DIGNITYINDEMENTIA

COMMUNITYCOMEDANCINGGUIDETOSETTINGUPSESSIONS

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In2017DignityinDementiareceivedfundingfromtheHeritageLotterytosetupCommunityComeDancingSessionsinMilnthorpe.Ouraimwastotryandrecreatesomeoftheatmosphereofthe1950sand60sdancehallsbyplayingthemusicofthetimeandinvitingmembersfromthelocalcommunitytocomealonganddance.Wehopedthatpeoplewhohadbeenteenagersorintheir20sbackthen,wouldattendandsharetheirstoriesofgoingdancing.WealsofeltthatthestoriesneededawideraudiencethanDignityinDementiastaffandafewvolunteers.Asmuchresearchhasbeencarriedoutonthebenefitsofbringingtheyoungandoldtogether,wefeltthatworkingwithalocalprimaryschoolwouldbringanextradimensiontoourproject.Additionally,weknewthechildrenwouldbeperfectrecipientstoheartheolderpeople’sstoriesandthatthiswouldhavetheaddedbenefitofenhancingtheirsocialhistoryknowledge.WemetwiththeHeadTeacherofMilnthorpePrimarySchooltodiscusswhethertheywouldpartnerusandthankfullyMrHydethoughtitwasagreatidea.WethensubmittedourbidtoTheHeritageLotteryforfundingtotrialintergenerationalCommunityComeDancingsessionsinMilnthorpeforayearandweredelightedthatweweresuccessful.Workthenstartedtoturnourideainto

realityandinJanuary2017,wenervouslysentoutapressreleaseinthehopethatashortarticleinthelocalpaperwouldenticeolderpeopletoattend.WewereverysurprisedthatitalsocapturedtheinterestoftheBBC,whichculminatedinvisitsbyRadioCumbriaandBBCNorthWestTonight.Theresultingpublicityledtoanumberofcallsaskingforadviceonsettingupsomethingsimilarsessionsinotherareas.We’vethereforeproducedthisGuidetohelpanyonethinkingofdoingjustthat.Ittellsyouwhatwedidandhopefullyyou’llbeabletolearnfromourexperience.We’llalsobehappytospeaktopeopleviaemailorphoneandansweranyquestionsyoumayhave.Emailusat:info@dignityindementia.orgorringLesleyGillon07816895021orDianeSmillieon07771682378

INTRODUCTION

DignityinDementia’sethosandaimsaretoenhancethedignityofpeoplelivingwithdementiaandtheircaregiverssothattheycanliveaspositiveandnormalalifeaspossible.Wedothisthroughtheintroductionofpractical,easytouse,effectiveapproachesthatcanbeusedbyfamilycarersandotherstoimprovetheirwellbeingandthewellbeingofthosewithdementia.Pleaseseeourwebsitetofindmoreaboutourwork.www.dignityindementia.org

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BEINGDEMENTIAEMBRACING

DignityinDementiarunsanumberofcommunityprojectsandallaredementiaembracing.Thismeansthatwhilstpeoplewithdementiaandtheirfamilycarersareencouragedtoattend,sotoaremembersofthecommunitywhodon’tnecessarilyhaveaconnectiontosomeonewithdementia.Inthiswaythoseaffectedbythediseaseareabletocontinuetostayintouchwithandfeelapartoftheirlocalcommunity.Forexample,ourDementiaEmbracingCommunitySingingGroupshaveupto25membersand5or6willhavedementia.Therestareindividualsfromtheneighbourhoodwholiketosingsongsfromthe1950sand60s,enjoythesenseofwellbeing

thisbringsandthecompanionshipthatgettingtogetherprovides.

