17.08.2023
Our Dementia Peer Support group are a creative bunch, so this week we discussed a painting.
Reminiscence is one of our activities to help resurrect old memories and share stories from earlier years.
The painting brought back memories for Jasma of Tom and Helen, an Irish couple who had settled in Jasma’s neighbourhood in Barbados. Tom worked in a local factory, while Helen would help child-mind the local children. Jasma remembers how Tom and Helen would lovingly invite her into their home when she would pass by, and she would often pop in for snacks. They were much loved by locals and tried to help where they could, ploughing land, offering a hand here and there, and making medicinal herbal brews for Jasma’s little sister.
Other stories of reminiscence where also shared; Hubert told us of his time spent in Sunday school in Manchester, Jamaica and the friendships he has kept up with fellow peer-supporters, Ileen and Prince. The painting reminded Kathy of her first Holy Communion during her time spent with her Grandmother in Germany, and being gifted dresses from a local Princess. Kathy and her sisters came home to a house filled with chocolates and cards!
Peer Support takes place every Tuesday, at 11am in Ashford Place. We welcome all living with Dementia, struggling with memory, carers, and family supporting loved ones. Come to share stories, advice, laughter and cake. In the words of Rumi:
Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn’t matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair.