We had over 40 members today. Our Doctor Angela organised with the hospital pharmacy to give members the opportunity to have their flu jab. Quite a few members were very grateful and we thank Dr Angela for organising this.
The members were pleased to welcome Kevin (one of our carers) who once a month does a quiz and plays Family Fortunes with members. Members always look forward to Kevin’s quiz and have great fun.
Kevin leads a quiz modeled on Family Fortunes
The session then followed with chair yoga exercises with Richard which everyone really enjoys and then Lisa introduced the lyrics of a new song which everyone read and then sang. More singing then followed and the session ended with Lisa reading some jokes and everyone leaving with smiles.
Happy Birthday to Miltis
Thank you to our volunteers Eleanor, Melvyn and Dr Angela.
We welcomed 4 new members today. 2 had come under their own steam. Time for refreshments and a quiz. After the sandwiches and cakes Sara started the exercises. It was great to see so many join in.
Dr Rebecca is getting to know the members and had time to circulate and chat to people.
We caught our breath, welcomed the fruit juice as we listened to Clare. A range of songs to tap our feet to the gradually most got up and joined in the dancing. We ended with Knees up Mother Brown and the Okey Cokey finishing with Show Me The Way to Go Home. Beryl and John won the quiz.
We practised our smiles and we had much to smile about before the session ended. Thank you to Yvonne for the lovely table decorations. That brightened up the hall.
We had Ms Ellen Bernstein a speech and language therapist who specialises with stroke victims but has also had some experience with dementia sufferers. She gave various examples of her work which everyone found interesting.
We also had a visitor from Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Ms Simone Chinman-Russell, Executive Director of Housing and Communities. Her visit was to observe a Dementia Club UK session with the opportunity of may be setting up a similar dementia cafe in Welwyn Hatfield with Dementia Club UK. Members welcomed our visitors.
Ms Ellen Bernstein a speech and language therapist
I also informed members that Valerie recently became a new Trustee for Dementia Club UK. Everyone congratulated Valerie.
We also had 2 birthdays today. Adrian’s mother Stella is 96 years of age and Tita had her birthday yesterday and is 84 years of age. Stella also had a few family members with her and friends. Adrian the President of Rotary Club of Golders Green brought a beautiful balloon display for his mother and also arranged for the tables to have lovely tablecloths. He also brought a very large chocolate cake. Members were very spoilt today with so many cakes.
Stella & Adrian and Tita & Rosetta celebrating birthdays at DCUK
We celebrated the 2 birthdays in the usual DCUK fashion and Stella and everyone sang Happy Birthday. The session followed with some singing and poetry reading and reading some jokes and then followed with Exercise to music with Lisa and dancing and then with social activities. It was a very busy and enjoyable session.
Thank you to all our Rotary volunteers Jeff, Dick, Ian, Kuljit and of course Risson for helping with the session teas and coffees. Thank you also to our Rotary President Adrian for all the extra pleasures which were appreciated. Also thanks to Sara from Barnet Carers who was able to help a few members who needed advice and information.
Dementia Club UK and The Rotary Club of Elstree and Borehamwood were delighted to receive a £300 celebration grant to be used for the ‘Older People’s Day during Silver Week’ on 3rd October 2017.
Lisa Rutter Chairman of Dementia Club UK organised everything for this celebration afternoon. There were plenty of sandwiches and cakes and refreshments and the tables were beautifully decorated with red tablecloths and flower arrangements and we also had small fresh flower arrangements along the stage.
The event was very successful and I was very pleased to welcome the Town Mayor Cllr Eric Silver, some of the Elstree and Borehamwood Dementia Club members who attend the Tuesdays Elstree and Borehamwood Dementia Club UK at Fairway Hall and was also pleased to welcome a group of Dementia Club UK members from the Borough of Barnet.
Lisa had organised a live jazz quartet – the Ionian Classical Clarinet Quartet who played some live Jazz. Everyone enjoyed lots of singing and some dancing and also enjoyed the food. We also celebrated a member’s birthday in the usual Dementia Club UK way with a small birthday cake with not only a normal candle but also a firework birthday candle. Everyone sang Happy Birthday and the birthday member also takes home the cake.
Our thanks to the volunteers who attended and helped during the session and the members of the Rotary Club of Elstree and Borehamwood committee. A big thank you to Hertsmere Borough Council for funding this event.
The local paper also wrote an article, click the link below:
I was delighted to attend the Silver Sunday afternoon tea at Woodhouse College N12 organised by Barnet Council and Barnet Senior Assembly ‘BSA’.
The Mayor of Barnet attended and visited all the various stalls including Dementia Club UK There were about 300 people that attended and this was the first time at this venue which was very successful.
