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  • Official Launch at the Baden Powell Centre of DCUK & Rotary Clubs of Edgware & Stanmore and Northwick Park

    Official Launch at the Baden Powell Centre of DCUK & Rotary Clubs of Edgware & Stanmore and Northwick Park

    Today was the official launch of Dementia Club UK in Association with Rotary Clubs of Edgware & Stanmore and Northwick Park. Rotary Club Edgware and Stanmore started in March and then Rotary Club Northwick Park joined the following month in April. Both Rotary Clubs have now been running for 5 months successfully and thanks goes to the two Rotary Clubs Presidents Danielle Benson and Mollie Hacking for starting them.

    Launch Cake
    Launch Cake made and donated by Sasha Capocchi

    The two Rotary Clubs now have two new Presidents – Sonia Hirsh is President of Rotary Club Edgware & Stanmore and Mike Stonham is President of Rotary Club Northwick Park. Danielle and Mollie will continue to run the sessions with the help of other Rotarian volunteers.

    As this was an official launch event a buffet of various foods were brought by Lisa, Mollie, Helen, Dr Nandini and Danielle. Sasha from The Studios Satellite Rotary Club made a beautiful huge fresh fruit cream cake and donated the cake to the dementia club. The tables were also decorated with red tablecloths and flowers by Lisa.

    We had a good number of members with their families attend and quite a few Rotary Club volunteers from both clubs.

    Rotary Club Edgware & Stanmore

    • Danielle Benson now Immediate Past President
    • Dr Nandini Varma
    • Selwyn Foreman (Secretary)
    • Mrinail Choudhury
    • Suresh Bharwaney
    • Leonard Specterman

    Rotary Club Northwick Park

    • Mollie Hacking MBE Immediate Past President
    • Helen Antoniou Past District Governor 2016-2017
    • Ritu Kapur
    • June Nathan
    • Dick Nathan
    • Lucille Parker
    • Rachelle Golding
    • John Evans

    Lisa’s announcements included many welcomes as follows;

    Special Guest – The Mayor of Harrow Cllr. Kareema Marikar Lisa introduced her and the Mayor gave us a quick introduction to her work in mental health. The Mayor was then asked to cut the cake with Lisa together as Lisa was also representing the Mayor of Barnet and wearing her official past Mayor’s badge.

    Mayors from Barnet and Harrow cut the launch cake
    Past Mayor of Barnet and Mayor of Harrow cut the launch cake
    Mike Hodge, Rotary District Governor 2018 – 2019 also said a few words about the Rotary and how the Rotary Clubs have done well in setting up dementia clubs.
    Mike Hodge, Rotary District Governor 2018 – 2019 also said a few words about the Rotary and how the Rotary Clubs have done well in setting up dementia clubs.

    Other Visitors;

    • Eugenia Dike from Rotary Club President of Hendon
    • Jo Kamanu – Alzheimer’s Society prevention and wellbeing co-ordinator for Edgware
    • Mike Hodge – Rotary District Governor 2018 – 2019 also said a few words about the Rotary and how the Rotary Clubs have done well in setting up dementia clubs.
    • Dee Dolukup – Nat West Stanmore personal banking manager gave members some leaflets about financial scams and what to look out for with some useful tips.
    • Scott MaClachlan (Assistant Governor North West) from Rotary Club of Barnet
    • Rony Fernandes and other Rotarians from Rotary Club of Moodbiri Temple Town, India who are staying in the area popped by to do some Rotary International flag exchanging.
    • Sally Larner of specialist dementia support services
    • Jalpa Assani of GLL Better Leisure Centres came to see our successful formula

    Rotary Presidents and Lisa
    Past and present Rotary Presidents, the Mayor of Harrow and past Mayor of Barnet – Lisa

    Lisa then started the session with a Quiz – How well do you know your Herbs? This provoked lots of chat about herbs and food. Everyone did well working in teams. Richard then arrived to start the Chair Yoga session. Everyone concentrated on all the various moves and then Richard brought out some bean bags for members which got them all very excited and ready for the next part of the session with Ronnie Goldsmith’s music entertainment. Members as usual got up to dance, or at least do some toe tapping in our seats to some music favourites.

