Salmagundi Films and Housing 21: Their Frames of Mind project is aimed at telling people's stories through stop motion animation. Salmagundi Films worked with staff and residents at The Watermill care home in Walsall to produce their own individual short animations using personal items. Sections of the film were shown during the session and I was particularly touched by Ivy's animation which involved her reading aloud a poem which she had written for her daughter's 40th Birthday. It was more poignant because Ivy didn't recognise it as her poem and read it as though it was the first time she'd seen it, exclaiming at the end how lovely it was.
Agnes and Nancy: A film made by Anne Milne and produced by Ruth Bartlett from Southampton University and Caroline Hick from Bradford University as part of the No Limits - Reimagining Life with Dementia project. The film is not available publicly yet but I've linked through to a website where you can keep an eye on it's development. Shown at the conference, it was a quietly powerful and uplifting film that portrays Agnes's search to find some clarity in her 'new life' and how spending time with Nancy helped her to do that. Called simply "Agnes and Nancy" it's a film everyone should watch so keep an eye on it's development, buy it when it becomes available and show it to all your friends, relatives, work colleagues and anyone else you can. If they're not prepared to sit for 20 minutes to watch it then strap them into a seat and make them!
Of course there were other interesting sessions that I enjoyed and I could write till the cows come home about all of them, but it was these two in particular that filled my thoughts during my 8 hour journey home. They have spurred me on to think about more ways in which we can use outdoor environments to benefit people with dementia, their families and communities and that's why I felt I had to mention them.
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| Group days out support conversation, feelings of belonging and a better understanding of others |
Wendy
Project Manager
