Peasedown St John’s village-wide campaign to raise awareness of dementia and create a dementia-friendly community got into the festive spirit this week!
Three organisations teamed up to host a very special dementia-friendly carol service last Monday.
St John’s Church, ReMind UK and Dementia Friendly Peasedown welcomed the public to the event on Monday 8th December, 3pm, at St John’s Church.
Nathan Hartley is Secretary of the Peasedown Community Trust, the charity that runs the Dementia Friendly Peasedown initiative. He said:
“Christmas can be a very difficult and confusing time for those living with dementia. The colours, smells, noises and different tastes can often be too overwhelming for anyone with the condition.
Dementia affects people in different ways, but a daily routine that doesn’t change and a comfortable and safe environment can support those who are struggling to remember.
Christmas, which is meant to be a joyful and happy time of the year, can be distressing for anytime living with Alzheimer’s Disease or any of the other 99 types of dementia.”
For a many people living with dementia, short-term memory is lost first, with memories of younger years and childhood remaining for a much longer period of time. This means that older songs and traditional hymns, which have played a significant part in the celebration of Christmas for hundreds of years, are still remembered by many.
The carol service was open to anyone, whether they were a carer, someone living with dementia, a friend or family member.
Revd Rachel Howlett, Curate at St John’s Church, led the service. She said:
“As the number of people living longer increases, so does the number of cases of dementia. As a way of helping care for and support people with dementia, music has been shown to often have a dramatic effect.
Whether it’s 60s soul, operatic arias or Christmas carols, music can soothe, stimulate and bring to mind long-forgotten memories.
The power of music, especially singing, to unlock memories is an increasingly key feature of dementia care. It seems to reach parts of the brain in ways other forms of communication cannot.”
The service lasted for 30-45 minutes and included short performances by children from the Learning Tree Day Nursery. Followed by refreshments.
Hollie Newhook is the Community Coordinator at ReMind UK, she added:
“We were pleased to take part in this year’s Dementia Friendly Carol Service in Peasedown St John. ReMind UK is passionate about supporting people living with dementia and ensuring they have access to a wide range of services.
We provide information, support, courses, activities and events for people diagnosed with dementia and their carers. Our support service is there to help people with dementia to live better for longer.”
