James one of the carers was invited by the Whittington Hospital on the 27th September to give a speech to clinicians. His speech was very moving talking about his dear wife Mollie, the challenges of dealing with dementia and a few tips for carers. James has allowed us to re-print here.
Today was a very busy session and although Lisa had to set up the session by herself, she was delighted to be joined later by Eleanor and Dr Angela. As usual carers always also step up to help with teas and coffees.
Lisa welcomed everyone and informed them about the good news with the BBC visit and how the film which was produced has generated a lot of viewers.
It was a pleasure to welcome back 2 of our members Helen and Chrystalla who have been away on holiday to Cyprus for 3 months. Members were delighted to see them.
We also had a visitor – Sally Larner from Barnet Council Prevention and Wellbeing Team and Lisa welcomed her.
It was also a pleasure to see Dr Angela today who had some news to deliver to members about this year’s flu vaccine. Dr Angela informed us that as the effectiveness of flu vaccines has declined, this year’s flu vaccine contains extra ingredients designed to help aged immune systems develop a stronger defence against flu. It is hoped the “adjuvanted vaccine” will help ease pressures on the health service. The only problem however is that there is a low stock at the moment. Dr Angela is however trying to organise for members who want to have their flu vaccine at the Finchley Memorial Hospital.
James one of the carers then wanted to read to members his speech he gave at the Whittington Hospital on the 27th September. His speech was very moving talking about his dear wife Mollie, the challenges of dealing with dementia and a few tips for carers. Lisa will be adding the speech to the website.
As Lisa was very busy with members needing to talk to her, Eleanor stepped up to take the session leading members with some singing from Lisa’s song sheets. The session then followed with Lisa giving members some exercises and fall prevention exercises and then followed with everyone’s favourite song ‘Coming Round the Mountain’.
Lisa then read out a few jokes for members which everyone enjoyed and laughed and the last part of the session followed with members playing Tovertafel and other games.
It was a very enjoyable afternoon.
The BBC have published a film after their visit to a Dementia Club UK Session at Finchley Memorial Hospital. The Tovertafel mentioned in the film was donated to the hospital by Dementia Club UK for the use by the community.
It’s Show Time at Hendon Town Hall dementia club today.
We also had some visitors from Rotary Club of Hendon – The Rotary Club President Eugenia who attended with Rotarians Rita and Francisca.
It was also a surprise and a pleasure to see 2 other visitors – Dr Rhonda Cohen and Tija Hubej who were passing by as they work at Middlesex University.
Members arrived and as usual enjoyed the teas and cakes to start with. Mark are quiz master then introduced some quiz questions which prompted several topics of interesting conversations. Lisa then followed with giving all members a verse to read from a poem called ‘A Simple Hug’ which then followed with everyone giving their loved ones a hug.
It was then time for exercise as Jane had arrived. Everyone moved to the other side of the room ready for their exercises which always finishes with Lisa playing to members ‘Coming Round the Mountain’ and other music favourites.
Everyone was now ready for the highlight of today which was Show Time with The Zimmerettes. The performance included musical numbers like; ‘All That Jazz’, ‘New York, New York’, ‘Pennsylvania 65000 – Ceroc dance ‘and much more finishing off with ‘Dancing Queen’ and getting everyone up and dancing.
It was an amazing magical afternoon with plenty of smiles and dancing and singing along to the musical numbers.
Our thanks to Shelley Blackstein and Loz Pitts and all the rest of the performers who were star performers. It was a spectacular and amazing performance and members really enjoyed the afternoon.
Today’s report is from Annette who took the session.
“Today’s session went smoothly and we had 42 members in attendance.
I based my jokes, quiz and discussions around rail transport and rail stations, following members recent trip to Epping Ongar Railway. I provided a few pictures of rail stations, rail carriages and similar to help them start conversations on the subject.
Ronnie then entertained the members who joined in singing and some danced to the music. Volunteers Melvyn and Carlos were on hand to help during the session. We also celebrated Brian and Mable’s birthdays and Mable was happy to take her cake home. I believe everyone had a really nice time as they always do at our dementia clubs.”
Today was the official launch of the Dementia Club at St John’s United Reformed Church, which was a great success.
Members and other guests attended the party, including members from Friends in Need who attended with their carers. Everyone really enjoyed themselves.
Barnet TV also came to the launch party and filmed the event which they will show on their website and will be providing us with a link.
Lisa welcomed everybody and gave a brief speech and this was followed by cutting the large celebration cake and taking a few official photos.
Everyone was then offered teas, coffees plus sandwiches and cakes which they all enjoyed.