The Mayor of Barnet at Silver Sunday afternoon tea at Woodhouse College N12
There was various entertainment and prize giving sponsored by the Rotary Club of Barnet who gave prizes to artworks done by people in care homes and other organisations. Well done to BSA and Barnet Council for organising this.
There were a small number of members at Hendon Town Hall today, but a very enjoyable session with lots of laughter.
I gave them some brain teaser quizzes which were really fun and then distributed some safety bells which were provided by the Safer Neighbourhood Police. These small bells are attached to a purse in a lady’s handbag. If someone then tries to put his hand in the handbag then the person will be alerted.
The session then followed with exercise to music and also dancing which everyone enjoyed. We then had a chat about holiday destinations and some members enjoyed talking about their holidays and lots of memories.
Thanks to volunteer Darica who is a University student
Annette took the session again today at Finchley Memorial Hospital and she wrote the following:
The session started with the usual protocol and there were thirty-one members and two volunteers; Karen and Eleanor in attendance. Laurie was given a rousing applause after welcoming him and announcing he had been in hospital for six days and now fully recovered.
The lost and found umbrella was also thankfully received by its owner. There was one birthday celebrant present i.e. Brian Smith. We all sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and gave him birthday wishes. The session then followed with a music quiz and followed with usual games of golf.
The earlier part of the day was spent discussing famous people using photos of them. Conversation was on things the famous did that made them loved, that inspired people and the impact of success on us all. Members were reminded that we all have successes to celebrate in our own lives too.
The session ended with gratitude and information was given on the next two sessions to be held on 28th September and 2nd October.
At Fairway Hall today over 30 guests carers and friends came along to have a great afternoon of fun and entertainment. We also had a few members from Barnet. Sarah took us through our paces with a variety of music from the 60s. Town Council Mayor Eric Silver came and joined us having his photo taken with many members present.
After we had more or less got our breath back James Le Bec got us singing along and then up and dancing again. His ‘Guess the Musical” made us all laugh; so much cheating going on even the 2 PCSO’S presence could not stop changing the way the dice scores were changed and recorded.
The PCSO’S, Andrea Gibson and Andrew Christian from Borehamwood Police Station also joined in the fun. They also however gave members bells which can be attached to a ladies purse in a handbag. The idea is that the bell will sound if a thief tries to steal the purse from inside the handbag. Hopefully this would be enough to alert you and deter the thief.
Dr Rebecca Hatijiosif also attended and took blood pressures and was there to chat to anyone who needed advice. Thank you to the many volunteers that make this possible. The goodwill and happy atmosphere is infectious Happy Birthday to Pamela Sowden. She really enjoyed her cake and sparkling firework candle. No we couldn’t blow it out!
Thank you to Lisa our Chairman who attended and helped to lead the session. Thank you to Sandra and Sasha our other session leaders, Sasha’s son Michael, Xandy and Patrick for registering the members. Marijke and Marian from Tesco Borehamwood for volunteering to help in the kitchen and also to Jo one of the carers who helped to position the tables at the beginning.
Members played Bingo today and James one of the carers helped me call out the numbers. Everyone enjoyed playing.
Chris Louizou our new volunteer was first to complete his card followed by Helen and Chrystalla and Mel and Monique.
We had a birthday to celebrate today – John’s birthday was celebrated as usual with a firework candle. The session then followed with Tai Chi with James and then singing and some games which everyone really enjoys.
The session kicked of with the housekeeping and then a short talk on emotional hygiene. This was followed by a short exercise on positivity.
Thereafter, Peter Warden from St Paul’s Church, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill (whose connection is via our volunteer, Theresa) took over, performing a Sing-along (karaoke). Members were given lists of songs from which they chose songs. During this time, a wrapped parcel was passed around and at the stop of the music the holder was asked to open it following failed guesses at identifying the mystery object which turned out to be a table clock.
This was in tune with the day’s learning point; time for a makeover to being more positive and happy. Interestingly, from a list of 31 songs, the 5 recommended were all chosen by members, confirming that those were their favourites!
What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor
It’s a Long Way to Tipperary
Que Sera Sera
That’s Amore
You are My Sunshine
Richard was on hand to follow up with Yoga exercises and emphasised the need to continue to have a positive disposition , incorporating what he called happy yoga. Everyone participated in these exercises . The last few minutes were reserved for games. However, the ball throwing and passing was dropped after a few minutes and the remaining time was spent by Eleanor delivering a quiz on popular proverbs.
Richard doing ‘Happy Yoga’ emphasised the need to continue to have a positive disposition
Dr Angela provided the Blood Pressure measuring service to members who desired it.
The session was attended by 39 members, 6 volunteers and Trustee, Dr Angela Parker.
