Today we celebrated two carers birthdays, Pam’s birthday on the 29th April and Father Spiros who was celebrating his 89th birthday today. The birthdays were celebrated in the usual Dementia Club UK fashion.
Pam’s birthday for the 29th AprilFather Spiros’s 89th birthday
We had a general knowledge quiz, some jokes were told by Lisa and then Moshe the musical entertainer arrived who played lots of popular songs that people could sing a long with. He also did some requests for some of the members to sing karaoke style. Everyone had a really lovely time singing and dancing.
James leading the singingTerry doing some Frank Sinatra
My thanks to Mark and Nick, two of our trustees who helped in the session today.
Today was a very busy session. We had about 50 people.
Lisa gave out a quiz for members to do during the session. Also provided members with different pictures for colouring. Lisa welcomed Ms Yael White who is an Occupational Therapist Volunteer from Jewish Care and also announced an outing on 7th July with steam trains.
We celebrated Helen’s birthday today in the usual fashion. Lisa also read out 2 jokes which everyone really loved. Our Doctor Angela then gave her doctors talk of the day which was about ‘itchy bottoms’.
Helen’s birthday
Lisa then did some singing with members followed by their 3 music favourites which got members up and dancing. It was then time to announce the quiz answers and then it was Tovertafel time. There were some new members today who really enjoyed playing with Tovertafel.
Everyone left very happy. Thank you to Eleanor our volunteer for helping out today during the session. Thank you also to Mark and Dr Angela our 2 Trustees for helping.
We had a few members today and 2 visitors Talia Lief Care Quality Advisor for Barnet Adult Services and Simon Smith a Rotary member and Clerk of Jesus Hospital Arms Houses.
Lisa started the session with a quiz and social activities which members really enjoyed. Richard then arrived and members enjoyed some yoga moves in couples which was fun.
The session then followed with James Le Bec and his music entertainment and as always members were up dancing. Lisa ended the session with a couple of jokes and the answers to the quiz. It was an enjoyable session.
Dancing to James Le Bec’s music
Thank you to our Rotary volunteer Malcolm, Andrew from the church, our 2 ladies who helped with the teas and washing up.
Today was our second session and first session in association with Edgware & Stanmore and Northwick Park. It was a lovely warm day and we had quite a few members attend.
Lisa welcomed everyone including our Rotarians from both clubs. Mollie, Helen, June, Lucile and Ritu all from Rotary Club Northwick Park and from Rotary Club Edgware & Stanmore – Danielle, Dr Nandini, Fran, Selwyn and Mrinal Choudhury.
Richard taking yoga which was enjoyed by all
It was also a real pleasure to see one of our regular volunteers Theresa and also one of the Trustees Dr Angela Parker who attended with her friend Melissa.
Lisa started with a quiz and informed members that she would provide the answers at the end. Lisa then read out 3 jokes which members really enjoyed and then Lisa introduced Dr Angela who gave a talk to members about shingles. This was however introduced in the form of a quiz and members were given picture cards and beach stones to try and guess what Dr Angela was going to talk about. After some thought one of the members guessed it was ‘shingles’.
The following is a note from Dr Angela Parker about Shingles
“Shingles, lovely on the roof as tiles, on the beach as beautiful soft pebbles but really not very nice on the skin as an illness with blistering spots and long term pain caused by nerve damage. Dr Parker introduced this diagnosis, and discussed the immunisation which provides some protection against shingles. The jab Zostavax is available free to restricted age groups under the NHS. The news of a new vaccine which is thought to give better protection to a wider range of ages is very welcome and we all look forward to it being evaluated quickly by the Public Health departments and hopefully being made freely available to older people.”
The following links take you to patients UK Shingles info sheet;
Members were very grateful for this information from Dr Angela.
Richard then arrived and members were ready for their yoga which was really enjoyed by all. The session then followed with Ronnie who entertained everyone with his lovely music and everyone was up and dancing. Lisa also had some games around the room which some members enjoyed especially ball catching and Putting golf.
It was a very successful enjoyable session and thank you to all our volunteers for their help during the session.
Today was a fun packed session. Lisa first gave members a quiz to do and this was followed with an egg challenge.
Lisa had a few red Easter eggs left over. Each egg was placed in a plastic cup and Lisa asked those members that wanted to take part in the challenge to place it on top of their heads. The winner would be the person who could walk across the room and back without dropping the egg. There were 2 winners. Everyone thought it was great fun.
Lisa showing the members of Dementia Club UK how to balance the Red Easter Egg
Richard then arrived to do Yoga and as usual members always enjoy this. The session then followed with Helen Tierney our musical entertainer who brought 3 musical instruments- the accordion, the harp and also a piano keyboard. Members were really looking forward to seeing Helen as they love the variety of songs she plays especially as she also relates the songs to memorable dates and themes.
On this occasion Helen also brought and introduced Alexis Leighton who is an actress. Alexis read some beautiful poems relating to Spring. The poetry and Helen’s music performance was both brilliant. Some members got up and danced. Valerie and Helen were a great duet singing together and Terry sang with a fantastic Frank Sinatra voice.
