Nature and Cognitive Stimulation

Today is  session number 12 of our 14 week Cognitive Stimulation and Nature Therapy trial.

We're working with Memory Matters South West, exploring if the addition of nature-based activities and increase access to outdoor environments enhances CST sessions.

CST is a proven therapy for people with mild to moderate dementia.  It follows an established set of themes for a period of 14 weeks and research has shown that it has a beneficial effect on people's cognitive abilities.   So we thought "what would happen if you add our nature-based approaches to a CST course?  Would there be any additional benefits?  Would there be no impact at all?"

We joined forces with Memory Matters South West who run CST sessions, activity clubs,  provide one to one support through their activity workers and offer training in dementia awareness.  So far we've planted seeds,  played outdoor games, created 'sound cards', matched plants with landscapes and orienteered ourselves around an outside environment using objects as clues, pictorial images and maps.

Today's session is about numbers so our nature element is based around locating Fibonacci numbers in plants outdoors.  We'll be searching for spirals - snail shells, curled fern leaves etc - and flower petals numbered 3,5 8 and possibly 13.  The weather's dry so it's a good morning for a nature treasure hunt outdoors!

The course finishes in a couple of weeks and myself and Laura from MMSW will be presenting our activities and findings at this year's UK Dementia Congress in November.  If you're going to be there, come along and say "Hi!" - we love to hear if you've used any of the activities from our website or been inspired by any of the methods/activities we've used in Creative Spaces.

I'll leave you with some Fibonacci in nature pics:

Wendy
Project Manager

Drop-ins, Memory Cafes and the start of something new!

June and July have been  busy months for Creative Spaces in the Community.

Our drop-in sessions in St. Austell, St. Dennis and Roche created useful links with people living in those communities; not just dementia carers but people in the community that I call 'connectors'. You know, those people who know almost everybody.  Through them we are connecting with local schools, health centres, NEET groups (young people not in education, employment or training), libraries (including community libraries and mobile library services) and community cafes.

our drop-in sessions in ClayTAWC, St. Dennis (top left), Rest & Play cafe, Roche
(top and bottom right) and St.Austell Library (bottom left)

Meanwhile our work with Cornwall's Memory Cafes continues; last month it was Saltash and Penzance (not on the same day thankfully........that would be some travel!).  This month I've been to Redruth and St. Ives and shortly Downderry. Memory Cafes are fun and taxing at the same time.  We've made Memory Postcards, Nature Scrapbooks, woven hazel baskets and hanging decorations (both part of our Weaving Tales activity).

top left: Nature Scrapbooks;  Top right: Memory Postcards;
bottom left and right: Weaving Tales

You concentrate on ensuring that people are getting the most out of the activity, supporting them when needed but at the same time it's just so enjoyable chatting with everyone and watching people engage with each other.  I always leave feeling shattered but with a smile on my face!

So what is there to look forward to next?  Well, following on from the drop-in sessions we'll be developing one or two small projects in St. Dennis and Roche, involving people with dementia, carers and community members.  The aim is to start these projects soon, run them for a couple of months and then review their level of effectiveness in helping people to feel healthy and happy.  More about those later.

We've also recently formed a group of dementia support providers with Age UK, Memory Matters South West, Alzheimer's Society and United Response, amongst others.  Our aim is to share our work together, find ways of working together and promote the benefits of creative social support for people affected by dementia through the health and social care sector in Cornwall.  Not much to say on that at the moment but I'm hopeful it will develop into a strong network of organisations.

Wendy
Creative Spaces Project Manager

Come and meet Creative Spaces

We're just about to embark on  a series of 'drop-in' style sessions in and around St. Austell.  It's important for us to be visible in our local communities so that people living with dementia at home, and their carers, become aware of the project and how it can support them to maintain socially active and healthy lives.

It's not always possible for carers and people with dementia to come to our community events; issues around transport and timing can often hinder opportunities to gather information on creative support.  So we're doing what we can to provide more of those opportunities.  You will find us on various days and times in St. Austell library, the Rest 'n' Play Cafe in Roche and the ClayTAWC building in St. Dennis, all throughout June.

If you live in and around St. Austell and are interested in coming along to find out more, you'll find all the information you need on the 'Events' page of this blog. You can always call the office if you have questions, contact details are also on the 'Events' page.