OurCommunityComeDancingsessionsareruninexactlythesameway.Abouthalfofthepeoplewhoattendhavedementia.Therestarefamilymemberswhoaccompanythem,paidcarestafffromthelocalcarehomesandsomeoftheirresidentsandgeneralmembersofthelocalcommunitywhoenjoythemusicandfancyadance.Thisworksreallywellandhastheaddedbonusofhighlightingthefactthatdespitehavingdementia,itispossibleforindividualswiththerightsupporttocontinuetohavefunandfeeljoy,therebyde-stigmatisingdementia.

BBENEFITSOFCOMMUNITYCOMEDANCINGSESSIONS

Theolderpeopleparticipatinginoursessionsbenefittedfrom:

• meetingnewpeopleandformingnewfriendships• reducinglonelinessandisolation• reminiscingandsharingpersonalmemoriesofgoingdancinginthe1950sand60s• feelingvaluedaboutsharingtheirstories• increasedphysicalactivity• forgingrelationshipswithyoungerpeopleandbreakingdownbarriers• agreaterunderstandingofhowpeoplewithdementiacan,withtherightsupport

andactivities,continuetolivefulfilledlivesandexperiencejoy. Thechildrenbenefittedfrom:

• learningaboutgoingdancinginthe1950sand60s• developingnewskillsrelatingtodanceandmusic• developingconfidenceandnewlifeskills–theseincludedimproved

communication,organising,selfmanagementoftime• forgingpositiverelationshipwitholderpeopleandbreakingdownbarriers• understandingmoreaboutdementia,reducingtheirfearaboutitand

understandinghowtocommunicatemoreeffectivelywithpeoplewithitTheschoolandthelocalcommunityhavebenefittedfrom:

• enhancedsocialrelationships• learningmemoriesofgoingdancinginthe1950sand60s

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MAKINGLINKSWITHAPRIMARYSCHOOL

Ifyouareinavillageorsmalltown,thereislikelytobeonlyoneprimaryschool.Howeverifyouareinalargertownorcitytherewillbeanumberofschools.Ifthisisthecaseconsiderwhichoneyouwanttopartnerwith.Ourprojectworkedreallywellbecausethehallthatweransessionsin,waslocatedwithina5minutewalkfromtheschool.Alsotherewerenomainroadstocross,sothechildrenwereabletowalksafelytothehallwiththeirteacher.WeinitiallymadeanappointmenttomeetwiththeHeadTeachertodiscussouridea.Schoolsgenerallywelcomeforginglinkswiththeirlocalcommunitysoarelikelytoappreciateworkingwithyou.FollowingourconversationitwasagreedthatwewouldworkwiththeYear5children(9and10yearolds),asitwasfelttheyhadtherightlevelofmaturity-alsothattheyweren’tinvolvedinSATs.Wealsosettledonrunningoursessionseveryotherweekduringtermtime.Thismeantthatthecommitmentfortheschoolwasn’ttooonerous.Thechildrenarriveatthehallstraightafterlunch(about1.10pm),thedancesessionsrunfrom1.30–2.30andaftertheolderpeoplegothechildrensitdownforadrinkandabiscuit.Theythenleavethehallby2.55pminordertogetbacktoschoolfor3pm.

AsCommunityComeDancingwasadementiaembracingproject,itwasimportantthatthechildrenfeltconfidentaroundpeoplewithdementia.Thereforewewentintoschoolanddeliveredanageappropriatedementiaawarenesssessionafewweeksbeforethefirstsession.SeeourTrainingPlanAppendix1.Wealsodiscussedtheprojectwiththechildrenandshowedclipsofdancehallsinthe1950/60s.Thisenabledtheclasstogainanunderstandingofwhatitwaslikewhentheolderpeoplewentdancingintheiryouthandalsotogetafeelfortheatmosphereweweretryingtorecreate.Awordofwarning,smokingwasfairlyprominentintheYoutubeclipsweshowed.Thisdidn’tcauseanyissuesforusthough,astheteacherfeltitwasrightthatthechildrensawthingsastheyusedtobe.Shedidhowever,followit’sscreeningupwithabriefconversationabouttheperilsofsmoking.Thechildrenaskedlotsofquestions.Thesecovereddementiaandhowtheycouldconversewitholderpeopleandwhethertheyneededtogetinvolvedinthedancing.Alotofthegirlswereveryexcitedaboutlearningthetypesofdancesfromtheerabutsomeoftheboysappearedapprehensive.Whentheyrealiseditwasn’tcompulsoryandtheycouldserverefreshmentsinsteadorchatwiththeolderpeopletheyseemedmuchhappier.Havingsaidthiswhenthesessionsstartedallthechildrendancedatsomestageandhadareallygoodtime.