Thanks to our Rotary volunteers today – Valerie who is also one of our Trustees and Ian. Also thanks to Mark and Dr Angela our other Trustees. Thank you also to Risom who looks after members with refreshments.
Dr Angela was leading the session today and she also brought a friend called Melpomene a.k.a. Mellissa from Australia. There were a lot of members as usual. Angela started the session with a First Aid quiz which everybody enjoyed and learnt some vital First Aid by a Doctor. She also did some reminiscing games that brought back lots of memories.
Moshe then arrived and was ready to entertain the members in his usual fashion. Melissa, Eva, Karish and Valerie got everybody up and dancing.
My thanks to all the volunteers who attended; Melvin, Valerie, Kevin and our 2 students Eva and Karish.
Barnet FC Walking Football Team cheque presentation
Cllr Lisa Rutter founder and chairman of Dementia Club UK which is a registered charity wants to thank Barnet Walking Football Team for fund raising £600.00 during the evening on 21st March 2018 at the Hive home of Barnet FC. The team attended the Dementia Club session at Sha’arei Tsedek yesterday to present the cheque and also mixed with the members, chatting and joining in with the fun activities during the afternoon. The Walking Football Team were a great hit with members and Lisa would like to thank Kevin & Shaun of the WFT for organising this event. Kevin is also one of the carers and he brings his mother in law to the Dementia Club Sessions.
Lisa also wants to thank Tony Kleanthous chairman of Barnet FC who donated for auction a corporate hospitality package for 4 people at a home game of their choice.
“The monthly Dementia Club UK meeting was held on the 9th April at Sha’arei Tsedek Synagogue in Whetstone.
A journalist – Kate from ‘BBC5 Live Investigates’ attended today to interview members. Kate is investigating how people with dementia are treated in hospitals and their experiences. Kate managed to interview 3 of our members. The programme will be heard on Sunday 22nd April at 11.00am. It is a one hour programme.
Kate from “BBC5 Live Investigates” and Lisa
At the start of the session, the guests were served tea, coffee & lovely biscuits and were happy chatting to each other. Kevin, one of our carers who brings his mother in law to Dementia Club, had arranged a fundraising evening in aid of Dementia Club UK on 21st March at The Hive in Edgware. Kevin is part of the Barnet over 50’s Walking Football Team and we were honoured to have them visit us to present Dementia Club UK with a cheque for £600!!!
Steve, Mike, Kevin, Peter, Shaun & Dave of BarnetWFT presenting a cheque for £600 to Lisa
Shaun, Peter, Mike, Dave, Steve, Barry and Kevin all stayed for the session and joined in with all our activities and were great sports! Everyone loved them! After the presentation, a lady called Jane Rosenberg with her husband Harold (on music) entertained us with some lovely operatic singing which the guests enjoyed and appreciated.
Jane Rosenberg with her husband Harold entertaining Dementia Club UK with some Gershwin favourites
This was followed by Deborah Griffiths (who came with her 3 young children) who did some Egyptian belly dancing for us! Deborah even showed our guests some of her moves! In between all of this, the guests were even given a quiz to do! Approximately 25 guests and carers, plus quite a few visitors attended the session with the assistance of 5 helpers from the synagogue! Great fun was had by all!.”
Today was a very happy session. Members enjoyed Lisa’s quiz to start and also enjoyed colouring some pictures.
Session then followed with some poetry reading and lots of singing and also some dancing. We want to congratulate Jackie and Joseph who celebrated their 48th wedding Anniversary today.
Lisa then turned on the Tovertafel and members were really looking forward to playing.
Happy days at Dementia Club UK
Whilst some members played on the magic table, Lisa also distributed other games around the room for everyone to enjoy. Everyone left very happy.
Members were pleased to see Karish and Eva the 2 student volunteers today, my thanks to them for helping with the session. Mark one of the Trustees also helped with setting up the tables and chairs and a big thanks to Melvyn who is one of our regular volunteers.
Today was a busy session. Lisa brought in some red eggs which she had cooked the night before. This is a Greek tradition with the red eggs and Lisa explained that they could hit the eggs amongst themselves until there is one winter egg or they could take their eggs home and decorate the eggs with the picture transfers which Lisa provided to everyone. Most preferred the latter option.
The session then followed with Kevin doing his Family Fortunes game with members which is always great fun.
At this point 2 students arrived. Karish from QE Boys who wants to be a doctor and Eva from Woodhouse College who wants to volunteer. They will be attending to volunteer during the holidays.
Eva and Karish local students who have kindly volunteered their time over the holidays
Lisa then cleared one of the tables to prepare and turn on the Tovertafel. This was the first session after the recent launch. Chairs were put around the table and members sat and enjoyed the games. There was so much fun, members did not want to get away. The Tovertafel will be used every week.
Members of Dementia Club UK enjoying the games on the Tovertafel (Magic Table)This was the first time we have used the Tovertafel since the launch last week
Thank you to Mark one of the Trustees who helped set up the tables and chairs. Thank you to Kevin for doing the quiz, Dr. Angela one of the Trustees for helping in the session and Melvyn one of our volunteers who came later.
