'We manage to stimulate memories': Founder of memory cafe for people with dementia celebrates club's first birthday with members and volunteers
The founder of a memory cafe, which celebrated its first birthday this week, says she has seen first hand how special activities and movements have helped her members channel some of their fondest memories.
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Karen Hurmson, who lives in Lichfield, has worked in the care industry for twenty years and taken care of countless dementia and Alzheimer's patients.
When the 62-year-old moved on from her full-time job two years ago, she used her knowledge of dementia and Alzheimer's disease to open up her very own memory cafe last year with the help of three friends who also worked in the care industry - and thus, Magnolia Friends was born.
This week Magnolia Friends celebrated its first birthday with food, drinks, music, and lots of fun.
Karen, along with co-directors Sue Bevington, Dawn Roberts, Janet Williams and a number of hard-working volunteers put on sessions every Thursday at Burntwood Memorial Hall where members take part in all kinds of activities - football and singing, painting and bingo.
Karen says she has seen how much the activities help the members regain some of their fondest memories.
She said: "We do all kinds of activities to try to engage our members.
"I have even used kitchen utensils and thinks like Birds custard, which have triggered memories in some of them of their mum's cooking for them. Something so simple can trigger such fond memories for them, especially if you do stimulating things in a conversational way.
"We do singing every week, it is so important to them. Some people can hear the music and remember the words, others like to have the words written down in front of them to sing along.
"We do go out of our way to make everything accessible and put them at ease."
Karen has also received training through the British Gymnastics Association to offer chair-based exercises to members, as it is one of the main ways of preventing memory loss and aiding coordination.
"I began doing 'Love to Move' sessions last year, which involved really simple exercises that help members be more coordinated and to support cognitive function," she added.
Magnolia Friends is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that is recognised by the Alzheimer's Society and The Memory Clinic, who refer patients to Magnolia Friends if needed.
"I started Magnolia Friends because I like engaging with people in the community and have always been involved, in one way or another, with helping others and doing charity work," Karen continued.
"The purpose is to combat isolation and to give a place of purpose to the people who have memory loss where they can go and not feel judged.
"Everybody is welcome to come, we want to make it appropriate to everyone and for all to take part if they wish to. There is no obligation, you can just sit and chat or you can engage.
"Doing these activities can bring enjoyment and pleasure, and maintain independence for as long as possible."
Sessions are held every Thursday from 11am - 1pm at Burntwood Memorial Institute on Rugeley Road.
