Zimbabwe Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Association
July Newsletter 2023

Dear Members, families and friends

Welcome to our July Newsletter.
We hope that you are keeping warm in this freezing weather. Winter has certainly hit us with a vengeance. Please snuggle up with your loved ones whilst the temperatures are so low. Plenty of hot drinks and warm clothes.

Welcome to all our new members. We hope that you will benefit from being part of this group as you all travel this dementia journey.

We send our heartfelt condolences to the Campbell and Chipumha families on the passing of your loved ones. Such a difficult very difficult time for you all. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Please remember to pay your subs for 2023 ! Thank you to all who have paid to date. We appreciate your continued support.

September is World Alzheimer’s month and as in previous years we will be having various functions. Planning is still in progress but the Memory Walk will be held on 21st September 2023 at the Borrowdale Race Course. We are also planning on having a Walk in Highfields if we get the necessary permissions. Other functions will be arranged during the month. We hope to get media coverage during the month and we hope that you will support our functions to get as much visibility and awareness as possible to make life better for you and your loved ones. We will be looking for prizes for our raffle so if you have anything that you may like to contribute please contact us at the office.

Congratulations to Island Hospice for hosting an excellent Men’s Health Fare in June. Thank you for inviting Zarda to have an information stand. We appreciate the opportunity to share information with people from different age groups. There was a lot of interest.
This past week Zarda were given slots of Star FM and Classic 268. Both sessions were received well and many questions came in from members of the public.

We will be having a fundraiser Golf Day in October. We hope that all you golfers will put in an appearance. We need teams of four so save October 21st to come and join us for this fun day. Tell friends and family. We are also looking for sponsors. Please contact the office for more information.

A reminder that Carer support meetings are held on first Wednesday of the month at Highlands Presbyterian Church. These are very informal meetings and a chance to share with others who are travelling the journey through dementia like you. Please consider joining us.
There will be a training course on 27th July. There will be no training in August. The cost of the course is $40. This training covers all aspects of dementia and related issues. All participants are given a certificate of attendance and a comprehensive set of notes to take home. Please book through the office or call 0779 714 905. Details below.

We still have quite a number of pampers (various sizes), pads and linen savers at the office. There are no pull-ups. We also have a couple of walkers and other aides for the bath and toilet.

BREAKING NEWS
There has been good news this past few days about new treatments for Alzheimer’s. There are two new drugs that have been under review in both America and UK. These drugs have been trialed on early stage dementia and show an improvement of cognitive capacity of approximately 35%. There are of course side affects for some. There is also a huge cost implication. The good news is that the researchers and pharma companies seem to be on the right track to finding a cure that will ease the burden of dementia in the coming years.
Work is also ongoing to develop a vaccine for dementia.

Be kind to yourself when
you have setbacks, focus
on the good things you
are doing and commit to
a better day tomorrow

Please contact the Bulawayo group for information about their activities.
Dates to diarise
Contact numbers for Bulawayo are +263 776 796 796/+263 775 369 910
The office will be closed from 4th August as Jan will be away but you can still contact us on 0779 714 905 or email zarda@zol.co.zw and any queries will be addressed.
Art every Friday at Nazareth House, Enterprise Road – 10:00 – 12:00.
Carer Support Group – Wednesday 2nd August 10:00 – 12:00 – Highlands Presbyterian Church, 112 Enterprise Road, Highlands. Please indicate your intention to attend either on whatsapp groups or 0779 714 905
Caregiver training 27th July 08:00 – 15:30. Highlands Presbyterian Church, 112 Enterprise Road. RSVP 0779 714 905.
Carer Support group – Friday 21st July 14:00 at Highfields Old People’s Home. Please call 0773 597 413 for more information.
Carer Support Group – Wednesday 6th September 2023 10:00 – 12:00.
Memory Walk – 21st September 2023 – 1530 – 1800 Borrowdale Race Course
Golf day – Saturday 21st October – Borrowdale Brooke Golf Course.
—————————————————————
Follow us on: @ZimAlzheimersA1 zarda.harare ZARDAHARARE
—————————————————-
These are good internet sites to go to for information www.alzheimers.org.uk and http://www.alzint.org

We have made it our policy not to recommend care staff. We would suggest that you contact the various nursing agencies for assistance. If you need contacts for them please call the office

Subs are due for 2023.They are US$20 (January – December) Donations gratefully accepted. They can be paid directly into CABS (RTGS) A/C 1002366054 – ZARDA HARARE BRANCH or via Ecocash – 0772 238 418 at the rate of the day. Contact the office for US$ contributions or you may use the Zarda Nostro Account – ZARDA HARARE BRANCH 112 527 1930. It is now possible to pay US$ contributions at any Chicken Inn using the InnBucks platform – ZARDA WOOD 0779 714 905.
Thank you to those of you who have paid for 2023. Please remember to pay your subs. Please let us know if you no longer wish to be a member and we will remove you from the membership list. Thank you

Library books – We have a small Library at the office.

For those of you who are in need of Adult Pampers contact Medibest, 244 Arcturus Road, Greendale, Telephone 04 498716/04 498737. Open Monday – Thursday 08:00 –17:00. Friday 08:00 – 16:30. medibest@mweb.co.zw

Audiovannah – If you are requiring a hearing test you can go to Trauma Centre Borrowdale, 1 Borrowdale Lane, Corner Breach Rd and Kingsmead Road, Borrowdale.
John Evans is also highly recommended for hearing tests. 20 J. Tongogara Avenue – 2730727/2730730

If you are worried about your Memory or know of someone who may have a problem please contact us. All queries are confidential.

Take care and keep smiling, stay well. Remember we are a phone call away.
ZARDA COMMITTEE