Join Alzheimer Scotland Tea and Blether group in Midlothian
Midlothian Tea & Blether, run by Carol Hamilton from Alzheimer Scotland, is an informal social group for people living with dementia.
Article Source: Mislothian Council
Last Updated: 14 August 2020 13:57
Carol Hamilton, Alzheimer Scotland’s Community Activities Organiser in Midlothian, writes about the Midlothian Tea & Blether group. If you would like to join one of Carol's groups, get in touch:
0131 654 1114
chamilton@alzscot.org
Informal social group
I am Carol Hamilton, Alzheimer Scotland’s Community Activities Organiser in Midlothian. I facilitate Tea & Blether, an informal social group for people living with dementia. We previously met in person, at The Bungalow, Bonnyrigg, but since the COVID-19 outbreak, have adapted to using GoTo, an online platform, which allows us to connect digitally.
One-to-one chat initially
Meeting online can be daunting for people who are not used to communicating digitally, and perhaps even more so if a person is living with dementia. To allay people’s anxiety, I first invite each participant to a one-to-one session in the GoToMeeting room. In this way, I can help them to work around any technology issues they might encounter, answer any questions or concerns, and start to develop a relationship so they feel more comfortable to join the group.
Support for everyone
Integrating members can be challenging at times as some people can be more forthcoming than others. I am mindful of those who are quieter or at a more advance stage of their dementia journey and encourage them to chat and interact more. I also take care to ensure the type and complexity of the activity is suitable for everyone. The current group enjoy quizzes, singing and reminiscing.
Great feedback
I have had great feedback from those who attend Tea & Blether digitally. One group member told me how she “looks forward to a Friday to put the world to rights”; another reflected how important it has been to keep in touch with everyone so that “when we get back to meeting in person it won’t feel awkward”; and everyone agreed with the sentiment of the member who said “the group has made such a difference to me”. They provide each other with fantastic peer support and share lots of laughs. This helps to prevent social isolation and improve their emotional well-being.
Improved mood and communication
We also know that the benefits of therapeutic activities for people with dementia outlast the duration of the activity, with carers reporting that their loved one has experienced improved mood and communication after taking part in the group.
More groups coming
Owing to the success of our digital Tea & Blether to date, I am currently setting up additional groups to reach more people who would benefit from this opportunity.
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