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COSTS&FUNDING

WewereluckyenoughtogetfundingtocovermanyofourcostsfromtheHeritageLottery.Thispaidforustodeliverourschooldementiaawarenesssessions(wealsodidoneforthestaff),employdanceleads,hirethehall,commissionthemakingofafilmwhichisavailabletoseeonourwebsiteandonYoutubeandproducethisGuide.WewerealsoabletobuyasmallthankyouEastereggforeachofthechildrenatEasterandholdagoodbyecelebrationeventattheendofthesummertermwhenthechildrenleftustomoveuptoYear6-newYear5classthentooktheirplaceinSeptember.

Wecharged£2persessionforolderpeopletoattendwhichcoveredthecostofrefreshments.Ifyouneedtoobtainfundingbeforeyoucansetupagroup,wesuggestyoucheckFundingCentralItprovidesinformationaboutgrantsforvoluntaryorganisationsandsocialenterprises.Itisfreetouseifyouhaveanannualincomeoflessthan£100,000andcosts£100peryearfor

organisationswithanincomeabovethis.Alternatively,findoutifthereareanylocalfundersnearyou.YourlocalCVS(CouncilforVoluntaryServices)shouldbeabletoadviseyou.However,itmaybepossibletorunsessionsatverylittlecostifyouseekoutvolunteersandareabletolocateafreevenue.Weuseachurchhallanddopayahirecharge.Howeveroneweekwhentherewasaplumbingissuewemovedtotheschoolhall.Thismightbeanoptionforyou.Itdidn’tworkquiteaswell.asweneededtowaitforthelunchstafftofinishbeforewecouldsetupanditmeantwewereveryrushed.Alsothechildrenenjoygettingoutofschoolandthereforedidn’tappeartoenjoythesessionasmuchwhenitwasheldinschool.Howeverifsessionshadalwaysbeenheldthere,thismaynothavebeenanissue.Alternativelyyoumayconsiderrunningsessionsinacarehome.

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THEPRACTICALSTUFF–THINGSTOTHINKABOUT

1.FindingdanceleadsIt’simportanttosourcedanceleadsthathavetheconfidenceandskillstobeabletoengageandencourageallparticipants,botholdandyoung.Becausewewereworkingwithupto50people,wehavetwopersession,althoughweemploythree.Theyneedtobeawareofthelimitationsoftheolderpeople,anumberofwhomarefrail.Wefoundthreepeoplewhofittedtheremitandwereexcitedtogetinvolved.Allhaveexperienceofworkingwithchildrenandadultsintheirprofessionallives.WearecurrentlyplanningonrollingCommunityComeDancingouttootherareasoftheSouthLakeswhereweoperate,andhopetobeabletofindvolunteerdanceleadsforthese.Thiswillreduceourcostssignificantly.

Oncewehadfoundourdanceleads,weheldanumberofmeetingswiththemtodiscussour

2.ThevenueThevenueweusehastworooms,withanopenkitchenlinkingtothesmallerroom.Thisworksverywell,aspeopleareabletoleavetheroomwherethedancingtakesplaceandmovetothesmallerroomwhentheywantaquietertime.Alsoasthekitchenopensintoit,theyareabletochattothechildrenwhoaremakingandservingrefreshments.

Thevenuehaswheelchairaccessandadisabledtoiletisallatgroundlevel.Ifpossiblewesuggestyoulookforsomethingsimilar.

