Category: Uncategorized

Due to the Covid pandemic there have been no Music for the Mind sessions since Thursday 12th March 2020, almost 15 months ago. During this time we have been in touch with local care homes that care for people living with dementia in the Keynsham and Saltford area. The aim has been to try and brighten their lives up when they haven’t been able to meet up with friends and relatives and can’t go outside.

The staff at St Phillips and St James in Keynsham asked their residents what they would like to have. They came back with musical instruments, games, exercise equipment and scrapbooks in which they could put photographs of their time at St Phillips and then share them with their relatives and friends. The attached photographs show them playing some of the games. Many thanks to Christine, a senior nurse at St Phillips and St James, and the staff for making all the arrangements.

The good news is that we’re hoping to restart the Music for the Mind sessions on Thursday 22nd July in St Dunstan’s Church Hall from 10.30 until 12.15. Obviously this is provisional at the moment and relies on how things go between now and then. We will keep our website updated.

Like many organisations the Keynsham & Saltford Dementia Action Alliance (KSDAA) is coming out of the Covid hibernation looking to return to normal.

Once the Covid restrictions came into force in 2020 the KSDAA had to close its doors on its ever popular twice monthly Music For the Mind, sadly depriving many people who were living with dementia of two mornings out each month and the opportunity to sing many well known songs.
Chairman of KSDAA Alan Hale told us “Having to close was such a shame because many of our clients so enjoyed the sessions and many who had little communication would suddenly come out of themselves and sing all of the words of some of the songs. It was both heart-warming and rewarding.  The mornings afforded some respite for the carers as well.”

The group is to reopen their sessions on July 22nd at St Dunstan’s Church Hall, Bristol Road, Keynsham and then continue on the second and fourth Thursday of each month between 1030am and 12.15pm. The sessions are free unless those attending wish to make a small donation. Carers must stay with those living with dementia.  All sessions will be Covid safe. Temperatures will be taken and masks and sanitiser will be necessary. It is also hoped those attending will take a rapid flow test at home the day before but that will not be a requirement of attending.

The normal format of each session, is coffee, tea, cake and chat for half an hour and then in a circle a few light seated exercises but only doing what you can and then followed by singing and percussion with a professional facilitator. For the first few sessions until singing is permitted in groups, there will still be the coffee, tea, cakes and chat but then a bit of entertainment. Seating will be suitably spaced.

Mr Hale concluded “We the volunteers are really looking forward to receiving clients and carers again and we hope that we might see some new faces as well as our regulars, all are welcome if they have had a diagnosis of dementia.”

Anyone interested in attending the sessions should make contact with KSDAA via email at dementiafriendlykeynsham@gmail.com or by telephone at 07776493221 or 0117 9837923.
The KSDAA are also setting up online Zoom sessions to deliver ‘Dementia Friends’ familiarisation sessions and can also offer informa surveys of shops and business premises in order to help make the venue more dementia friendly to those living with dementia.

On Saturday 22nd of February 2020 the Keynsham and Saltford Dementia Action Alliance held a fundraising concert at Keynsham Baptist Church, sharing the profit with the church.

Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘Trial By Jury’ was performed by The Stasima Theatre Company directed by Lydia Stevens, a mixture of both professional and amateur performers who gave freely of their time.

The performances were outstanding and were enjoyed by a full house of over ninety people. The ticket price included a light supper during the interval.

Both the church and the DAA will enjoy just over £400 each towards their work.

Alan was kind enough to provide some photos and a short video of the event.

 

We held our second boccia session on the 5th Thursday in January to provide an alternative to Music for the Mind. It was well attended with 9 people living with dementia plus their carers.

After tea and biscuits everybody took part playing in pairs and each pair played at least 2 games. The overall winners were Sabina and Jean with Sally and John coming a close second. Everybody seemed to enjoy it and we hope to run another session later in the year.

The first picture below shows the finalists, Sally, John, Jean and Sabina with Mike who organised and refereed the session. The second photo shows David getting instructions on how to throw.

The next set of Dementia Friendly screenings will be:

9 to 5

Monday, 10th February 2020

Little Women

Monday, 2nd March 2020

The Girl Can’t Help It

Monday, 6th April 2020

The remaining Dementia Friendly screenings for 2020 are on the following dates (film titles are to be confirmed):

• Monday, 4th May
• Monday, 1st June
• Monday, 6th July
• Monday, 3rd August
• Monday, 7th September
• Monday, 5th October
• Monday, 2nd November
• Monday, 7th December

Dementia Friendly Screenings aim to provide a fun and inclusive experience, enable people with dementia and their carers to attend the cinema in a safe and comfortable environment, and give them the chance to get out and socialise with people from the local community and other people in a similar situation.

These events are open to everyone, but are enhanced to suit the needs of people with dementia. The lights are left on low, there will be no adverts, and people are free to move around, take a break if needed or sing along to any musical numbers!

There will be free tea, filter coffee and biscuits from 10.30 so people can come and get settled into the space, then the film starts at 11am (with no adverts or trailers). There will also be an interval for 20 minutes half way through the film when free tea & coffee will be served again.

Tickets are £4 per person, with accompanying carers free and can be booked in person at the cinema, over the phone on 0871 902 5747 or online at www.picturehouses.com. Wheelchair spaces are limited so please book in advance to make sure they are available.