Blog

A busy session as usual. Lisa welcomed everyone and gave members a picture quiz to name some famous landmarks and statues.

This was challenging as usual but it promoted some interesting history talks.

Lisa then introduced 2 ladies – JoJo McEwen & Fabienne Aurora, two newly qualified dentists who came to talk about oral hygiene and how to look after your teeth. It was very interesting to hear lots of good tips and advice on what to avoid eating and drinking.

Members had some very good questions and appreciated all the good advice. It was then time for some music and members enjoyed singing and dancing to some of the favourites whilst others played with the Tovertafel. It was an enjoyable session.

Thank you to our volunteers Lizzy, Melvyn, Dr Angela, Melissa and Mark.

Dr French care home at 13 Nether Street, N12 7NN invited me to their launch event today. They recently purchased a magic table.

The equipment is from OM Interactive and the unit is mobile so that it can be easily moved to different rooms.

There are 300 applications to choose from which is absolutely amazing and I could see that the residents were engrossed with the various images and sounds and enjoyed playing.

I was particularly impressed to see the Queen’s Coronation.

I would like to thank Marilyn the Manager and Patricia for inviting me.

Our first out of the Borough Dementia Club was launched today which was a great success. Many people attended.

It was a pleasure to welcome our special guests – The Elstree & Borehamwood Town Mayor Cllr Victor Eni and the Chairman of Saracens Nigel Wray. Other guests who attended was the President of the Rotary Club of Elstree & Borehamwood – Cllr Cynthia Barker and other Rotarian members and Councillors from Elstree & Borehamwood and Hertsmere & Hertfordshire Council.

Lisa welcomed everyone and then introduced the Mayor to say a few words before the cutting of the celebration cake. Lisa invited Nigel to also cut the cake together with the Mayor.

We are very grateful to the Head chef Juliana from Carlton Court Care Home in Barnet for making the cake and donating it to Dementia Club UK with a number of beautifully decorated cup cakes.

Richard then arrived to do some chair Yoga with everyone. Richard has a great way of making exercising great fun. It was then time for Elvis.

Pete Webb as Elvis is amazing and is always a great hit as he interacts with everyone.

The launch was a great success. Everyone enjoyed the buffet selection of M&S sandwiches and delicious cakes.

My thanks to my helpers Mark, Dr Angela and Valerie – Trustees of Dementia Club UK. My thanks to Marina and Andreas for helping with setting up and during the session. Many thanks also to Annette one of my experienced volunteer leaders who was also very helpful and introduced Nigel to the members. Thank you also to Melissa, Dr Angela’s friend who was also very helpful and is always the life of any party.

My thanks also to the staff at The Venue for setting up the tables and chairs. My thanks to the Hertfordshire County Council for giving us a small grant for this launch. Everyone had a great time and left with many smiles.

Today’s session was led by Annette:

We had a great time as usual at the cafe yesterday. We spent the first half an hour on conversation about different questions that were picked by members.

The second half was spent on drawing and writing positive thoughts about themselves on magic sheets of paper.

Terry’s birthday was celebrated with a birthday song and blowing out his candles.

Dennis turned up on time to entertain us all. Members sang and danced and we had a great time.

Members really enjoy attending the sessions at Copthall. Although this is a temporary venue until the new building is ready, members have great fun.

We also had 2 new volunteers join today – Stella and Zara. Lisa welcomed everyone and gave them some magic painting to do which they all enjoyed doing very much.

Lisa also did a short quiz about the year 1955. This was a year which was picked by one of the members. The questions for that year promted some very interesting events that took place during that year which members found interesting.

It was then time for Annalisa with her fitness exercises for members and today Annalisa wanted to concentrate on the lowere part of the body. Members always enjoy the exercises with Annalisa as she makes it fun.

It was then time for our music entertainment with James Le Bec and as usual this always gets members up and dancing. James’ ‘name that tune’ and rolling the Dice is also great fun as the challenge is trying to get a number 6 in the throw so that we get a high score and beat other organisations. A great fun afternoon.

Thank you to Annalisa today for all her help in setting up and clearing up after and also Mark (one of the Trustrees) who helps throughout the session and all the lifting and carrying.

There were many people as usual today. Everyone first wanted to hear about Lisa’s Buckingham Palace visit and her meeting with Prince Charles. Everyone was pleased to hear about it.

We had a lovely surprise visit from Annette and Eleanor today. Everyone gave them both a warm welcome. Lisa welcomed all the members and began with informing members that today was Ash Wednesday which always follows after Shrove Tuesday. Lisa read out some examples of how various cultures celebrate Ash Wednesday which members found very interesting.