3.SourcingvolunteersWhilstithadbeenagreedthatsomeoftheyoungsterswouldproduceandservetherefreshments,itwasimportantthattheyhadsupervisionwhilstorganisingthem.(Theirteachercouldn’tbeinthekitchenforallofthesession,assheneededtohaveanoverviewofthechildrenonthedancefloortoo,aswellasthosechattingtotheolderpeople.)Thereforeweneededseveralvolunteerstosupportthekitchenduties,aswellasafewmoretohelpfrailerindividualsintothevenueandprovideadditionalsupportonthedancefloor.Thevolunteersalsoenjoyedchattingtotheolderandyoungerpeople.Wedidn’tneedtoadvertiseaswehavearangeofcontactswhowerewillingtohelp.However,itmaybeworthcontactingsomelocaldancinggroupstoseeifanyonewouldliketobeinvolved.Therearelotsofsalsaandballroomdancinggroupsforexample,withretiredpeopleattending.Someoftheirmembersmaybeverywillingtohelpout.AstheDignityinDementiaDirectorswereattendingallofthesessions,aswastheYear5teacher,ourvolunteersdidn’tneedtobeDBScheckedastheywereneveralonewiththechildrenorolderadults.Youwillneedtocheckthisouthowever.

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THEPRACTICALSTUFF–MORETHINGSTOTHINKABOUT

4.Engagingolderpeople,includingsomewithdementiaAsmentionedearlier,oursessionsweren’texclusivelyforindividualswithdementiaandthereforeweadvertisedextensivelyinordertogaintheinterestofmembersofthelocalcommunity.Weplacedpostersinstrategicplacesandoncommunityboards,suchaspostoffices,shops,andwithinGPsurgeries.WealsoplacedanadvertintheMilnthorpeParishNews.ThisisdeliveredtoallhomesinMilnthorpeandthesurroundingvillages.IfyouplanonadvertisinginaParishNews,makesureyougetyouradverttothemingoodtime,sothatitgoesintotheeditionthat’sprintedbeforeyourfirstsession.Additionallywevisitedsomelocalcarehomesandweredelightedthat3nowsendasmallnumberoftheirresidentsregularly.WealsocontactedagenciesthatweworkwithsuchasTheAlzheimer’sSociety,andourlocalCarersAssociation,aswellastheMemoryClinictohelpusidentifypeoplewithdementiawhomaybeinterestedinattending.SeeAppendix2fortheposterwedesigned.WeboughttheimagefromShutterstockwww.shutterstock.com forapproximately£10.

Finally,wedistributedapressreleaseandgainedinterestfromthelocalnewspaperwhopublishedashortarticleabouttheprojectpriortoourfirstsession.ItalsoachievedlocalradioandTVattention.

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ONTHEDAY

• Wesetchairsuparoundthedancefloorsothatpeoplecanrestbetweendancesor

comeandobserveandfeelinvolved,iftheycan’tordon’twanttodance.• Wegiveoutnamebadgesaspeoplearriveasthisenableseveryonetoseeeachother’s

namesandmakesconversationeasier.Twoofthechildrentakeonthistask,producingthemforboththeirclassmatesandtheolderpeople.Theyusethickpensandwriteonaddresslabels.

• Twootherchildrentakechargeofcollectingthemoneyfromattendees.Wehaveabrightlycolouredlaminatedsignnexttoapotwhichsays”£2persession.Pleaseputyourmoneyinthepot.Thankyou.“andtheyverygentlypointitoutandgivechangewhenrequired.

• Althoughwehavealltherelevantinsurances,wealsodisplayalaminatedsignthatsays“Wehopeyouenjoyyourselvestoday,butdotakecareasDignityinDementiacan’tacceptresponsibilityforanyaccidents.”

