A Sisyphean task
It is that time of year when the gardeners begin the Sisyphean task of sweeping up the leaves. It is said that this year is going to be an excellent autumnal display – ‘living art’ was how one gardener described it as. Parkhaven is lucky that it does have the immense gift of land (last month’s blog related how we use that land for therapeutic purposes).
But as well as the Sisyphean task of sweeping up the leaves, there is another uphill struggle and that is the debate and open discussion that there needs to be about dementia. Terry Pratchett, author, who was recently diagnosed with dementia is certainly doing an excellent job to raise the profile of this very debilitating disease. He wrote on the day of the launch of the Alzheimers’s Society report Dementia: out of the shadows a letter to the Times (7.10.08) in which he argues for an end to the stigma and misunderstanding that surround this disease. The first step he writes is ‘to talk openly about dementia because it’s a fact well enshrined in folklore, that if we are to kill the demon then first we have to say its name’. We are trying to do this at our Trust.
Currently the Trust is supporting hundreds of people with dementia. We have an extensive menu of services to support people. We have separate day services for older and young people with dementia which offer space and grounds to walk, gardening, yoga and music sessions and lunches out. There is choice and hopefully something for everyone including carers. Note books go back and forth so there is communication between relatives and the Centre and a monthly newsletter. Next month we start on a new venture: a weekend away for four of our service users, an opportunity for a holiday. There are also opportunities for short breaks in our newly refurbished home or a permanent placement. As well as speaking its name, those with dementia and their carers need excellent services and support. The Trust is endeavouring to do its bit.
We hope to give people hope and laughter and will certainly be playing our part ‘to bring dementia out of the shadows’ to kill the demon.
Hilary Rowland
It is that time of year when the gardeners begin the Sisyphean task of sweeping up the leaves. It is said that this year is going to be an excellent autumnal display – ‘living art’ was how one gardener described it as. Parkhaven is lucky that it does have the immense gift of land (last month’s blog related how we use that land for therapeutic purposes).
But as well as the Sisyphean task of sweeping up the leaves, there is another uphill struggle and that is the debate and open discussion that there needs to be about dementia. Terry Pratchett, author, who was recently diagnosed with dementia is certainly doing an excellent job to raise the profile of this very debilitating disease. He wrote on the day of the launch of the Alzheimers’s Society report Dementia: out of the shadows a letter to the Times (7.10.08) in which he argues for an end to the stigma and misunderstanding that surround this disease. The first step he writes is ‘to talk openly about dementia because it’s a fact well enshrined in folklore, that if we are to kill the demon then first we have to say its name’. We are trying to do this at our Trust.
Currently the Trust is supporting hundreds of people with dementia. We have an extensive menu of services to support people. We have separate day services for older and young people with dementia which offer space and grounds to walk, gardening, yoga and music sessions and lunches out. There is choice and hopefully something for everyone including carers. Note books go back and forth so there is communication between relatives and the Centre and a monthly newsletter. Next month we start on a new venture: a weekend away for four of our service users, an opportunity for a holiday. There are also opportunities for short breaks in our newly refurbished home or a permanent placement. As well as speaking its name, those with dementia and their carers need excellent services and support. The Trust is endeavouring to do its bit.
We hope to give people hope and laughter and will certainly be playing our part ‘to bring dementia out of the shadows’ to kill the demon.
Hilary Rowland
