Forget Me Not is a charity group run by volunteers for anyone with an illness or disability who requires the assistance of a carer to look after them. Sessions are held at the Social Centre, Camposol B every Monday and Thursday morning at 10.15am-1.15pm enabling respite for the carer.
We have a trained nurse at every meeting as well as skilled and compassionate volunteers. Forget Me Not ‘Cares for the Carer’ and knows how valuable our sessions are, freeing up quality time for the carer who is constantly in demand looking after their loved one’s every need. At our meetings we provide tea, coffee and biscuits and a free lunch for clients. Forget Me Not is proud to always be there for the carer with help, advice or just a sympathetic ear.
During our twice-weekly sessions we have some music playing in the background. The power of music is pretty incredible to evoke memories and our client’s are often able to recall the name of the song, the artiste and often the film it may have featured in. The lyrics may also be recognised, creating a singalong which can uplift the mood and enjoyment of the group.
We enjoy regular musical entertainment provided by our local professional artistes and community groups, including the Ukulele band and the Singalong group. We all enjoy an eclectic mix of music which has shown to soothe, stimulate and bring to mind long-forgotten memories. The power of music, especially singing, can unlock memories and recall of a certain time, event or moment in a person’s life. This may prompt a conversation as the long-lost happy memory is recalled and shared. It has been shown that even a person with no communication can still engage and enjoy music. Studies have shown that playing songs that were popular when the client was younger, (between the ages of 18 and 25) can bring back positive memories. This is generally a very carefree, joyous time of life when socialisation is a key component to many lifestyles. Recently, singer Tony Christie spoke of his positive approach to life following his dementia diagnosis. 79 year old Christie said that he first realised something was wrong when he struggled to complete a crossword, so his wife suggested getting checked over. This was two years ago and Christie has continued working, with a tour planned for this year. To quote Christie, he said “Music, I found out, is part of the cure for dementia, so every time I go on stage and work it is helping me.”
Finally, a reminder that the next Quiz Night will be held at The Diner, Camposol B on Wednesday April 5th from 5.30pm. We look forward to seeing you there and good luck with the raffle.
Huge thanks for the generous donations received of craft supplies, raffle prizes and monetary donations this month. These are vital to enable us to continue.