Movement with music for people living with dementia

A NEW, local dance organization, Evergreen, will be offering movement with music sessions for people living with dementia, and their carers, in and around Frome.

The project, which is called Moving Memories,  will be delivered by local community dance artists Soo Wright and Jenny Ireland, who set up Evergreen this year.

Evergreen aims to ‘nurture mature bodies and minds’ by delivering movement and dance sessions for older people in the local area. Soo currently runs an over 60s dance class through Frome Community Education and Jenny delivers seated movement with music for Active Living Centres and in care homes. Moving Memories has received funding from the Mayor’s grant to run this project.

Soo and Jenny say, “We’re really excited about being able to offer this project in Frome. Research shows that regular movement sessions are very beneficial to people living with dementia and can help them improve their general physical state, emotional well-being, social interaction and mental capacity.

“Participants involved in the project will be able to share a positive and uplifting experience in a non-judgmental setting; relationships between participants and their carers can be enriched, leading to a deeper connection and understanding which can carry forward into day-to-day lives, promoting well-being for all.”

Each session will last 90 minutes, an hour of seated (or non seated if preferred) movement with music and half an hour refreshment and social time at the end.

The movement will consist of a gentle warm-up, creative movement activities to stimulate the imagination and emotional connections by using props, poetry and items from the natural world, accompanied by old familiar tunes, ending with a cool down.

The project will run on Monday mornings from 10.30am–12.00pm at the Moxon Suite at Frome Hospital and will start on Monday 6th November for 6 weeks initially. There will be a charge of £3.50 per session per person (carers/family members are free). The sessions will continue in the New Year.

For more information and to book a place contact Soo or Jenny at  ever green4clover@gmail.com or Soo 07914 807796 or Jenny 01373 228934.