Let us support you to live a more socially active and healthier life.

Wendy

Creative Spaces Project Manager

Nature in Verse

Direct contact with natural things and being outdoors provides, in my opinion, the best way to connect with nature as well as providing natural, sensory spaces for social interaction.  On occasion, however, that's not always possible.  To help in those instances we provide alternative creative ways in which people with dementia and their carers can access nature through less direct contact.  Not as emotionally connecting but strong enough to allow people to socially connect through conversation.

One example is our nature poetry game in which we use the throw of the dice to determine the choice of a nature-based word.  We have been using this approach in various Memory Cafes in Cornwall. In small groups, people take turns throwing the dice until each group has between 5 - 8 words.  Each group is tasked with creating one verse for the whole poem.  They create 5 or 6 lines for their verse based around the selected words.

It is these nature-based words stimulating people to recollect their memories of nature that help make the connections; not just between people and outdoor places but between individuals, because nature-themed memories help create shared experiences and/or interests.  Memories need not be solely associated with learning about someone's past.  They are an introduction to help  us better understand the life of an individual in the present and from there it's just a step to a conversation about future hopes and dreams.......but that's another post on another day!

Back to connecting with nature through verse.   If you've read previous posts you'll have seen the two poems created by the Bude and St. Austell Memory Cafes (see previous post 'Poetry for the Senses' 4th April 2014).  Truro Memory Cafe members recently joined this list of budding bards.  Their poem is below along with the poems created by Bude and St. Austell Memory Cafes.....just to save you from going back to a previous post!

To see how these poems have been created follow this LINK to our short film of the activity on YouTube.

Creative Spaces in the Community

What else would you do on a wet and windy Saturday but launch your dementia project?

That was us, a week ago, in an empty shop unit in St. Austell........and what a great day we had!

Joined by representatives from Age UK Cornwall and IOS, Memory Matters South West and St. Austell Memory Cafe, we had tables with information, guidance leaflets showcasing what each organisation could offer.  There were free cup cakes  and of course our lovely nature-based activities that people could join in - providing opportunity for conversation.  Our friend Jo, from Hedgerow and Herb, came along with a lovely selection of herb plants to smell, touch and taste and there was music and films going on in the background to help create a friendly atmosphere.

Despite the horrible weather, around 40 people dropped in that day. Most of them were unpaid carers, family members of people diagnosed with dementia, but we also had neighbours looking for information to help their friend and carer living next door and young people dropping in because a grandparent had dementia.  So, in addition to the project information and dementia support advice that was provided, the event turned out to be an interesting reflection of how much dementia affects our communities.

To find out more about our free activity downloads and dementia-related films you can go to our Creative Spaces page on our website HERE.

We'll be doing more localised events and workshops in and around the St. Austell area; helping people living with dementia in more rural areas through our Creative Spaces in the Community Project and then later in the year we'll be in and around Liskeard. As the project progresses it will extend into other areas of Cornwall over the next 4 years.

B-looming Marvellous!

Just look at what we were up to last Friday - you can't keep us away from all these dementia/memory loss events!  This one was organised by Age UK Cornwall and was well attended throughout the day.  We set up an area where we could provide activities and have an opportunity to chat with people about what kind of support/social interaction they had in their communities.

Other conversations were based around reminiscing about places, people, work etc.  If someone was at ease, chatting with us and being creative, their carer would take the opportunity to spend a little 'me' time wandering around, getting coffee, having a massage themselves; we're always glad we can help them to have a little time to themselves.

If you're wondering what the activities were, people could either have a go at weaving natural materials through our nature loom (as you can see from the corner photos, there were daffodils, ivy, reeds, grasses - all great for weaving) or they could create pages for the beginnings of their own nature scrapbook using a mixture of natural materials and craft tools such as stamps (top and bottom middle photos). Either activity provided the opportunity to chat; initially based around the activity but often, as most conversations do, leading off on a tangent to other aspects of life.



Wendy
CSiC Project Manager

Weaving Tales

How about watching a quick video for a change?

The following video (don't worry, it's only a minute long) gives a glimpse of our Weaving Tales activity being used by NHS staff, dementia care professionals and volunteers at a recent Peninsular Community Health one day conference.

