From wall murals in Scarborough to awards for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Service in Kent to droopy sunflowers and news of new websites, and catching up about Dementia Enquirers.
You may have got the sense by now, that we cover a range of diverse things in an hour on a Wednesday lunchtime. This week we had some familiar friends, some friends we hadn’t seen for a while, and a new lady from Hastings (who may have wondered what on earth she had wandered it to!).
In an attempt to explain the differences of each group to somebody just starting out, so to speak, is really easy on these Zooms. So if you need a bit of a pointer, support or just a good chat do come along.
Some groups are beginning to meet up and some still planning it for perhaps July. There is a strong feeling that Zooms will continue in between physical meet ups too. It is also an opportunity for people to share skills in connecting through technology should we face not being able to go out again, for whatever reason. Somebody mentioned that they had heard about an inexpensive computer tablet option is the Amazon Fire 7 tablet priced at about £50. However it is dependent on somebody having WiFi in their home as I don’t think it has a sim card option.
In discussing the variety of different types of groups one person said that an agenda helped them, as a group, stick to the point and stay focused. Somebody else shared that they have started to invite people from other groups to have a one-off visit with them at their group, this might include a professional. I asked the question of how much the visitor changed the time peers had to just chat with each other. They work it that the visitor has half an hour at the beginning and the they have an hour for the peers. I said I am exhausted after an hour – then a very interesting top tip came up. Change your focus or create a distraction from a subject every 20 minutes to maintain concentration. Any ideas fro a 20 minutes distraction on Zoom very welcome (other than barking dogs).
So plans afoot include fish and chips in Kent, but the group thought we should all aim for an Oyster party in Whitstable….
The tragedy of a neglected sunflower was revealed in Oldham, and some confessed to not having even started theirs yet.
I shared the new DEEP website and reminded everybody to sell their groups loud and proud on their DEEP website pages.
We also talked about the new Dementia Enquirers grants and the launch today of the reports from the previous projects.
There was also much interest in creating a Knowledge is Power booklet for England based on the Wales and Scotland versions.
If you want to join in next Wednesdays facilitators session on the 19th May please email Anna@myid.org.uk