Simon our Rotarian quiz master then distributed two fun quizzes on all the tables asking them to identify the names of some cartoon characters. This created a lot of interest and discussion on all the tables to identify the correct answers.
The session then continued with Richard providing some Chair Yoga exercises. Everybody at the session took part including the volunteers. The members from Friends in Need joined in and had a fantastic time.
The yoga session was then followed with James Le Bec, our musical entertainer. James sang some old-time favourites which members enjoyed listening to and everyone joined in by singing and dancing. James then did his well-known music quiz asking the members to identify the songs that he played and to roll a large dice to get enough points to win a box of chocolates. James was helped by his assistant Joy. All members enjoyed the challenge, especially throwing the large dice to try and get enough points to beat the points raised by other clubs.
Many thanks to the following who made the Launch Party successful:
Dementia Club UK had their outing today to Epping Ongar Railway.
All was organised perfect by the Railway. When we arrived we were met by Dean Walton the Railway General manager and station staff which was a lovely welcome.
The weather was drizzling and as the steam train was not quite ready we all went to the Anglian station cafe to wait until the train arrived and was ready. When the steam train arrived members were excited to see the train and looked forward to their journey.
The train engineers were happy to show members the engine. Photos were continuously taken. We boarded the steam train and completed our steam train journey which was really pleasant. It was then time for our afternoon tea. We all went back to the Anglian station cafe to find that the tables were all prepared for a Ritz style afternoon tea. Members were served with teas and coffees and lovely cakes. Kitchen staff including Dean were all helping to serve. Members all commented the excellent service.
It was a real pleasure to also meet the Station Manager John Appleton who was very pleased to meet us. As the plan was to also get a group photo together, John called all his staff and organised for a photo to be done next to the steam train. It was still raining slightly but this didn’t stop us.
Lisa got all the members together and all the Railway staff and engineers and kitchen staff all came out for the photo. It was so lovely. We were all now ready to board the train again but this time a diesel train to take us through Epping Forest.
It was a truly amazing journey through the forest. One of the members commented that it was like a Harry Potter experience. This was a truly perfect day.
Lisa would like to thank Dean and John and all the staff and engineers for looking after us throughout the afternoon. They were amazing and members had a really wonderful time.
Whilst chatting with John, John noticed Lisa’s pin badge with the Saracens logo and mentioned how supportive he is every year to the Foundation. He also suggested that he would be delighted to offer something similar to Saracens Foundation. Lisa informed John that she would certainly mention about the Epping Ongar Railway to Nigel Wray.
See our Facebook page for more pictures
There were many members today and we also had 2 new members.
Lisa welcomed the members and then Mark gave members a fun quiz to do which was challenging as usual. Lisa then gave members a word ‘Television’ and asked them to try and make as many words as they could. Two of the members were successful in making the most words.
The session then followed with the arrival of Annalisa who gave members a variety of fun exercises which also included Lisa getting members to exercise with their favourite song ‘Coming Round The Mountain’.
Members were then ready for more fun when the music entertainer arrived. Members were up dancing and singing and one of the carers Jacqueline got up and led ‘The Macarena’ dance routine to a few other members. This dance was the rage in the 90’s. This was a very enjoyable session and everyone left happy.
Thank you to our volunteers today Melvyn, Carlos, Mark my husband and Trustee. Thank you also to our Rotarians Mollie, Ritu, and Dr Nandini. Also thanks to Beryl who was the premises manager but continues to attend to set up for us. We are very grateful.
Our new venue is slowly building up numbers. The session started with a quiz from Mark and then followed with Richard showing members some chair yoga exercises and some New challenging stand up exercises.
The session then followed with Ronnie and his music entertainment which always gets members up to dance.
Thank you today to Sasha and Maricca for attending as volunteers to help during the session and of course my husband and Trustee Mark who did the quiz with the members before Richard attended.
I was delighted to be invited on Wednesday 12th September to speak about dementia and Dementia Club UK by Maria Paschali one of the ladies from the Greek Women’s Philanthropic Association ‘GWPA’. The GWPA which is a registered charity holds it’s meetings at St Katherine’s Orthodox Church at Friern Barnet Lane N20 0NL.
It was a pleasure to meet the ladies at their coffee morning. I also brought with me 2 of my dementia club members Marina and Andreas who were delighted to meet everyone. The GWPA meet for coffee every 3 months and fundraise for a different charity of their choice each time.
I was delighted that they decided to fundraise for Dementia Club UK and would like to thank Maria and all the ladies for their generous contribution which will go towards helping more people suffering with dementia and also providing help and advice to carers and families.