Nervously en-route to the morning's activity of choir singing my head was ringing with painful memories of standing at the back of church warbling tunelessly along to obscure hymns. Little did I know that 2 hours later my head would be ringing with enthusiastic and tuneful renditions of classic pop songs old and new.
Younger People with Dementia (YPWD) is a charity based in Berkshire. Via regular workshops, activities and events they aim to help educate, empower and support those under 65 with a diagnosis of dementia, and their carers.
I was lucky enough to spend a day with the team, seeing what it was all about, and as a newly appointed Sustainability Scholar, I took the opportunity to consider the approach used from a sustainable perspective.
On arrival I grabbed a coffee and started to mingle with the quickly growing group of young people with dementia, and their carers. After being referred to as 'Jackie' on one too many occasions, I looked down at my double-sided name badge to find I had put it on the wrong way round. I turned it back around and re-established myself as Mike and got talking to a man who had been attending YPWD activities with his wife for some time. They said they enjoyed meeting and sharing experiences with others, and getting involved in the diverse range of activities from cricket to canoeing!
After coffee came the singing. It was thoroughly enjoyable and we sounded great (If I do say so myself!). Being led by a choir leader on piano, we belted out pop songs through the ages and were even filmed in the process! The music was supplemented by handheld instruments, with my kazoo providing the backbone to 'I'm a believer' by the Monkees.
The afternoon was spent gardening and restoring an old bench. Although good fun, it was tiring work, with everyone involved in digging, planting, painting and using tools. Later in the day, the more tireless amongst us continued on to go canoeing...! At this point, with hoarse voice and aching bones I departed to reflect on my experience.
Social capital
YPWD fills a gap in services by providing community-based support and activities more geared towards those of a younger age, and it does so in a very sustainable way. It enables younger people with dementia to learn new skills, whilst maintaining current ones, and builds confidence and self-esteem. The coffee and choir helps develop and restore social capital by promoting a sense of community connectedness and developing social networks. Music therapy itself is a recognised non-pharmacological intervention for dementia.
Natural environment
We know that contact with the natural environment and physical activity can help to reduce anxiety and depression, common co-morbidities in dementia, and exposure to the natural environment is associated with reduced agitation. By offering this therapeautic gardening and restoration (a form of ecotherapy), stress levels decrease and people feel more connected with their natural environments. In addition fine and gross motor skills are learnt and maintained. The approach helps to overcome barriers faced by people with dementia in accessing greenspace, a key consideration for Natural England in their commissioned report 'Greening Dementia'.
Empowerment
All the activities offered aim to nurture social support networks and offer the added bonus of carer respite, essential to allow carers to engage in fun activities with those in their care, and also for them to meet with others who understand.
The YPWD charity also offers workshops aimed at education. This can lead to improved compliance, build new relationships and encourage empowerment by increasing the ability of patients and carers to self-manage.
Financial sustainability
Lastly, the activities utilise natural environments and are delivered in group format with minimal staff involvement, meaning interventions are provided with the minimum of cost. In an NHS where one to one consultations remain the norm, this represents a financially sustainable and carbon-friendly approach.
I won't forget my day with YPWD, and hopefully we can all promote some of their sustainable approaches to other services and third-sector organisations. Thanks for reading, now excuse me while I go and practice on the kazoo.
For more information on YPWD, please see: http://www.ypwd.info/
Dr Michael Pearce
Oxfordshire Sustainability Scholar for CSH
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