• Wehavephotocopiedlistsoffuturesessiondatesthatpeoplecantakeaway.• Wearrivewitheverythingweneedforrefreshments.Tea,coffee,milk,sugar,squash,

fruitflavouredteabagsandmassesofbiscuits.Wealwaysincludechocolatebiscuits,unlessitisreallyhotandtheyarelikelytomelt,aswellasaplaineroption.Jammydodgersandpinkwafersarealsoverypopular.Wetakeapackofglutenfreebiscuitsjustincasesomeoneisallergic.

• Somechildrenliketoattendwearingclotheslinkedtothe1950s.• About6ofthechildrenprepareandservetherefreshmentsunderadultsupervision.

Somevolunteerforthistaskbuttheotherstendtotakeitinturns.Theyalsowashupthroughoutthesession.

• Acoupleofthechildrenareondoordutyandholdthedooropenastheolderpeoplearriveandleave.

• TheDignityinDirectorstaffandthevolunteerswelcomeeveryoneandhelpthosethatneedittodance.Theyalsochattothechildrenandolderpeople.

• Iftheyortheteacherseessomeonethattheythinkwouldenjoyachatwiththeyoungerpeople,theyencourageoneortwoofthechildrentogoandtalktothem.Thisgenerallyhappensspontaneouslybutoccasionallyneedsprompting.

• TheDignityinDementiastaffclearupattheendofthesessionandmakessurethatthehallisastheyfoundit.

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ONTHEDAY–DANCELEADS

• Aplaylistofpopularsongsfromthe1950s

and60shadbeenagreedbeforeourfirstsession,howeverweinvitepeopletoaddtothisonanon-goingbasis.

• Thedanceleadsorganiseasimplewarmupsessionbeforethedancingstartsproperly.Thisinvolvesfunlimberingupexercises.

• Assomeoftheolderpeoplearesensitivetonoise,whilstothersmayhavehearingdifficulties,gettingthevolumerightforeveryonecanbeverychallengingandthedanceleadsneedtobeawareofthecomplexities.Havingtworoomsenablesthosewhodon’tlikeittoonoisytomoveawayfromthesound.

• Whenaparticulartrackischosenthedanceleadsoftendemonstrateadancebutnoformalteachingtakesplaceunlessspecificallyrequested.

• Aswellasencouragingpeopletodanceonthedancefloor,thedanceleadsmakesurethatthosewhocan’tgetuparesupportedtomovealongtothemusic.

• Tomarktheendofthesession,

theHokeyCokeyisplayedandthechildrenandolderpeopleformalargecircleanddancetoit.Whilstthesongdoesn’toriginatefromthe1950sor60s,everyoneenjoysitandwhentheyhearittheyknowitisthefinaldance.

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EVALUATINGYOURPROJECTIfyoureceivefundingyouwillberequiredtoevaluateyourproject.Weusedamixofone-to-oneconversationsandobservationforthispurpose,aswellasourvideo.Youcanseeourprojectevaluationonourwebsite.

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APPENDIX1–DEMENTIAAWARENESSSESSIONPLAN

1. Welcomeandintroductions2. Howmanyofyouhaveheardofdementia?Whatisit?

Recordanswersonaboard3. Showanimation–TheDragonStory

http://dragon.gloriousopportunity.org/31874/TheDragonStory_HD1080.mp4Whatareyourthoughts?

4. Doesanyonehavearelativewithdementia?Whatdotheydothat’sunusualordifferenttonormal?Whyaretheydoingthesethingsdifferently?Recordanswersonaboard.

5. Whatismemory?Exerciseof10thingsonatray.Letchildrenseethemall,thenremove1itemandaskwhathasgone?Doafewtimes.Howdidyourememberwhatwasmissing?Whatdiditfeellikenottoremember?Howdoesmemoryhelpus?

6. ExplainDementiaisadiseaseandnotpartofnormalaging.Showpictureofthebrainandlotsofbraincells.Thesebraincellsareusedtosendmessagesroundthebrainbutwhathappenswhenthesebraincellsstarttodie?