    Chair yoga with Richard
    Chair yoga with Richard

    This was a successful launch. Thanks to all our Rotarian volunteers for helping. Thank you to Beryl the premises manager. Thank you to Mark one of the Trustees for Dementia Club UK for helping with all the tables and chairs and also Marcel for helping with the same. Thank you to all those who brought food and Sasha for her delicious cake.

    Next meet-up Wednesday 15th August

  • Finchley Memorial – Wedneday 18 July

    Today’s session was led by Eleanor.

    Eleanor talked about a close friend of her brother’s, who had been diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 60. Her husband had recently given up work to support her and they were struggling to deal with the reaction of friends who had deserted them in the months leading up to, and following, her diagnosis earlier this year. Eleanor then read an extract from ‘Somebody I Used to Know’, a book published in February 2018 by Wendy Mitchell, who was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease in 2015 at the age of 58. It was the second moving account Eleanor had read from Wendy’s book, in which Wendy spoke of the reactions of some of her friends to her illness: a neighbour who had crossed the road when he saw her in her front garden, unanswered emails and friends who no longer sent birthday or Christmas cards. Wendy is the first person to have written a book about her experience of living with dementia and some of our carers expressed surprise that she has such a clear insight into her condition.

    By popular request, we then played two games of card bingo called by Eleanor and David, our volunteer who has just qualified as a doctor.

    We finished with a general knowledge quiz. As always, we had some fiercely competitive contestants whose wide-ranging knowledge is extremely impressive. It is always pleasing to see so many members and carers joining in!

    My thanks to our volunteers, Melvyn, Eva and David, without whose help we could not have run the session and to everyone who made teas and coffees and cleared up afterwards. Eva is now taking a well-deserved holiday until September and we hope she will be back with us at the start of next term if her college timetable permits. David starts his first job at a local hospital on 23 July and we wish him good luck!

  • Allum Manor Borehamwood – 16th July 2018

    This was our first session at the new venue. Some of our regular members visited which was really nice.

    Lisa started with a quiz on Food and Drink which members found interesting and prompted discussions about food.

    Richard then attended to do some Yoga with members. Richard introduced some bean bag catches which was great fun. The session then followed with Ronnie and his music entertainment and members were now up and dancing. In fact there were also a lot of interesting passers who wanted to join in. It was a successful first session.

    Thank you to Mark my husband and one of the Trustees who helped with the session.

  • Stephen’s House & Gardens – 9th July

    It’s been a hot couple of weeks and members who attended today were feeling wilted. The venue however is spacious and airy and this really helped.

    Lisa started with a picture quiz which they enjoyed as it was not too hard. They were then given a word and asked to make as many 4 letter words as they could from the word I gave them. This was challenging as each table was competing.

    One of the carers – Roopa, made some cakes as it was her special birthday last week. Members were very grateful for the variety of cakes.

    Richard then came to do some yoga with members which was really enjoyable and the session then followed with Moshe. Even though it was hot, members still wanted to dance.

    We had a new members today. David Graham from the Rotary brought his dad Tony who has dementia and he was also accompanied by the carer Nancy.

    Thank you to our Rotarian volunteers – Valerie who is also one of our Trustees and Michael. Also thanks to our other volunteers, Gillian and Sandra, David Brill and of course Risom who is always so helpful.

  • Epping Ongar Steam Train with cream tea on 7th July

    Dementia Club UK organised a day out for 28 members to have a ride on a steam train through Epping Forest and also cream tea after at North Weald Airfield.

    It was a very hot day but our Barnet Community Transport buses were nicely air conditioned. We were met by a tour guide who looked after us during the day and provided us with lots of history and information. Members were also very pleased to go and visit Greensted Church which is the oldest wooden church in the world which goes back to pre-Roman times.

    There was also some free time and some went to a pub for some lunch and drinks. The cream tea at the Airfield was fantastic as the scones and cakes were all home-made and it was lovely to sit and watch aeroplanes take off and land.

    Members had a very enjoyable day.

  • Finchley Memorial Hospital – 4th July 2018

    Finchley Memorial Hospital – 4th July 2018

    It was a very busy session as always. Lisa decorated the tables today with flowers and Union Jack flags. As it was the 4th July we celebrated Independence Day for our American cousins. We also celebrated the NHS’s 70th birthday and also England doing well in football. In fact one of the members came to the session with a big England flag celebrating England’s football win yesterday with Colombia.

