What is the Big Kent Quiz
The Big Kent Quiz is a dementia-inclusive quiz tailored to the strengthens of older adults with dementia.
The quiz was created and organised by me (Michael Buckley; Psychology Placement Student), Celine Aziz (Psychology Placement Student) and Lara Stembridge (Psychology Placement Student).
I initially founded the quiz for the DEEP groups for three reasons.
1) I thought it would be an adaptive way of providing continuing group enjoyment and activity during COVID-19 (Conversations about the quiz sated Nov 21 – during COVID).
2) Quizzes are excellent cognitive tasks.
3) To strengthen bonds between the DEEP groups as they hadn’t yet had the chance to interact with each.
Co-production to promote Dementia inclusivity
We wanted co-production to be at the heart of the event, so at every opportunity we sought the guidance of the Dementia Envoys and DEEP group members. Their advice led to the following dementia-inclusive adaptions:
· Questions were multiple choice to trigger access to available memories that the dementia can make hard to access.
· Energy around the quiz will be one of fun rather than competitiveness – competitive spirit can decline as dementia progresses
· Rounds won’t solely be focused on general knowledge – will include, music rounds, picture rounds etc – tactile knowledge.
· Auditory and visual delivery of questions. Tone and pace of auditory delivery will be clear, steady and not rushed.
· Quiz to be held in the morning to circumnavigate the effects of sun-downing.
What happened
10am-12pm Friday, 29th July the Kent and Medway DEEP dementia service-user groups competed in the Big Kent Quiz.
Each group met at their meeting place and connected to each other and myself via Lifesize.
There were 6 rounds: Food & Drink, Music, History, Animals, Famous People, TV/Film. (The rounds were selected by the group members)
This quiz went superbly, everyone was engaged, boogieing to the music rounds, smiling, chatting and laughing. In fact, the quiz concluded with a round of applause.
Results…
Forget Me Nots 1st
Phoenix 2nd
SUNshiners 3rd
Seasiders 4th
Pathfinders 5th
Feedback from the quiz
Keith Oliver (Forget Me Nots group member; Dementia Envoy; Writer of book Dear Alzheimer’s)
“Excellent Event”
Tricia Enefer (Assistant Psychologist [KMPT Older Adults Community Mental Health Service])
“Absolutely brilliant”
“I don’t think you could’ve made it any better. It was absolutely perfect”
Lydia Smith (Assistant Psychologist [KMPT Older Adults Community Mental Health Service])
“Forget Me Nots really enjoyed getting together and connecting with all the other groups across Kent!”
Also…
· Keith has said he would like to discuss the Big Kent Quiz in his new book about the Forget Me Nots
· I have been asked to write some instructions to handover to the new students of KMPT in September for them to continue the quiz on a biannual/annual basis.
For further information please contact michael.buckley2@nhs.net
