, with opportunity for questions and discussion.
These seminars are open to anyone who supports somebody with dementia - you can register for all or just come along to one to find out about a specific topic.
These seminars are free although koha is much appreciated.
Lower Hutt
VENUE – Dementia Wellington Hub, 55 Hutt Road, Lower Hutt, 5012
TIME - 10.30pm - 12.00pm (noon) Wednesdays
| Session | Topic |
| Wed 18th Jan | Understanding Changed Behaviour |
| Wed 1st Feb | Communicating Effectively |
| Wed 8th Feb | EPOA responsibilities & Advanced Care Planning |
| Wed 15th Feb | Preparing for Day Programme/ Respite/Long term care |
| Wed 22nd Feb | Staying Engaged and connected |
| Wed 1st Mar | Dealing with Grief and Loss |
To find out more or to register, please contact Sarah Togher on 020 4025 2329 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Written by Dementia Wellington
Dementia Wellington runs lots of activities for people affected by dementia across the wider Wellington region - from Kapiti, Porirua, Wellington and the Hutt Valley.
These include our Cog Cafes (short for 'Cognition' cafes) which are casual monthly meet-ups for people with dementia and their supporters, family or carers.
There are also regular Supporter Groups that are specifically designed for those who are caring for someone with dementia.
Our Dementia Advisors also run Clinic sessions where they are regularly available for one-on-one advice or even just a listening ear.
There are also other groups that we run, talk to your Dementia Advisor to see if these are right for you.
See our schedule 'What's Coming Up - January, February, March 2023' for dates, venues and times to help you plan.
- Written by Dementia Wellington
It's never too early to start thinking about Advance Care Planning. We plan for finances, and think about insuring property and contents, so why not do the same for your future health care?
Advance care planning helps you, the important people in your life and your health care team plan for your end-of-life care.
It helps you understand what the future might hold, and to say what health care you would or would not want. This makes it much easier for everyone to understand your wishes – especially if you can no longer speak for yourself.
An advance care plan is a way for people to think about, talk about and share what matters to them now in case they are unable to say it later.
Who would you like to speak for you if you can’t?
Sarah Togher is a Dementia Advisor here at Dementia Wellington. She talks about advance care planning and dementia as part of a new series of videos released by the Health Quality & Safety Commission.
You can watch all four videos at: https://bit.ly/3y3CiYG
To find out more and to begin your Advance Care Plan, go to www.myacp.org.nz
- Written by Dementia Wellington
Come along to a Navigating Dementia information session!
These ninety-minute information sessions are open to anyone keen to find out more about what dementia is, what to do if you’re concerned about changes in memory or thinking, ideas for living well with dementia, and the support and resources available.
The seminar covers:
- Assessment and diagnosis of cognitive impairment,
- What is and what isn’t dementia,
- How to maximise brain health and function,
- Plus the supports and services available for people living with dementia.
This information session is free although a koha is most appreciated.
Upcoming dates and venues for Navigating Dementia information sessions are:
March
Lower Hutt
2.00pm - 3.30pm, Thursday 9 March 2023
Dementia Wellington Hub, 55 Hutt Road, Lower Hutt 5012
Contact Dementia Advisor Sarah Togher, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Karori
4.00pm - 5.30pm, Tuesday 28 March 2023
Karori Communtiy Centre, 245 Karori Rd Wellington 6012
Contact Dementia Advisor Tina Carter, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
April
Kāpiti
12.00pm - 1.30pm, Thursday 20 April 2023
Kāpiti Aquatic Centre, 10 Brett Ambler Way, Paraparaumu, Kāpiti Coast
Contact Dementia Advisor Sheena Farquhar, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
May
Kilbirne
12.00pm - 1.30pm, Tuesday 23 May 2023
Ākau Tangi Sports Centre, 72 Kemp Street, Kilbirnie, Wellington 6022
Contact Dementia Advisor Tina Carter, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
June
TBC
July
Newlands
4.00pm - 6.30pm, Tuesday 25 July 2023
Newlands Community Centre, 9 Batchelor Street, Newlands, Wellington 6037
Contact Dementia Advisor Tina Carter, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
August
TBC
September
Kāpiti
5.00pm - 6.30pm, Wednesday 20 September 2023
Kāpiti Aquatic Centre, 10 Brett Ambler Way, Paraparaumu, Kāpiti Coast
Contact Dementia Advisor Sheena Farquhar, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Written by Dementia Wellington
THANK YOU to the special organisations that allow us to help people living with dementia to stay active and engaged in our community.
Without the generous funding we receive from trusts, grants, and businesses, many of our Living Well activities and education would not be available. Click here to read more about our funders.
- Written by Dementia Wellington
If you or your person with dementia is finding your usual round of golf is getting to be a bit too much, the Royal Wellington Golf Club offers a golf afternoon with just nine holes and volunteer golfers to provide support. The team is happy to pick up, bring to the golf course and drop home. Lunch at the golf course is part of the experience.
Volunteers usually pick up golfers from home at about 10.45am to meet at the Royal Wellington Golf Course clubhouse 11.15am. Lunch is at 11.30am then everyone gathers at the driving range around 12pm. Tee off at 12.30pm on Terrace course for nine holes. Afterwards, everyone meets in the clubhouse for a for cup of tea/coffee at around 3pm. Volunteers then drive the golfer home at around 4pm.
Cost is $20 per person, including a golf cart for those that need it. We are grateful to the Royal Wellington Golf Club for generously supporting and subsidising our Assisted Golf programme.
Please note that previous golf experience is essential.
To register or find out more contact:
John Mathews - phone 027 445 4321 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tone Borren - phone 021 494 130 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
