Dementia Assisting Self Help Group Blog!

Bromley Memory Service recently received funding for a new art therapist role. I had the opportunity to join an art therapy taster session and offer feedback as a service user. I found the session very interesting, particularly the part around the history of art therapy in Bexley Hospital, as I used to work as a psychiatrist. I really enjoyed the session and found the therapist to be very good and supportive. When given a prompt to draw my “calm and quiet place”, I drew my mosque, which enabled me to feel relaxed. I found the session very engaging and would encourage my DASH group peers to have a go as I think it’s a great way to keep your mind active when living with dementia. What I learnt from the session is: You do not have to be good at art It's not what the work looks like that matters, it's what it represents You can use symbolism to take a step out of the actual mental/physical experience in order to make sense of it There is no wrong or right way to do art therapy The ...

 The Memory Service National Accreditation Programme (MSNAP) recently held an art competition for those living with dementia, in which two of our DASH members submitted their work.  We would like to say a massive congratulations to David for winning the competition with his painting of the Bridgeways building where the DASH group is held!  His artwork will be featured in the upcoming annual forum as well as in future publications and marketing materials. Another massive congratulations to Cathy for her submission, who received the following feedback: " Please extend our heartfelt thanks to Cathy for taking part in our recent  Art work  Competition . Your creativity, thoughtfulness, and expression were truly inspiring, and we were honoured to receive your submission titled Learning new skills with dementia" We are so proud of both David and Cathy for all their hard work and contributions to the DASH group. Keep up the great work!

I am Andrew Sims. A member of the Bromley DASH ( D ementia   A ssisting  S elf   H elp) Group. I am a user of the Memory Service provided in Bromley, Kent. Prior to retirement I was the manager of the Residential Underwriting Department of an international bank and had been employed in a variety of positions in a Building Society and latterly the Bank for almost 40 years. My dementia diagnosis was not, surprisingly, a huge shock for me since I had become aware over a period of time that my memory had changed in certain specific areas, particularly centred on name recall and word recall, although I recognise that I had developed strategies to manage the issues. Meeting with other people in the DASH group with similar related concerns has enabled me to come to terms with the condition and together we have been able to formulate processes and strategies which have been promulgated and utilised by others outside the group. I am encouraged that I am still able to make use of m...