A FILM about the pioneering new approach being taken towards people living with dementia in Droitwich has been premiered to showcase the success of the scheme.
The Droitwich Spa Meeting Centre launched the revolutionary scheme back in September and the movie has documented the positive impact it has had on town residents since it began.
The approach to dementia is based on a Dutch model which has operated successfully in Holland for the last two decades.
Thanks to funding from the European Union, the pilot of the Dutch approach to living with Dementia was rolled out in the UK for the very first time in Droitwich last year. It’s also being trialled in Poland and Italy.
In the film – produced by Fix8 films – a number of Droitwich residents speak positively about their experience at the Meeting Centre.
Sam Arnold, Droitwich Spa Meeting Centre manager said: “The members were really involved in the making of the film and I think the sense of family and community present at the Droitwich Spa Meeting Centre really shone through.”
Dawn Brooker, Prof of Dementia Studies at Worcester University is one of the organisers behind the project and runs a research centre.
She is currently gathering evidence on the impact the UK scheme has had.
“We’ve got the funding to get the evidence, and hopefully the evidence will help get more funding to open more meeting centres.”
Tai Chi expert Alan Sanson has been teaching at the centre since October.
He said: “On the first session we played classical music which got people dancing.
“One lady told me ‘this is the first time my husband’s interacted, stood up and danced with me for years’ – it really brings tears to your eyes when you hear stories like that.”
Barry, a carer who attends with his wife Irene said: “To my knowledge Tai Chi was people waving their arms around in the breeze, I thought it was about emptying your mind – but it’s the opposite, you focus on something – and it’s been just great.”
Carol Rowley – CCG Commissioning Manager – is responsible for mental health and dementia services in Worcestershire said she felt the meeting centre project was unique as it brought different services together in one place.
Visit https://goo.gl/flf1pd to see the film which documents how the Dutch model has made a positive impact on people living with Dementia and their carers.
