Lisa was invited by Andrea Hutter Ladies Captain at South Herts Golf Club to talk to all ladies club members about dementia and Dementia Club UK.
At the end of her talk she was presented with a cheque. This was raised by all the ladies.
My thanks to Andrea and all the ladies for their kind donation.
Report from Stephen
The monthly Dementia Club UK meeting was held on the 8th January at Sha’arei Tsedek Synagogue in Whetstone.
Approximately 35 guests and carers attended the session with the assistance of seven helpers from the synagogue. It was a lively session with entertainment provided by the versatile James Le Bec who sang a variety of popular songs to which some of the guests danced. There was also a birthday for one of the members. It was Sylvia’s birthday on the 2nd January. James Le Bec got everyone singing happy birthday.
When the musical entertainment finished everyone participated in a short general knowledge quiz with some very creditable scores. The session finished with some guest participating in various games whilst others were happy to sit and chat to other guests and carers.
Today 3rd January 2018 was our first DCUK session at the Finchley Memorial Hospital.
I was thankful to Eleanor and Melvyn our volunteers who were able to set up the session until I arrived from the meeting with the Rotary.
It was lovely to see so many members at today’s session. I started the session with asking all members around the room to talk about their Christmas holidays. It was lovely to hear the many stories shared.
We then followed the session with some singing and then for the last part of the session I introduced various new games which everyone really enjoyed. The plan for all Finchley Memorial Hospital sessions are to introduce more social activities for more social interaction.
A great start to the New Year.
Lisa was invited as guest speaker to the Rotary Club of Edgware & Stanmore meeting which was held at the Stanmore Golf Club on 3rd January 2018.
The purpose of the meeting was for Lisa to talk briefly about DCUK and to also give Rotary members the opportunity to ask questions. This was also the opportunity for the Rotary members to give their final decision for the Rotary club to work in association with DCUK.
Lisa attended the meeting with Mark a DCUK Trustee. We were unable to stay longer than 30 minutes as Lisa had to get back to start the first DCUK session at the Finchley Memorial Hospital.
The meeting went well and the Rotary President and all members were happy to confirm for their Rotary club to proceed and join with DCUK. The first Rotary Club of Edgware & Stanmore session is on 21st March 2018.
A photo was taken with the Rotary Club President Danielle, Rotarian Dr Nandini, and Rotarian Selwyn
Lisa is delighted to announce that the presentation she delivered to the City of London Corporation Pensioners Association Conference on the 5th October 2016 has now been recently published as a booklet by the Association. This has already received some positive feedback from their pensioners which they have found helpful.
A copy of the transcript of the presentation can be found under Publications in the main menu above or Click Here.
Please click on the ‘Downloads’ link below which will open our publication folder where you can download various publications and files.
Please click on the ‘Press Pack’ link below which will open our publication folder where you can download the ‘Press Pack’.
Please click on the ‘Videos’ link below which will open our publication folder where you can download ‘Videos’.
In October 2016 Lisa was invited to the City of London Corporation Pensioner Conference to speak about the challenges of Dementia. There were two speakers at the conference and the two presentations were made into a booklet and sent to the pensioners of the City of London Corporation.
This has proved to be very helpful to some of the pensioners as shown in the feedback below:
“I do not know when I have read such an informative and helpful guidance on the subject. Unfortunately I have had three members of my family die with dementia, although at the time I did not know it was dementia, it was just treated as memory loss. I now have two other members of my family with the same symptoms and this presentation has now given me the information as to how to deal with it. Please pass on to Councillor Lisa Rutter my sincere congratulations and thanks for such an informative subject. I was only sorry not to be at the conference.”
A transcript of Lisa’s presentation can be requested by email.
Stephen and Brenda two of our members are part of the World Neuroscience innovations forum in London and Volunteer Partners with Alzheimer’s Research UK. They have given us permission to publish on our website their short life story and also their interview with Martin Samuels – a Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School.
You can read Brenda’s journey with dementia and how she became involved in one of the drug trials called the Amaranth drug trial. This sadly didn’t work and Brenda went on to try another drug trial called Etheral which unfortunately also failed. Although these drug trials didn’t work, Brenda and Stephen feel that they are making a contribution to the progress of medical science. Well done to both of them and especially Brenda for being so courageous.
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Click on the image to left to download a programme of DCUK’ sessions and a list of venue locations. |
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Click on the image on the left to view our shared download folder. Click on the “guidelinesForZoom.pdf” to download |
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Click on the image to left to download a poem Lisa has written about her mother. |
Dementia Club UK commissioned Middlesex University in May 2015 to undertake an independent research study to evaluate the impact and benefits of our provision on people living with dementia and their carers in the community.
