Blog

Today’s session was led by Annette and Tija. This was a busy and informative session and was attended by over 40 people including three volunteers and Dr Angela.

The theme for today was “You Are What You Eat.” We talked about healthy eating habits, what items to include in a healthy, balanced diet, how to use herbs and spices to improve the flavour of food and reduce salt intake. Potted herbs brought in by Dr Angela had been placed on the tables and members were asked to identify the herbs and tell us how they used them.

We also looked at fluid intake and the need to avoid being dehydrated. The signs and effects of dehydration were discussed.

Members were asked to name fruits and vegetables using every letter of the alphabet as a guide. Jokes involving food were shared, followed by a quiz based on food. Mealtimes were discussed, stressing the need for carers to make this a special time for the person living with dementia so that they look forward to their meals.

Food labelling was discussed and items were passed around to demonstrate what to look out for as guidelines to buying healthy items from the supermarket. Members found this awareness useful. It was a highly informative session and members were enlightened about healthy eating.

This was followed as usual by some gentle exercises led by Tija connecting to the main theme of today. Tija went onto to show the members that not only what they eat but also how they feel effects their digestion and health of their vital organs assisting their digestion.

She did some asanas to improve digestion and lower the stress level (which are yoga exercises/poses to improve the bowel movement and lower the stress level). Studies of Eastern medicine show that emotions, such as sadness, anger and worries have a significant effect on the gallbladder, liver, spleen and stomach function, which are the main organs when it comes to digestion. If and when it gets disturbed all the waste products, toxins that should be eliminated daily stay in the body, which can potentially lead to series of diseases (colon and breast cancer, gallbladder stones, hypertension, high ldl cholesterol etc).

Carers are going through a lot of stress and are therefore are in danger of developing diseases mentioned above. Tija also did 3 exercises at the beginning to encourage activation of the hemispheres on both sides of the brain, which is recommended daily for both the carers and the sufferers. She showed the members 3 acupressure points that might help with upset stomach.

At the end of the exercises we played a game. Tija brought dried mint from her garden, dried camomile and cardamom pods. She went around and sprinkled some of it on their hands or just to smell the bag. Then they had to guess the herb’s name. Everyone wanted to participate and were curious about the smell.

We had a very successful Dementia Club UK official launch of its 5th new venue and new partnership with Rotary of Golders Green on Monday 13th March 2017.

Over 70 people attended which included many members of Dementia Club UK, volunteers and some special guests. The launch was opened by the Mayor of Barnet Cllr David Longstaff and was also attended by Mr Nigel Wray Chairman of Saracens who is a major sponsor for Dementia Club UK.

In the photo from the left to right is the President of Rotary Club of Golders Green Mr Martin Schramm, Mr Nigel Wray Chairman of Saracens, the Mayor of Barnet Cllr David Longstaff, Cllr. Lisa Rutter Chairman/Trustee of Dementia Club UK and Mrs Valerie Chodosh past President of Rotary Club of Golders Green.

Dementia is growing as we all live longer this is affecting not only the sufferers but also the carers and their families. Dementia is a cruel and terrible disease. Dementia Club UK provides respite for the sufferers and carers and families. One of the things that differentiate us from other dementia cafes is that we do exercises and various activities which have been very popular with members and has made a real difference to their lives.

Although all of the Dementia Clubs UK run similarly, this venue will also be an ‘Outreach Location’ and will provide specialist advice to carers from Barnet Carers which includes medical advice by Dementia Club UK’s own GP doctor. This new partnership is an exciting venture and Dementia Club UK is looking forward to developing similar partnerships with other Rotary Clubs to expand its services.

Our Patron Theresa Villiers MP for Chipping Barnet said;

“I would like to send my best wishes to Dementia Club UK and the Rotary Club of Golders Green as you launch what I am sure will be a successful partnership. I hugely admire the work done by Lisa Rutter and Dementia Club UK, bringing support to many families in Barnet. I warmly welcome the commitment by Golders Green Rotary to be part of the Dementia Club success story.”

We had over 30 members again today.

Kevin one of the volunteers who comes with his wife Olivia and his mother in law Mable took the activities part of the session today. He first played chicken charades which was very funny and then played Family Fortunes which again members really enjoyed.

The session then followed with poetry by Cllr John Hart who read some well known poems and also read one in French. Everyone enjoyed the poetry.

I took the opportunity to also talk to members about special religious holidays on Sunday 12th March. I told them about Purim which is a Jewish celebration where people wear fancy dress and drink lots of alcohol and Holi which is a Hindu celebration where people shower each other with coloured water and red and green powder. I also talked about the meaning of Lent which is observed by fasting 40 days and how with the Greek Orthodox religion we have the painting of eggs at Easter.

The last part of the session we had singing and also played catching the ball and then finished off with 5 minutes of stretching exercises and a 5 minute general discussion.

Thank you to Melvyn and Dr Angela our volunteers for their help at the session today and thank you to Olivia one of the carers for assisting.

This was the first session run by the volunteers at Sha’arei Tsedek. Our thanks to Gilder, Stephen, Justine, Judy, Keith and Dot. To commemorate this beginning new table cloths were purchased which all members appreciated.

