Arts & Older People

In 2018/19 People Express ran dementia friendly sessions in three care settings across South Derbyshire. Oakland Village, Richmond Village and Woodville Residential Care Home hosted sessions for residents and non-residents, focusing on engaging older people living with dementia, their carers, friends and family.

This is how Pat, one of the participants described her experience of taking part in creative activities with People Express: ‘I had stopped taking part in everything, and I was sitting at home feeling sorry for myself, and this letter came saying I had Alzheimers, so I thought that’s it- do something with your life! So they told me about these sessions at the Alzheimers meeting and along I came. I was in a course at college, a long time ago doing basket weaving, all sorts of creative things. Then I had children and everything went by the way side, now they are saying I have Alzheimers, I felt like I had just sank into feeling sorry for myself. It takes some effort to start something new, but I’m so proud. Painting- I’ve always thought i can’t do that but now I’ve done this and i love it. I feel like these sessions have given me a new lease of life’