7. Exercise-Getclasstostandinacircle.Explaintheyareallbraincellsandtheirjobistowhisperamessagetothebraincellnexttothem.untilthemessagehasgoneallthewayroundthecircle.Astheydothistheypassaballoontothenextperson.Giveonechildtheballoonandwhisperashortsentenceintotheireare.g.“It’sverywindyoutsideandadustbinhasbeenblownover.”Askthemtopassthemessageon.Whenthemessagegetstothelastchildaskthemtosayitoutloud.Thelikelihoodisthemessagewillbedifferenttotheoriginalone.Explainithasgotmuddledasithasmovedfromonebraincelltoanotherandthatthiscanhappenwhensomeonehasdementia.Nowaskeveryotherchildinthecircletositdownandexplaintheyarebraincellsthathavedied.Makesurethestandingchildren(thelivebraincells)don’tmoveandthespacesfromthedeadcellsremaininthecircle.Explainitismoredifficultforthemessagetogetthroughwhenbraincellsdie.Dotheexerciseagaintohelpthemunderstandthis,usingadifferentsentencee.g.“There’sapartyattheweekendandwe’reallgoing.”Askthelastchildtosaythesentenceoutloud.Itislikelytohavegotmuddledasithasmovedaroundthecircle.Thenaskafewmorechildrentositdownexplainingthatmorebraincellshavedied.Thegapwheretheyhavebeenwillnowbesignificantandagainthechildrencannotmovetofillthem.Dotheexerciseforthefinaltimeusingadifferentsentence–perhaps“Ilikelotsofcheeseonmyspaghettibolognaise”.Gettingthemessagethroughthebiggergapswillbeverydifficult.Makethecomparisontodementiaasitprogressesandthedifficultiespeoplewiththediseasecanencounter.Explainhowimportantitistotalkinsimplelanguagewithshortsentences.Askuncomplicatedquestionsandgivetimeforthepersontoprocessthem.

8. Understandingtheimportanceofhowthepersonisfeeling.Exercise–writedown5thingsyoulikedoing.Howdotheymakeyoufeel?Howwouldyoufeelifyoucouldn’tdothemorseeyourfamilyanymore?Explainthatsomepeoplewithdementiacanalsofeellikethat.

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9.

ShowAlzheimer’sSocietyfilmofladyonbus.http://www.bit.ly/AlzSocSch2Howdoyouthinkthatladyfeltwhennooneunderstoodher?Andafterwhentheyhelpedher?

10. Askwhattheycanyoudotohelppeoplewithdementia?Telltheclassthatit’simportanttocontinuetoseepastthedementiaandrecognisethepersonassomeonewhohaslivedaninterestinglifeandexperiencesfeelingsofhappiness,joyandsadnessjustlikeus.

11. Askthegrouptoputtheirhandsupifyouhavefoundthesessioninteresting.Askhowmanyofyouhavelearntsomethingaboutdementia?Ifacceptablegiveoutchocolates.

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ATTHEMHUB,MILNTHORPE,1.30–2.30PM

EVERYOTHERWEEKDURINGTERMTIMESApril19;May3;May17;June7;June21;July5;July19;

Doyouhavefondmemoriesofgoingdancingbackinthe50sor60s?Thenwhynottryandrecreatethembyjoiningusforafunhourofmusicanddance.Youcanbeasenergeticasyoulike,oralternativelyjustsitandsoakupthesoundswhilsttappingyourfeet.RefreshmentsandchatservedbyYear5childrenfromMilnthorpePrimarySchool.£2persessiontocoverrefreshmentsFormoreinformationphoneLesleyon07816895021ThisisanintergenerationalventuredesignedandmanagedbyDignityinDementia.Allpeoplefromthelocalcommunityareinvitedtojoinin. DignityinDementiawillbeonhandtohelpanyonewithdementia.

APPENDIX2–COMMUNITYCOMEDANCINGPOSTER