The HSFA and GERATEC enjoyed an excellent turnout for our first Workshop of Dementia Dialogues 2024. The attendees, who were family and/or carers of those with dementia, benefited from the many insights and stories shared. Thank you to Rayne Stroebel for enabling this important forum and to GERATEC for catering. If you wish to book for any of the future workshops, please visit Quicket South Africa at www.quicket.co.za or book at HSFA Vonke House Reception. It’s R125 to attend at the venue including refreshments or R100 for the online video of the workshop.
As 11th April was International Parkinson’s Day selected residents from Assisted Living and Support Centre were encouraged to dance and make movements and motions that have been proven to stimulate our brains and thus our bodies. The beautiful music and movement was kindly provided by two ladies from Dance for Parkinson’s SA , dancer Lisl Gruneberg and pianist Rika Vermeulen. What special day watching hands and feet that normally are still or shaky, come alive in time to magical music! Thank you!
The Helderberg Society For the Aged hosted a MEMORY CAFÉ presented by GERATEC, the HSFA’s partner in geriatric nutrition, with our shared goal of improving the quality of life of older persons. A most informative talk and discussion on “Living with Dementia” (or rather ‘Neuro Cognitive Impairment”) was led by the knowledgeable Rayne Stroebel, CEO of Geratec and PHD candidate in Dementia Studies. A delicious breakfast and coffees were enjoyed by all; people living with dementia, their families, carers and friends. Thanks goes to Rayne and his team from Geratec. The forthcoming talks and support groups will be announced on our respective facebook pages. For those who attended this morning’s session, and wish to read further on dementia studies mentioned by Rayne, please visit:
The dancing and the happy smiles of the Flamingo residents uplifted our spirits at our “Spring Tea and Dance” activity yesterday. Flamingo is our dementia unit of our HSFA Support Centre. Tea and cake was served and our onsite Occupational Therapist, our Activity Coordinator and carers ensured all were active and enjoying themselves!
“Dance/movement therapy:
– can engage, encourage communication, and provide an outlet for self expression.
– is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical, social, and spiritual integration of the individual.
– supports that mind, body, and spirit are connected and that individuals should be treated in such a way that supports integration of these three entities.
– operates on the premise that our life experiences are held in the body, and that through the use of movement, memories and emotions can be recalled and re-experienced despite cognitive, psychological, or physical impairment.
In regard to individuals living with Dementia, dance/movement therapy has been effective in stimulating social interaction, enhancing mood, reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms, increasing self-awareness and self-expression. Dance/movement therapy can even maintain and at times improve memory and cognitive functioning. The focus of communication is on non-verbal attunement and mindfulness, both of which become increasingly important as many dementias affect language and cognitive awareness.”
A huge thank you to Dementia South Africa for providing the HSFA dementia unit, ‘fidget quilts / touch blankets’ which provide a soothing and stimulating activity for people living with dementia or recovering from strokes. Our Occupational Therapist and Activity Coordinator use these quilts in their regular group sessions.
Dementia SA also provided educational books on Dementia – a valued resource for families of our residents. #dementiaawareness#dementiasupport
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