Today the session was very busy with about 40 members. We had a presentation from Maivel Rodriguez Lopez – Senior Adult Carers Support & Outreach officer from Barnet Carers. Maivel explained how Barnet Carers offer advice and information to carers and also informed members of the partnership with Dementia Club UK. They will be attending at the Stephens House & Gardens venue once a month to offer advice and information to carers of Dementia Club UK which will be starting in April.

We also had a visitor today Anne Duggan-Family Liaison Manager from The Fremantle Trust. I invited Anne to say a few words. She explained The Fremantle Trust is a registered charity and not for profit business providing care and support services, residential care and day care services.

The session continued with exercise and dance followed by activities which everyone enjoyed. Thank you to Annette and Melvyn our volunteers for their help today. Thank you also to our doctor- Dr Angela attending and talking to some of the members.

Today at Dementia Club UK Annette ran the first half of the session, she introduced this session as “Communication”.

She played some favourite songs with her record player and then she organised a table of different objects and photos and asked members to pick one object or photo which stimulated a memory and meant something to them.

Annette gave members some time to think before asking each member to talk about what the object meant to them. Members enjoyed listening to each members story and one new member decided to recite a poem which meant a lot to her. This activity was to encourage engagement so that the person living with dementia does not withdraw but participates in conversations and maintaining communication skills.

We also celebrated a birthday today. It was Joan’s 90th birthday. It was a lovely surprise when the Mayor of Barnet Cllr David Longstaff also popped in to say hello. The Mayor stayed and talked to members who wanted a photo with The Mayor.

We also had 2 London Borough of Barnet council officers who visited today to volunteer. We had Mr Salar Rida – Governance officer Assurance Group and we also had Caroline Glitre – Head of Internal Audit. Members welcomed the volunteers and both volunteers enjoyed interacting with the members including singing and dancing and even enjoyed a Waltz.

The activities with the golf and table tennis was very popular as usual with members. Thank you to Annette for taking the first part of the session. Thank you also to Theresa our volunteer for helping throughout the session.

At a packed session at Finchley Memorial Hospital today with over 50 members which included some new members, we had a talk from Sarah Perrin, Prevention and Wellbeing Service Manager from Adults and Communities London Borough of Barnet.

She talked about strengths based practise which means “how adult social care is delivered” in Barnet. A strengths based approach is about supporting people to focus on what is working well and how to build upon their own strengths. Sarah also talked about Preventative Support Services and information and advice sessions held at Care Space’s, which is in addition to what Barnet is already providing such as home visits.

One of the points Sarah mentioned which was received with interest by the members was that at Copthall Leisure Centre, Dementia Friendly swimming sessions will be starting for people with dementia and their carers from 28th Feb 2017.

Thanks also to Melvyn our volunteer and some of the carers for stepping in to help in this busy session today.

Dementia Club UK members enjoyed a visit to the V&A museum on Valentines Day to see the Revolution exhibition which is about the 1960’s.

We were very lucky and honoured to also be the first to use the new Barnet Community Trust ‘BCT’ buses which had illuminated signs on the front of the bus saying Dementia Club UK. The two vehicles provided by BCT were state of the art accessible vehicles, with no steps and a level floor to avoid trip hazards for those who have mobility difficulties. BCT was awarded these splendid 14 seat minibuses from the Department for Transport Community Minibus Fund – one of only 306 groups in the UK to be successful.

Members had to endure a lot of walking at the V&A but the V&A volunteers were really helpful and provided wheelchairs to those members that needed them. They were at hand to help all through the afternoon. We all enjoyed a talk and slide show by Anna our guide which was very interesting and then members had tea/coffee and delicious Valentine cup cakes before setting off for the tour.

It was a very interesting day and brought back many memories of the 1960’s for members as they looked around the exhibition. Members were slightly sleepy back on the buses but they all felt it was a very worthwhile visit. Thank you to BCT for our drivers for providing members a first class journey. Thank you to Theresa, Melvyn, Gilda and Stephen our Dementia Club UK volunteers for helping members today.

Today was our first session at Stephens House & Gardens (Avenue House). It was a beautiful sunny day which everyone appreciated looking out through the window at the lovely gardens.

Dementia Club UK will be having a launch event on 13th March at the same venue to celebrate Dementia Club UK’s partnership with the Rotary Club of Golders Green. This is a very exciting venture. At the session we had 32 members who attended. I was also delighted to welcome a number of Rotarians including the Rotary President, Martin Schramm.

Today’s session was a Valentine special. Everyone enjoyed listening to Tanya our violinist who played some romantic classics and other popular music which everyone enjoyed singing to. I had already prepared some of the lyrics to some songs which everyone appreciated. The session followed with exercise to music and then activities which everyone including our Rotarians enjoyed taking part.

My thanks to my volunteers today Annette and Theresa who came to help and also to our Rotarians who all came to support this session today.

My special thanks to Valerie who initiated this partnership with the Rotary Club of Golders Green. Lastly my thanks to the staff at Stephens House & Gardens.