We often talk about our creative activities working on various levels.  There are times when an activity can be used simply to fill time; on other levels they work as tools for increasing social interaction and as a means for helping people to express themselves in a safe and relaxing environment. On this occasion we were demonstrating how they work as communication tools; allowing people the opportunity to listen, speak and share an experience.  In dementia care it's important to understand as much about the individual(s) you're caring for as possible. Weaving Tales can take 5, 10, 30 minutes...however long you have....because completing it is not the aim in this situation; the quality of the moment shared is. 

Cause for Celebration!

More events, more activities, more community engagement, more everything!

It’s so exciting to be able to kick off the new year with great news. Ok, so it's a few weeks in but bear with me.....

New funding from the Big Lottery’s Reaching Communities Fund will enable us to build on the success of Creative Spaces project and to support more people living with dementia in isolated communities in Cornwall.  We cannot be more pleased and excited at the Sensory Trust!

Our aptly named Creative Spaces in the Community project will run for 4 years.  During that time we will work directly with older people with dementia, helping them to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing by maintaining an active life within their community. 

We’ll still use successful tried and tested techniques; involving young people in inter-generational activities, making the most of outdoor environments and nature-focused activities.  In addition, service providers such as local libraries and businesses will be involved, helping them to better understand the issues associated with living with dementia at home. For example, a short trip to a library or local shop can easily turn into a miserable or anxious time if support and understanding within the community isn’t there to help prevent issues from arising.  

The project will also allow us to evaluate and demonstrate the positive impact that these and other elements of the project will have on the physical and mental well-being of people living with dementia. 

The project begins in March and we’re looking forward to the journey ahead; to meeting old friends and making new ones, switching on some metaphoric light bulbs, watching new friendships form and working with individuals and organizations who are also passionate about and want to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia, their carers and families.

If you’re not aware of the previous 4 years of work, through the Creative Spaces project then click HERE to follow the link through to the project page where you can find out more, watch films and pick up some free downloads of activity and fact sheets.

A few memories from Creative Spaces

Sensory Christmas ideas

Season's Greetings!

If you find yourself at a loss over the Christmas/New Year holidays why not take time out away from the usual routine and have a go at some of our seasonal activities?  They're ideal for getting all the family involved.

It's not too late to hang some home-made spiced 'razzle dazzle' to the Christmas tree with glittery round oases pinned with chillies and star anise;  hang sliced and dried oranges with bundles of cinnamon too and bring some sensory seasonal smells indoors.

Going out on a walk?  collect twigs, leaves, pine cones and make a Nature Mobile - something the whole family can join in with.  You can add bits and pieces from home too; cinnamon sticks, holly/ivy from the garden, left-over cranberries etc. Whatever you like.

And let's not forget food for the garden birds.  A home-made bird food ladder not only helps the robins and finches etc but adds a splash of colour to your garden too - guaranteed a conversation 'starter'!

You can use up old bits of fruit such as apples and pears and berries, bread, popcorn, bacon rind etc.  Just string them along some garden wire and wrap it around both ends of several twigs as you go along.

There are lots of ideas and activity sheets on our website; just click HERE 

We hope you have a wonderful, creative, enjoyable, sensory-rich Christmas and New Year!



Wendy

UK Dementia Congress 2013

They should re-title this the UK Inspirational Dementia Congress!  Every year I return from a UKDC feeling inspired by someone or something.   This year we had a poster presentation at the Congress representing the work of the Creative Spaces project and our Let Nature Feed Your Senses (LNFYS) project, which has increased opportunities for care homes to visit farms and become more connected to nature and the farming environment through sensory-rich activities.  If you'd like to read more about that particular project then please visit our main website HERE.

Poster presentation; apologies for the poor
quality!

I was interested in finding creative, engaging projects that put the person with dementia at the heart of them and hearing more about the current hot topic of dementia-friendly communities.  Here are some of my personal highlights:

Circles of Support presentation:  this is a partnership between Innovations in Dementia and NDTi (National Development Team for Inclusion).   They are supporting people living with dementia to connect with families and communities in Mid Devon, Dorset, West London and Hampshire; to make changes and allow them to stay connected with people and live their lives.

How the ‘circle’ works is that a group of people come together to support one person living with dementia, they are led by a facilitator. This is someone who is essential to setting up the group and helping it to run.  The people in the circle can be anyone, not just family and friends.

