As autumn approaches it can often feel like the garden is winding down for the winter. While there are many clearing and pruning jobs to be done it is also important to remember that the garden and in fact any outdoor green space can be an important indicator that the seasons are changing. Gardens provide us with a wealth of sensory experience, and when caring for people with dementia, gardens can be used Continue reading
We have recently been running some sessions in London exploring textiles and natural objects. We have been using these materials to encourage reminiscence and conversations in a very hands on, sensory way. Continue reading
We ran a course last week for care home workers and had some great discussions regarding top tips for running nature based activities. Although our course was aimed at engaging and inspiring care home workers to incorporate nature into care plans, these tips work for anyone caring for someone. Continue reading
A few months ago I was fortunate to be contacted through this blog by Michael who works for National Autistic Society, and runs Forest School sessions. Micheal has started using our resource gofindit to maximise the benefits of sensory learning and kindly agreed to write about his experiences for this blog. Continue reading
Our Clays dementia friendly walking group has been up and running for almost 12 months; they’ve done over 50 walks and have become close friends that share laughter, fun and support each other through tough times. We’ve been lucky with the weather over the past year; only having to cancel 3 walks – much to the dismay of the group. So with winter being so wet and damp it was time to develop a Plan B, we’ve arranged walks in locations where Continue reading
We have talked previously about the power of creating memory books to capture those events and memories that are important to the person you are caring for. Following on from this we have recently developed a memory picture book and we are inviting you to try it for free! Continue reading
A few months ago we started a mini animation club for people with dementia and their carers. We decided to use the regular walking group as inspiration and then just let things run to see what happened. We enlisted the help of Karen Hayes a librettist (she takes words and puts them into poetry, operas and much more) and she chatted and listened to members of the group as they explored some local clay landscapes as part of their weekly walks. Continue reading
