Socialising at Bridgnorth dementia support group
Published on 25 November 2024 12:10 PM
Bridgnorth Dementia Support Group run by Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, welcomes people living with dementia and their carers, and offers fun and interesting activities as well as providing emotional support and information in a safe and welcoming environment.
‘It’s a super little group, but we could really do with more members,’ says Gina Shirley, Wellbeing Services Support Officer at Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin. ‘But we have a lot of fun and people seem to get a lot out of it.’
Sitting around the table today are Chris and his wife Diane, and friends Max and Elaine, enjoying a chat over their tea and biscuits. ‘Honestly, the people who run this group are lovely,’ says Chris, carer for his wife Diane.
‘Diane was diagnosed ten years ago,’ says Chris. ‘We have a good chat here but we also enjoy the activities, arts and crafts and so on. We enjoy everything that happens here.’
Across the table are Elaine and Max, who have been best friends for best part of 30 years.
Max used to be a receptionist at Bridgnorth Medical Practice. ‘And before that, I worked at Tarmac,’ says the mother to two daughters.
Elaine, mum to a son and a daughter, tells me that she and Max go back a long way. ‘We used to go on holiday together to Spain and South Africa. My husband was best man at Max’s wedding, so we have a shared history.’
The conversation during the break continues, covering topics from growing tomatoes and peppers in the greenhouse to the delights of decorating cakes, and from tennis to perhaps having another go sometime at reading Tolstoy’s epic novel, War and Peace. Once the tea and biscuits are finished, the group have a go at today’s art activity: painting clay leaves in autumnal colours.
The Bridgnorth group meets on the third Tuesday of the month, 2.00-4.00pm, at Greenfields Court in Bridgnorth, to support local people with dementia and memory difficulties, their families, carers and friends.
To book your place at the next meeting of the group, simply call Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on 01743 233 123 and select option 3 for the Wellbeing Services Team or email us at enquiries@ageukstw.org.uk