Blog

Today’s session at Hendon Town Hall was led by Charlyn and was extra special.

The day started with our usual chitty chatty among members, family members and volunteers. The room was brightened up with colorful decorated table tennis tables brought in by Muz and Faz from Ping is King Ltd. Ping is King is a company based in Barnet that promotes increased dexterity and motor skills to prevent or slow the progression of dementia and Alzheimer’s in sufferers by playing table tennis.

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Members enjoyed playing table tennis so much leaving all wanting more. We all hope to see Faz and Muz again very soon. The ever jovial Eon was present to lead the group with gentle physical exercises. As usual we were all breathless but truly enjoyed the session.

Mark took to the stage and was our bingo master for the afternoon. We all had refreshments. The volunteers and members were ready for the Christmas session as some had their Christmas gear on. The afternoon ended with both volunteers and members in high spirit and looking forward to Dementia Club UK Christmas party sessions.

Thank you to Charlyn and Eugenia from Rotary Club of Hendon and of course Lisa and Mark who also helped throughout the session.

The Christmas tree and decorations were set up at Carlton Court care home today and residents were also feeling the seasonal joy.

Lisa welcomed everyone and introduced James Le Bec to start his music entertainment. As usual James gets everyone singing and some residents and carers up and dancing. His music quiz is also popular and residents like to throw the big fluffy dice. Everyone had a great time.

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The session then followed with the OM Interactive game system which residents enjoy playing. A successful event.

Today was another very busy session with lots of fun activities and lots of smiles.

Lisa welcomed everyone giving a brief update and also welcomed Muz and Faz who had already set up various activities for each table before members arrived.

Lisa then mentioned one of the members – Shital’s birthday which was celebrated yesterday and everyone sang happy birthday to him. Shital kindly brought a box of chocolates which was shared out.

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One of the carers – James, who attended the recent Blenheim Palace outing brought in the Alice in Wonderland book to read a small paragraph from the book. James decided to read the passage where Alice meets the Cheshire cat. Everyone enjoyed listening to that and thanked James.

It was now time for Muz and Faz to take the second part of the session. They had a warm welcome from all the members. Muz and Faz had various games on each table and the aim to day was to circuit the games so that each table had the chance to play all the games. Members really enjoyed especially the egg box game where they bounce the ping pong ball which should then go into the egg box.

There was a lot of fun and competition amongst the members. Some members wanted to also do some exercises and therefore Lisa did a few exercises with those who wanted to exercise.

It was then time for music entertainment and members were delighted to see James Bernard. James as usual always plays the right music and it was not long before most members were up and dancing.

Thank you to our volunteers today – Melvyn, Angela Chen, Dr Angela, Melissa and her husband Bob and of course Mark who helped throughout the session. It was lovely to see Melissa with her Christmas tinsel hat which members really liked as this also marked the beginning of Seasonal joy.

Our Dementia Club session today was attended by 8 members.

Our doctor Rebecca Hatjiosif also attended the session and offered to take blood pressures for anyone who wanted. Dr Rebecca also reminded everyone that if they didn’t have their flu jabs yet then they should go to have it done. She also mentioned that the Shingles injection was also important to have if you are between 70 to 80 years of age.

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Lisa welcomed everyone giving some updates and letting members know that they had an exciting afternoon to look forward to. Lisa then informed everyone that there was a birthday to celebrate first. It was Shital’s birthday today and all the members sang happy birthday to him. Lisa brought a cake and as usual the birthday was celebrated the Dementia Club UK fashion with a firework candle. Shital also brought a box of chocolates to share with everyone.

Lisa then introduced Muz and Faz who brought some exciting games for everyone. They brought with them a table tennis table for 8 players. The members were asked to roll, bounce and throw the tennis ball and hit it with their tennis rackets to the person sitting opposite. They then introduced some colourful cups to try and get the tennis balls inside. All the members enjoyed themselves and tennis balls were flying everywhere.

A cold rainy day but this did not prevent members attending. Lisa welcomed everyone and gave a brief reminder of upcoming sessions and events.

Mark was then in charge today with doing the quiz and called out some Television quiz questions on comedy programmes. Members needed some clues which Mark was happy to provide.

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Joanna then attended ready to do some Chi Kung exercises with everyone. Members concentrate as they move different parts of their bodies and learning at the same time the benefits.

