Cuimhne Workshop with North London Hospice Compassionate Neighbours Volunteers
Zibiah Loakthar, our Cuimhne Coordinator writes
We held a training workshop on Dementia and Memory Loss, facilitated by our Cuimhne Coordinator Zibiah Loakthar and Cuimhne Patron Dr Mary Tilki, at North London Hospice on 20 June 2024.
It was great to come together for learning, reflection and discussion.
We discussed many ideas, metaphors and conceptual and practical tools that can help us understand better the experiences of people living with dementia.
These included “cognitive ramps”, “sundowning”, “visual perception”, “the Herbert Protocol” and “the Alzheimer’s Society’s book case model of memory storage and retrieval”.
Through case studies we introduced some of the visual perception issues to consider, for instance the value of using colour contrasting plates to help people with eating.
We introduced our work at Irish in Britain and some of our Cuimhne resources such as “My Story” whilst learning more from participants about North London Hospice’s Compassionate Neighbour’s volunteering scheme.
At the end of the workshop people shared a wonderful range of actions they intend to take following the learning.
Feedback
Participants fed back that they had gained “so much insight and different ways of being able to approach/manage situations”, that “the workshop has helped me to communicate with my loved one and share what I have learnt today with family and friends” and that they would recommend our Cuimhne workshops and resources like My Story to others.
People’s comments include:
“everything was very informative and interesting”
“have learnt a lot! The case studies were very useful, initiating special awareness and the importance of trying to understand the background of the individual”
“the relaxed informal atmosphere helped the training process”
“Keep spreading the word! Thanks Mary and Zibiah. Nice idea to put up the notes for us to be able to look back on and – even more than I recall!!”
“I very much appreciate and enjoyed this workshop”
“Really liked the idea of “My Story” would have been very helpful when my sister went to hospital”
Thank you to Annie, Kehinde Sri, Scilla, Vynee, Andrea, Artemis, Mumtaz, Moira, Flic, Dorothy, Andrew, Gamze, Derek, John, Isabella, Pat, Lindsey and Mary for generously sharing learning, ideas and experiences.
Thank you also to Mary Galligan and her team for organising healthy colourful fruit and vegetable refreshments in keeping with our theme and helping bring everyone together.
Finally, thanks too to all the team at North London Hospice for hosting us in such a warm, welcoming and caring meeting space at the Outpatients and Wellbeing Centre in Enfield, made beautiful by fabulous and inspiring crocheted and knitted decorations.