Lisa then introduced a visitor Neil Aitken from ‘The Wayback. Neil was just visiting today with a view to attending again at a future session to do a presentation of his product. Lisa asked Neil to introduce himself and mention briefly about the product which members found interesting. The product uses simple technology to show a virtual reality film designed to trigger memories and spark conversations for those living with dementia, their carers and loved ones. Neil went on to say:

The Wayback is a virtual reality film series designed to trigger memories and spark conversations for those living with dementia, their carers and loved ones. The 360-degree films immerse the viewer in incredibly detailed, recreated, positive moments from the past – which evoke the feelings that went with them – in order to create positive connections and conversations in the present. Using simple technology, our ambition is to share these films with as many people living with dementia as possible, their carers and families, helping them to remain connected to the people around them and maintaining their identity.

There was a birthday to celebrate today. Maria who attends with her husband Donato was celebrating her 94th birthday. As with the usual Dementia Club UK tradition of celebrating birthdays, Lisa brought out the birthday cake with the firework candle and everyone sang.

Lisa then introduced Lizzy’s poetry book called ‘A Poet’s Emotions’ by Liz Ragout which can be found here, Lizzy who is one of our new volunteers has written quite a few poems which have been published. Members applauded Lizzy and were very interested to hear a couple of the poems which Lisa read out.

Lisa followed with reading a few jokes which everyone loves and then it was time to introduce the special visitor Tess – a beautiful collie. She was brought by Niamh and Bill from Therapaws. Tess received a lot of attention from members as Bill was taking her around the room. All the members were delighted and Tess was even dancing with one of the members to music. Members definitely would like to see Tess again as she was a great hit with everyone.

The session then followed with Tovertafel and as usual this is always great fun for members. This was a very enjoyable session and everyone left with happy smiles.

Thank you to our volunteers – Mark (one of our Trustees), Melvyn, Lizzy, Annette and Eleanor.

Today’s session was taken by Danielle:

Great session this week with a buzzing atmosphere. Session leader Danielle’s colouring in patterns, as ever, enabled everyone to settle in calmly with tea, coffee, biscuits and cake, including home made chocolate cakes by Rotarian Margaret of Edgware & Stanmore’s next door neighbour.

Northwick Park Rotary ladies Mollie and June, laid out and served the tea in their usual organised and welcoming way. Session leader, Helen, then kicked off with a fun quiz that everyone participated in and Lisa popped by to let us know about the new Dementia Club launch on 18 March at The Venue, Borehamwood.

Richard led the chair yoga exercise session in his professional way, we’re lucky to have him. Then we seamlessly moved into the music entertainment by James Le Bec, with his lovely assistant, Joy, helping to get everyone up and dancing. Rotarian Angelie worked the room too, making sure everyone was either on their feet or moving around to the music and tapping their fingers on the tables.

Having won the musical quiz for all the sessions James had performed at in the month of February, we where presented with a large box of chocolates which everyone helped themselves to whilst packing up to leave. This month’s musical quiz was huge fun and we wait in anticipation to see if we can again score highest for March.

Dr Nandini was hand to help with any medical questions and good to see Rotarian Ronnie Preston joining in with the chair yoga.

Thanks to Rotarians Suresh and Sydney for helping put the chairs and tables away, and for helping to wash up. Many hands certainly did make for light hands this week!

Today’s session was led by Justine:

Our monthly Dementia Club UK session was held on the 4th March at Sha’arei Tsedek Synagogue in Whetstone.

Our members were served tea, coffee and lovely biscuits and cake at the start of our session and were happy chatting to each other.

A lovely lady called Jane did some fun exercises with our members which everyone thoroughly enjoyed!

One of our members Francis celebrated his birthday so we all sang Happy Birthday to him & gave him a birthday cake which he loved.

This was followed by a lively session of entertainment provided by the very talented James LeBec. James sang a variety of popular songs to which many of the members and helpers danced. He also did a music quiz and our members had to guess the name of the song! It was great fun! The atmosphere was fantastic!

After James left, the members continued to chat and there was also table tennis & darts for those that wanted to play!

29 members and carers attended the session with the assistance of five helpers from the synagogue who were:- Justine, Gilda, Stephen, Judy & Mark

It was a well-attended session today. Members were kept busy participating in a quiz which was quite challenging but enjoyable.

The session then followed with Eon the exercise instructor. One of the members felt that she had walked 100 miles. Eon makes everyone work hard but he also makes it fun.

James the singer then arrived and as usual his music and singing is fantastic. He announced to us all that he just got married last week at Hendon Town Hall and we all congratulated him. James’s music took people down memory lane. Lovely dance moves were observed and everyone radiated with joy. There were so much laughter, joy and buzz in the room.

Four Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Hendon facilitated this meeting – Eugene the Rotary Club President, Rita, Franka and Ayo. Thank you to our Rotary members for attending and making the session a success and to Lisa our Director who is always there to support us with Mark one of the Trustees who was helping during the session.