A Trip Down Memory Lane: Our London-Themed Living with Dementia Group
This month, our dementia group took a nostalgic journey through London Town, sparking wonderful memories and conversations.
Some participants shared personal stories of growing up in the city, recalling the bustling streets, changing skylines and the evolution of London transport - from the classic red Routemaster buses to the modern tube network.
We reminisced about London’s famous landmarks from Buckingham Palace to East End Markets. Royal celebrations were a popular topic with lively discussions about street parties and the excitement of seeing the Royal Family.
A particularly moving moment was when one of our attendees gave a beautiful reading of Wordsworth's poem "Composed Upon Westminster Bridge", transporting us to a quiet morning overlooking the Thames.
We also shared fond memories of London's theatre scene with attendees recalling West End shows they had enjoyed over the years.
To add some Cockney charm, we played a rhyming slang guessing game, using pictures to decode phrases like apples and pears (stairs) and dog and bone (phone) which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
No London-themed session would be complete without traditional London Food - we enjoyed delicious jam tarts and bread pudding all while testing our knowledge with a London Quiz!
Our multi-sensory approach continued with a focus on scent, evoking memories of London's Flower markets through fragrances like Lavender, Geranium and Rose.
We were also delighted to welcome our special guest, Nyree Evers, from The Alzheimer's Society who joined us for the session.
We ended on a high note with a singalong to "Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner", followed by a seated Lambeth Walk choreographed by our physiotherapist Julie.
A highlight of the session was the incredible Big Ben model created by our talented Therapies Assistant Chloe.
This was a great focal point and added a special touch of London magic to our group.
Next month, we look forward to celebrating Victory in Europe (VE) Day, remembering the spirit of wartime Britain with music, reminiscence and probably more dancing!!!
