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. 

Carers Week 2013

We have news on our community events happening during Carers Week this year.

In partnership with Age UK, Alzheimer's Society and Arts for Health Cornwall, we'll be providing  home carers the opportunity to try several of our creative activities (and those that do will get a free resource kit) that can support them in a domestic environment. In addition, professionals and people with dementia will be there to provide advice, information and support. There will be lots happening for everyone who pops in!

Check out the Events page on this blog for more information or call the office on 01726 222900 if you would like to know more.

Members of Bude Memory Cafe enjoyed learning a new
nature-based activity through Creative Spaces; so can you!

Wendy
Project Manager

Lights....camera......action!

November's been busy for Creative Spaces.

Our presentation on the project and the Dementia Uncovered films at the Congress went really well.  I wasn't sure what to expect so was truly happy when our presentation, including the two films - Quietness on such a scale and Skin - were well received.  In fact I'm sure there was a definite increase in presentations that focused on outside environments and outdoor-related activities at this conference compared to last year's and that fills me with a lot of hope.

About a week later we had a screening of the films at the Cornish Film Festival in front of an audience that included artists, film makers, educators and professionals in the area of inclusive communities and dementia care. Our panel consisted of myself, Rose from FEAST, a community arts based organisation in Cornwall that funded the project, and 4 of the film makers.  It was deeply moving to see the films on the 'Big Screen' and to hear all the positive comments afterwards.  In fact the feedback was so positive we're looking at entering them into other film festivals; possibly even international.

Talking of which.......

The films have received attention in Canada after a short article was submitted to the Canadian Dementia Knowledge Translation Network (CDKTN).  They included it in their November e-newsletter with a link to the films on YouTube.  Thanks for that CDKTN - very much appreciated!

If you haven't seen the Dementia Uncovered films yet you can view the show reel and/or all six individually HERE. 

Now that we are focusing on supporting home carers and people living with dementia in their own homes we've been working with Memory Cafes around Cornwall in testing out some of our new resources.  The feedback so far has been very positive and carers are now starting to use the activities at home in-between their memory cafe sessions.  The new activities are not yet public but keep an eye on this blog, we'll be letting you know when they are.

A series of larger community events will be held next year in Cornwall where participants will receive free resource packs that will include activities and activity fact sheets to help them at home so it's important that we produce quality resources and that they do benefit and support those living at home with dementia.

Finally, I have news on another film.....this one is about the project itself and is simply called 'Creative Spaces...Dementia, Community and Environment'.  We, and the young people from Penrice College, have been filming on and off for the past 3 years and have put together a film about the processes and activities we used to help Trevarna's residents to re-engage with their community.  At the moment we only have a link from here to our YouTube channel, but shortly you'll be able to watch the film on our website.

So why not  grab a cup of something hot (or not!), a plate of something yummy, put your feet up and enjoy the film?  Click HERE to view.

Trevarna care staff were interviewed by young people
involved in making the film

Back with more updates soon; keep watching!

Wendy
Project Manager

To Brighton and beyond

The UK Dementia Congress begins in Brighton tomorrow evening and I'll be making my way there to give a presentation on the project on Wednesday afternoon; specifically the use of the poems and their digital representations as methods of evaluation.

Karen Hayes, the poet involved will be there to talk about the process that she uses and we'll also be showing 2 of the films during our session.

The full show reel of all 6 short films will be on view during the lunchtime period.

This is a great opportunity to get the Creative Spaces message to a wider audience and I hope it leads to more conversations with care professionals about the use of outdoor spaces as places to connect people.

I'll let you know how it all went next week.

Wendy

Project Manager

From care home to home care

Whoooooooosh.....that was it; that was the Summer!  The last few months flew past like a non-stop train.  So on to the latest news before we find ourselves celebrating a new year.

National Lottery Awards - Best Health Project
Firstly, a huge "Thank you!" to everyone who voted for the Creative Spaces in the National Lottery Awards this summer. Sadly we were not one of the final three but it was a huge compliment to be shortlisted by a panel of judges and we're very proud of that.  It was a testament to all the hard work that everyone put into the project.

Has Creative Spaces finished?

Well, the Reaching Communities grant has finished and it's amazing to see the overall achievements from the past 3 years. We have engaged over 200 older people with dementia in activities and outdoor environments with over 60 young people.  As a result they have felt less isolated and anxious and become more engaged with their communities, whilst the young people have increased their understanding of dementia and made real friendships with them.

Over 600 carers (professional and non professional) attended workshops, events and presentations and gained more experience of using outdoor environments to support dementia care and social integration. Nearly 350 people from local communities joined in events, activities and day trips; gaining a better understanding of dementia and how people with dementia can play active roles within their community.

Our resources, publications and activity sheets were disseminated out to just under 2000 people - including care professionals, relatives, care volunteers, landscape architects and garden designers as well as other professionals.  Articles written for national publications reached a much wider audience.

Add to that observations and accounts of reduced anxiety and improved sleep in residents; of friendships formed, fears banished, skills discovered and people generally feeling more supported and valued. That kind of impact you can't put a figure on. All in all, 3 years well spent.

But the story is not over..........

Creative Spaces Part II
......it continues in the form of Supporting Change and Impact grants from the Big Lottery; providing a further 12 months funding to take the process and activities used in care homes out into the community to support home carers and people with dementia living at home.

It's a new project but as it's developed from our previous work, we're keeping the name!  New resources are being developed, along with guidance materials for home and community carers.  Community events will take place and a local support network established.




Hollywood here we come!
It's all about camera angles, lighting and story-telling at the moment. There's soon to be a short film about the project itself; covering the garden design, activities and community engagement and we already have a 3 minute film on YouTube, entitled Ernie and Ethan - just two lovely chaps (one aged 91, the other aged 14) talking about their friendship and involvement in the project.  You can view it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1BkUUhC8Bw

Remember our call for applications to produce films from poems? (Dementia Uncovered' post; April 2012).  The 7 commissioned artists have produced 4 films, 2 animations and a digital image for us and we can't wait to show them publicly.  There are no set dates yet but we expect them to be ready by the middle of this month and you'll be able to view them through our website, YouTube, at various community events and conferences as well as this year's Cornwall Film Festival in November.

Watch this space for a red carpet.


And finally...
I'd like to end this post with a tribute to Ernie who passed away this summer at the grand age of 91.  Ernie participated in the project from the beginning.  He loved his chrysanthemums, loved being outdoors and loved the company of others.  He broke into a song about apples at Heligan Gardens and at the Eden Project he regaled us with stories of distilling wine down to pure alcohol as a young man in the army.  It was a pleasure to be in his company and, although he is sadly missed, will always be remembered with great affection every time we see his Chrysanthemums bloom in the garden.