"It's Good To Be Back" - Dementia Club UK Returned With Success in January!
On Tuesday 11th January 2022, Dementia Club UK in partnership with Better, returned the popular Dementia Club monthly session at Barnet Copthall for the first time in over 2 years due to the ongoing pandemic. Barnet Copthall welcomed their doors to around 12-15 Dementia Club members who were all ecstatic to be back in a safe environment to socialise and keep active. Certain individuals have been members at Copthall for over 30 years and were happy to finally welcome back friends from Dementia Club (DCUK) within a comfortable familiar environment.
Our first session back included a brilliant spread of cakes, biscuits, teas and coffees for the DCUK community to enjoy whilst socialising as a group again. To start the session off the group got stuck into table activities such as quizzes and bingo, which was a catalyst for high energy throughout the session. The second part of the session was led by Rachel Karbaron, which included chair exercises such as chair yoga and singalong, which brought a plethora of joyful spirit to the room, with individuals tapping away whilst reminiscing to familiar songs. The session was topped off with a live singing performance from Ian James, which got the members joyfully moving and singing along, completing a very successful return to Copthall.
Words from Lisa Rutter (Dementia Club Chairman)
“It was lovely to see members of Dementia Club UK back at Barnet Copthall on Tuesday 11th January especially after dementia club sessions had to be suspended during the 2 years Covid-19 pandemic. It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying the session with teas/coffees and lovely cakes, followed by exercises and music entertainment and dancing. The pandemic has been very difficult for many people causing isolation and depression. For people living with dementia with their carers and for those who have lost someone with dementia and are now lonely, Dementia Club UK has been a life saver throughout the pandemic. Every session follows a Model which Lisa has developed and written as has been academically researched by Middlesex University confirming that the dementia club not only has a positive impact on those living with dementia but also has a positive impact on the carers. The teas and coffees and biscuits/cakes at the beginning of the session is important for everyone to sit and socialise, meet new members, catch up and make new friends. Lisa welcomes everyone and prepares various activities like quizzes, Bingo, a singalong, word searches, colouring/painting and other social activities like indoor Putting Golf, magnetic darts, skittles, table tennis. The next part of the session is chair exercises. We have chair Yoga and other types of exercises to music which also includes line dancing, simple salsa or tango. All great fun. The third part of the session is music entertainment which is also great fun with dancing for those who want to. Lisa always like to end the session with a few jokes as laughter is the best medicine and everyone leaves with a smile. Everyone said after the session finished how very glad they felt to be back and feel some normality after such a long time.
Lisa Rutter, founder and Chairman of Dementia Club UK is proud to be working together with BETTER since the launch on the 2nd May 2019. Our aim is to continue providing this essential service with BETTER which is open to everyone in the community.”
Copthall welcome back Dementia Club and anyone living with dementia on Tuesday 8th February between 1:30 and 3:30pm.
For more information, please contact Barnet’s Community Sports Manager Krissie Mistry, on Krissie.Mistry@GLL.org.