    This was a special day and we also had some special visitors. We had Steve Hitchins- Chairman of Whittington Health who brought with him 3 Clinicians; Emma – Team lead occupational therapist for care of the elderly, Paula – clinical nurse specialist for elderly people, Becs- care for older people consultant. We also had Dr Tamara Djuretic – Barnet Council Director of Public Health. We also had Andy from Tovertafel.

    New train game loaded onto the Tovertafel for members of Dementia Club UK
    New train game loaded onto the Tovertafel for members of Dementia Club UK

    Members were very pleased to see so many visitors.

    Lisa started the session giving each table a picture quiz. It then followed with some singing to some favourite songs chosen by members. As members were having a bit of a problem with the quiz Lisa went through the picture quiz with members providing some clues and everyone was then able to get the answers.

    The session then followed with Lisa doing some exercises with all the members sitting. Although it was very warm everyone really enjoyed doing the exercises.

    It was now time for the Torvetafel and Andy was happy to take over and show members the different games especially the 2 new games – the beach and the steam train.

    All the visitors today with our regular members
    All the visitors today with our regular members

    Everyone had such great fun especially our visitors. I would like to thank our volunteers Mark who helped set up the tables and chairs, our 2 students Karish and Eva, Melvyn, Dr Angela and her friend Melissa who is always so bubbly and engaging with members. I also like to thank our new volunteer David Brill. Also of course thank you to all our visitors today for attending our session.

  • Sha’arei Tsedek Synagogue – 2nd July 2018

    A good session as always at the Synagogue. Members enjoyed a workout with Jane the new fitness instructor which they really enjoyed. The session the followed with James le Bec and this always motivates members to get up and dance and have lots of fun.

  • Hendon Town Hall session 28th June 2018

    We had a small number of members today. It has been hot weather for the past week with sessions every day.

    Lisa started the session with a multiple questions quiz which also prompted conversations amongst the members.

    The session then followed with Jane who gave members a whole body workout focusing especially on exercises to prevent falls. Members finally enjoyed the social activities and some singing and dancing to their favourite songs.

    Lisa is grateful for David one of the new volunteers (training to be a doctor)that came to help today during the session.

  • Finchley Memorial Hospital – 27th June 2018

    Today’s session was run by Eleanor. We had a good turnout of 35 members and carers who had not been tempted away by the glorious summer sunshine and high temperatures!

    Kevin started the session with one of his popular ‘Poll of Barnet’ quizzes and Eleanor followed with a general knowledge quiz. The combined knowledge of our group is amazing and it was wonderful to see so many people joining in.

    Next it was Dr Angela’s turn. She handed out an item of canned or bottled food or drink to each table and told us how they can help reduce symptoms of cramp. They included sparkling water, tonic water, oily fish etc. We are very grateful to Dr Angela for her enormous contribution to the Dementia Club and for her invaluable support and advice to all of us, both as a group and as individuals.

    The remainder of the afternoon was led by our musical entertainer, Moshe, who performed music from across Europe and invited everyone to sing along. It was lovely to see so many members and carers joining in, with smiles on their faces.

    Thank you to Melvyn, Karish and Eva for serving our refreshments and helping to make our sessions run so smoothly. We are so lucky to have two local school students amongst our volunteers. Thank you Karish and Eva!!

  • St John’s Church New Barnet 26th June

    St John’s Church New Barnet 26th June

    It was a very hot and sunny day and the small number of members who came to the session had a fantastic time with a few surprises.

    The session started by offering the members teas and coffee plus a piece of very nice cake that was brought by Dorothy.

    Richard then did exercise yoga with the members. He surprised everybody by introducing small colourful beanbags as part of the exercise. Everybody had a lot of fun throwing then up and down and to each other. They asked that he brings these beanbags in future sessions.

    Chair yoga with Richard using colourful beanbags
    Chair yoga with Richard using colourful beanbags

    The session then followed with James Le Bec singing his usual popular songs and all members had a lot of fun by singing and dancing. James then surprised everybody by doing his music quiz using playing cards instead of the usual big dice.

    Thank you to our lady volunteers making teas and coffees; Dorothy and Brenda, from St John’s Church.Thank you to Dr Rebecca for taking blood pressures and our Rotarians John, Jim, Victor and Simon.