New Experiences
Dr. Carol Sargent
Creating a social shift where dementia and other disabilities are no longer seen as the end, but a new phase, in which a great deal of life can still be lived
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The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind as I entered the world of being a podcast co-host and became involved with a wonderful group of dementia campaigners called “We R Still Alive”.
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I have learnt an enormous amount in just two short weeks. Thankfully, most of the learnings have been fun and exciting, and there are only a small number of things I want to get others involved with in the future!
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Doing these two things in parallel highlighted just how important it is to dispel the myth that people with dementia can’t learn, create and embrace new things.
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This was exemplified by the ladies in the “We R Still Alive” campaign group. Their ability to focus on learning new things to drive forward the campaign exceeds that of their peers whose lives don’t have the added complexity of navigating life with a diagnosis of dementia.
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The Chanel 4 programme The Piano showed how 80-year old Duncan was living his best life with dementia through writing new music for his two great loves his wife and his piano .
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The late Wendy Mitchell showed how she discovered photography . In an interview we did with her before she passed away, she shared how she was know in her village as the photographer and not the lady with dementia, which she was very proud of.
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So, why is it we treat everybody living with dementia like they live are living in the past and assume we can’t introduce them to new things and give them the opportunity to learn things?
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I think it's all down to lack knowledge, time and in some cases, a willingness to understand another perspective. Sadly, my experience is this comes from both health and social care professionals as well as some close family members and friends. ?
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If people can be given better knowledge, time and are open minded in understanding ?different perspectives, then they can embrace a different perspective and start to understand and develop a stronger relationship with people diagnosed with dementia where they can discover new experiences together.
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I remember a guest I got to know very well on a MindforYou holidays telling me to please please stop playing Abba as the continuous playing of this music by her husband and children was spoiling her enjoyment of something she loved.
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I introduced her to a range of different music and I immediately knew what she enjoyed when she started smiling, laughing and dancing to Stevie Wonder’s, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”.
I asked her if she had told her family she wasn’t enjoying Abba anymore, but she said they were having a hard time coming to terms with her dementia and she didn’t have the heart to tell them as they were trying their best to make her feel better.
When her daughters asked what Mum had enjoyed on holiday, I shared the different music and they were thrilled because they were really bored of Abba to?
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So, next time you think about doing something with somebody with dementia, pick a new experience and don’t simply go back in the past and make assumptions.
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Remember if you are getting bored of the same old thing then the chances are the person with dementia is just as bored.
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Life is all about experiencing things and we should never assume somebody with dementia isn’t entitled to a new experiences because they can’t remember. After all, isn't getting bored something we all feel in the moment!
Our travel advice consultations, start the discussion about what travel experience people want and then identify a range of solutions for people to choose which they can learn from to enable and empower them to pick the holiday experience they want to explore.?If you or somebody you know wants to book a free 30 minute consultation with us then please complete the form on our website
If you want to hear about some simple inclusive tourism solutions then please take a listen to myself and my co-host Dr Tom Adler speaking to the amazing Emily Rose Yates, NRAC Consultant on our podcast all inclusive solutions .
Her enthusiasm, zest for life and pragmatic approach to problem solving is infectious.
The We R Still Alive is supporting Maxine Linnell to progress her petition to stop the "Long Good Bye" advert from the Alzheimer’s Society, ensure people get the appropriate support to live their best lives, and change the negative narrative of dementia. If you would like to support this then please follow their LinkedIn Page
Lastly, my free online booklet Holidaying with Dementia Your 10-Step Approach has just reached 3000 views in 2 months, please share it with anybody you think needs the freedom and joy, we all get from a great holiday
Spiritual Speaker Life Coach Mental Health & Wellness Grief and Trauma Dementia Education and Awareness Personal Development and wellness
6 个月It is refreshing and agree that people can live life they want through this disease. I was my mums caregiver. I always allowed her choices and experiences and no matter what people say. She loved our music times. Food she wanted and loved. Even clothes she wanted to wear and loved. For that I’m proud she got to live life right to end having the choices. It is lack experience knowledge and some times even told by professionals what they think right. Our loved ones are human have voices allowed choose what they do want to make each day count. I run talks workshops if you’d like to know more.