Run by volunteer Helen Savarimuthu, the memory matters group meets weekly at Aneurin Bevan Court in Duffryn. For Dementia Awareness Week scheme manager Michelle Nessling kindly invited us along to meet the residents and find out more.
Helen’s a carer for her husband who has dementia and they’ve both attended the group with residents and neighbours from the estate every Tuesday. We were privileged to speak to Helen and members of the group, reliving their lives through song, music and shared stories, as well as having a bit of a boogie! Residents best known to the group as Twinkle toes, and John Travolta weren’t the only ones up and dancing.
Helen’s passionate about the group and all the people who bring so much to it. She runs it with the help of Community Link and the Foodbank. One of the residents told us that the group “brings a bit of sunshine on a rainy day”.
The group plays bingo, enjoy karaoke, games, quizzes and they have even started a choir! This week they were also joined by Jade Lawrence Dementia Advisor from the Alzheimer’s Society who often visits and will be returning in June to run a Dementia Friends session.
Jean, possibly the spriteliest 94 year old you could meet, told us they have all formed a strong bond and also enjoyed trips out to places like Cribbs Causeway where they ‘really had good laugh’.
It was not an easy decision to move here, but with the help of my family and the staff I’ve made really good friends who have really looked after me.
Jean
Ruth has lived at the scheme for over six years and her own mother lived there too – she even celebrated her 100th birthday there and lived to 102! Ruth said she really loves coming to the memory matters group “I never miss it,” she said sporting the beautifully painted nails she’d had done just before. “I would really miss the companionship if we didn’t have this.” She was thrilled to join the choir too! “It was lovely that Helen went with my choice of song for our first one. I chose ‘You are my sunshine’ because it was one that we used to sing at bedtime.”
Paul added that this group really helpas those with Alzheimer’s adding that for him being with a group helps a lot with things like depression too – you don’t feel alone.
Mohammed has only been at ABC for a year but has brought his own ray of sunshine, leading the dancing and becoming known to the others as John Travolta. He said he always goes to the memory matters group “It is very nice and everyone is very friendly!”
We finished up learning (or trying to learn) a little bit of Welsh thanks to Marjorie who grew up in the streets surrounding Big Pit and was called ‘The Heard’ by her mam thanks to her love of singing. She has no trouble remembering the words to the Welsh songs she used to sing from the time she was 10. The whole group’s rendition of the National Anthem at the end of the day was really moving.
Memory matters, but people matter more and this group empowers its members, brings a treasured sense of community and most importantly shines a spotlight on each individual and the value they bring.
Thank you so much for inviting us along and we hope to visit again soon.