It was then time for some music entertainment and Lisa started with the favourites which prepared everyone and when Wayne and Charlie arrived to start their music entertainment, members were ready to start dancing and singing. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.

There were no volunteers but as usual carers always help out with the teas and coffees. Thank you to Mark for setting up the tables and helping during the session.

 We took our members to “Alice in the Palace” at Blenheim Palace, we had the following e-mail from one of our members – Sunil, who describes perfectly the day:

“We must all thank you for the absolutely wonderful day we enjoyed at the Christmas at Blenheim Palace. We were allowed free time to catch up on our shopping at the Christmas market and have a bite to eat before we got together for our exclusive Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea which included teas and coffees and other refreshments, home-made scones, finger sandwiches and various cakes in the Marlborough Room – one of the private rooms in Blenheim Palace with a roaring log fire.

Refreshed we then went onto the highlight of the day, tour of the Alice in the Palace themed walk in the sumptuous state rooms that was truly a magical transformed fairy-tale experience. It was a memorable day with good company like family and all smiles and laughter. Once again many thanks to Lisa and Mark for a great day. With all good wishes Sunil”

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Today was the first session after the launch on 17th October. It was lovely to see some of our Barnet members and also to welcome new members from the local community.

Adriana set up the tables with biscuits and fresh fruit and Lisa also brought some fairy cakes. Lisa welcomed everyone and then suggested a game of Bingo. Everyone was enjoying the game so much as they started with one line to win and then wanted to continue to get a full house.

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Lisa then did some sitting and standing exercises to music with everyone by which time members were warmed up and ready when Wayne our music entertainer arrived and members were ready for some dancing. It was a successful first session.

Thank you to Adriana for setting up and organising the biscuits and fruit. Thank you also to Andrew and Tom for their help and support during the session and of course Mark also helping throughout the session.

A very cold day but as usual a very busy session. Lisa welcomed all the members and gave a talk about – “Fire Safety”

James one of the carers got up to talk to members about his invitation to march in the Parade on Sunday 17th November at The Cenotaph at Whitehall. The march organised by AJEX – a Jewish Military Association charity organises this ceremony and Parade every year in remembrance of all who died in the Great War. James told members how he was proud to be there and also wore his medals.

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Lisa then talked about the history of television as the ‘21st November is World television Day’. Lisa briefly went through all the years from 1926 when it was first invented and talked about all the developments over the years. This brought back memories for members and conversations. This followed with some television quiz questions.

It was then time for some exercise to music and Lisa got members to start with various chair exercises leading to some standing exercises to music. As it was a cold day everyone enjoyed doing the exercises. The session then finished with the Tovertafel which is always great fun and other members enjoyed a deserved rest after the exercises with more chatting.

Thank you to my volunteers today – Melvyn, Angela Chen, Dr Angela (Trustee), Melissa, Valerie from Rotary Club Golders Green and (Trustee) and of course Mark who is also (Trustee). Thank you for their help.

It was a lovely surprise when I arrived with Mark to see that a few of the members had started to set up the tables and chairs.

Thank you to Viv and James and Shital. Brian also gave me a beautiful picture of an owl he painted which he was very proud of and I told him I would put it on the website.

We had a busy session today as we also had some residents who came with their own family carers and care home staff from Aarandale Manor Care Home, Holders Hill Circus, Mill Hill, NW7 1LW.

As Lisa had no volunteers, our dementia club carers Viv and Muriel helped in serving the teas today and preparing the biscuits and cakes on the plates which everyone enjoyed whilst chatting to each other.

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Lisa then welcomed everyone and talked a little of her background. She then introduced what they would be doing in the session today. Lisa started with some singing which everyone enjoyed and participated with many smiles. She then played the favourite famous song ‘She’ll be coming round the mountain’ and everyone was really singing with joy.

Lisa then decided to do a quiz from the Reminiscence book and the chosen year was 1960. The quiz got everyone chatting as the questions brought back memories.

Richard then arrived to do the chair Yoga. It was lovely to see everyone including the residents from the care home following Richard’s movements.

There was time towards the end of the session to also show everyone the OM interactive which was set up ready. This really excited the residents from the care home and Mark was able to show them a few of the games which they enjoyed playing.

It was a successful session and feedback from everyone was that they really enjoyed the session. We look forward to seeing the residents from Aarandale Care home again.

Thank you today to James, Shital, Viv, Muriel and Mark for all their help during the session.