So far, these circles have helped:

• A man inform his employers of his diagnosis
• Introduce couples to each other, to help maintain their social interactions
• Find volunteers to support and take part in chosen activities with people living with dementia 
• A family organise live-in care
• Walking groups to get people living with dementia involved in their rambles

This project has been funded by the Dept of Health for 3 years (2011 – 2014).  More information and findings can be found at:  http://www.ndti.org.uk/uploads/files/Circles_Insight_2013.pdf

There were several presentations on Dementia Friendly Communities:

York was the first DFC in England.  They carried out walking interviews with people living with dementia, had debates, visits, interviews and films to find out how they could improve the city.  Bradford followed with a lot of awareness being increased within the South Asian communities.  However, the town that drew my interest was MOTHERWELL in Scotland. 

Motherwell created a dementia-friendly environment in a small town centre that was suffering from economic depression; closing shops and run-down areas were the 'norm'. NHS Lanarkshire and Alzheimer Scotland worked together and encouraged businesses and services to sign up.....apparently using techniques seen on The Apprentice and Dragon’s Den!  Their USP was “Be the first!” which seemed to have worked really well because they won this year’s Best Dementia Friendly Initiative at the Alzheimer Scotland Awards.  

From a creative point of view there was the Music Mirrors project.  Musical ‘self portraits’ developed with people living with dementia.   Significant music and not preferred music is compiled from conversations with people living with dementia. Music that links people to places, events or other people is what's important here, not what their favourite music is. These musical pieces are then linked by short written snippets from the interviewees.  The recordings are saved onto a CD, USB stick or even linked to YouTube via emails.  This allows them to be able to accompany the individual no matter where they are living.  They can be used in reminiscence sessions but also to communicate and engage with people with dementia.  

This project reminded me very much of how we engaged the Trevarna residents in their garden re-design, by looking at the significance of outdoor environments to them and gathering memories and personal stories rather than asking the question “What’s your favourite flower?”.  We got so much from that approach and I think these musical portraits will do the same.......it’s a good recipe!

I also went to the “Whose Shoes?” workshop.  This was only a taster presentation of their on-line "Whose Shoes?" toolkit.  So it was a shame it was too short a time for them to talk about everything they wanted to but they were still able to provide a flavour of what this toolkit can do.  Gill is a very inspirational speaker, you can sense that this is something very personal for her.  We sat in small groups and were given several statements (provided by either carer/business provider/person with dementia/family member) and asked to discuss the statement and write down a precis of our discussion.  It's at this point that the whole room buzzed to the sound of conversations.  That in itself is always a good indicator that people are participating in your session.   The notes were then provided to a graphic artist who was making a visual representation of the discussion outcomes.  I hope that we get to see them on the "Whose Shoes?" BLOG at some point.

If you've never been to a UK Dementia Congress then please do try and go one year.  The people that attend, whether speakers or not, are so inspirational you can't help but feel invigorated by it all.  I'm off to try and scribble down all these new thoughts I have about outdoors and dementia now...........

Wendy

Project Manager

Shadows of nature

Last week we did a Shadow Box activity with members of the Fowey Memory Cafe. Guests, relatives and volunteers worked together to build their boxes and then fill them with freshly picked garden flora, pressed flowers, wildlife stickers and stamps.

It was our first time using this activity and it was chosen to see if it would encourage the guests to share stories and memories, to stimulate their creativeness and, most importantly, to give them a sense of achievement (they built the frames themselves as well as decorating inside the boxes).

What a result - the table buzzed as people chatted about places they grew up in or had visited, their interest in wildlife, plants, growing things, pets etc and, for some guests, how long it had been since they'd used wood and carpentry skills!

It was such a lovely afternoon; we even ran over time and into their tea/coffee and cake break.........and no-one mentioned it; not one complaint. They were too busy chatting and finishing off their displays.

I've been thinking about the activity since. I admit I didn't know why they were called Shadow Boxes.   Wikipedia provided an explanation

A shadow box is an enclosed glass-front case containing an object or objects presented in a thematic grouping with artistic or personal significance. 

Typically given to people in military service, on retirement, they contained awards and medals that the person had achieved during their career.

It's pleasing to think that they have now been used to display items that help people living with Dementia to connect to the world around them and that, in building them, they have awarded themselves with a sense of achievement.

Wendy

Creative Spaces Project Manager