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Click on the image to left and you will be taken to the Middlesex University Research Repository. You will be asked some details and a link to download the document will be sent to you. |
This video was taken by the students led by Matt Dowse of National Citizens Service – NCS. They made it as part of their team challenge to record a Dementia Club UK session at Hendon Town Hall and Finchley Memorial Hospital in the North London borough of Barnet.
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.
This video is by the inventor of the Toveltafel.
Barnet TV recorded the launch of the Dementia Club at St John’s United Reformed Church in association with the Rotary Club of Barnet on 25th September 2018
One of our members – James wrote the following poem in the early hours after his wife Mollie passed away.
I WISH I COULD SNATCH THAT MONSTER AWAY
by JAMES HALE 8/6/2017 03.50 – 04.50 AM
I WISH I COULD SNATCH THAT MONSTER AWAY
IT SEEMS TO SPOIL ALMOST EVERY DAY
THAT MONSTER ALZHEIMER’S IS TO BLAME
IT LURKS WITHIN MY DEAR WIFE’S BRAIN
OH HOW I YEARN FOR THOSE YEARS GONE BY
WHEN I COULD LAUGH AND NEVER CRY
I FEEL GUILTY NOW OF WHAT I HAVE DONE
TO THE GIRL I MARRIED WHO GAVE ME FUN
DEMENTIA MADE ME THROW IN THE TOWEL
SHE IS SAFE WITHIN A CARE HOME NOW
I LOVE HER DEARLY BUT SHE DOESN’T KNOW
MY HEART SINKS WHEN I LEAVE HER AND GO
MOBILITY REGRESSION NOW COMES INTO PLAY
IT S A CRUSHING REALITY I SEE EVERY DAY
OUR HAPPY LIFE IS A THING OF THE PAST
MOLLIES MENTAL REGRESSION IS OH SO FAST
TOO LATE FOR MY DEAR WIFE NOW, BUT PRAY
A CURE FOR DEMENTIA WILL BE FOUND ONE DAY.
OH, HOW I WISH I COULD SNATCH THAT MONSTER AWAY!!
BY Mr James Hale.
A poem for Frances of “My wishes, Wants and Aspirations”
(by Keren Mail)
I want…
To be near the people who love and know me well, Although remembering their names is starting to tell!
Please be patient and smile or just be kind, I’m a positive soul, but it’s a testing time.
A gentle touch or a kiss on the cheek, But try not to help me move about or I may freak.
My days are long and filled with nothing, As I can no longer do the things that made me something.
Thank you for caring and reading these words, As my inner thoughts are no longer heard!
We had about 50 members at our last session for this year. It was a very busy session. Thankfully I had Mark to help me during the session and as usual many of the Carers including Jenny also helped with the teas.
Mr Jack Dowler from The Borough of Barnet Trading Standards came to talk to members today about keeping safe at home and also introduced a Call Blocker device that would help in getting rid some of those unwanted calls. Mr Dowler also informed members that they had a number of these devices that could be fitted free if members wanted one. Members were very interested and thanked Mr Dowler.
We also had a Birthday to celebrate as it was Melia’s birthday yesterday. Melia brought a large cake and the birthday was celebrated in the usual way and all members sang Happy Birthday.
The session then followed with Tai Chi exercise with James which everyone really finds hard work but really enjoy it as it works their whole body. This was unfortunately James last session. He will be missed.
Lisa then continued the session with some singing and dancing and one of the members also wanted to sing solo. Everyone had a really wonderful time.
My thanks to all my volunteers for all their help during the year and also the Carers for helping out. Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year. We start on the 3rd January 2018 at the Finchley Memorial Hospital at 2pm.
PICTURES TO FOLLOW
The Stephens House and Gardens session was cancelled on the 11th December because of snow. Thank goodness the snow melted in time for our session today at the Finchley Memorial Hospital.
Many members arrived for the Christmas party. We had Moshe who entertained members with his variety of music in different languages. Everyone enjoyed singing and dancing the Congo line with Helen one of the Carers leading.
Thank you to all our volunteers Dr Angela, Melvyn and it was a pleasure to welcome Annette who also helped in the session. Thank you also to Mark one of our Trustees who helped setting up the tables and decorations and also helped during the session.
PICTURES TO FOLLOW.
This session today was run by Eleanor one of my experienced volunteers.
The Rotary Club of Barnet visited today to pick up the rest of the round tables for the church. Victor Kaye one of the Rotarians stayed for most of the session so that he could observe.
Kevin one of our volunteers did his usual Family Fortunes quiz with the members and I also assisted. Members love having Kevin as they enjoy his jokes. The session then followed with Richard with his Chair Yoga exercises which everyone looks forward to and finally Eleanor did a music quiz.
