bright-eyed and bushy-tailed or is that for squirrels?
- Focus
- Meetings v activities
- Use of the word host
- Participants
- The group permutations
- Activities & meetings - the practicalities
- Host and Leader
1 Focus
Considering that our focus is on Dementia Meeting Centres, we look at the main word.
- Our participants come to meet like-minded people
- They come in the hope of improving their present situation by meeting people with similar needs, within a therapeutic environment
- Carees hope to reduce the effect and progression of their dementia
- Carers hope to be involved in the DMC process of reducing the effect of dementia on their carees
2 Meetings v activities
Meeting is dominant. Activity/session are subsumed.
The DMC process includes a variety of meetings, and activities - often called sessions.. The activities/sessions are discussed here which leaves us to look at the types of meetings.
3 Use of the word host.
- If the DIY DMC is running as a pilot project, there are further ifs
- There may have been an extended discussion with those who own/control the premises
- This may have included the prospect of the pilot later becoming a fully constituted DIY DMC
- If that is so, host may be the best title for those who own/control the premises.
4 Participants
Given that there may be some ten carees and eight carers*,
* The carees could include two who are at the early or intermediate stage of dementia who
are able to live their lives independently and who cope without a carer.
"An invitation is extended to people who are at the early or intermediate stage of dementia who are
able to live their lives independently and who cope without a carer." source 8.5 if needed
The challenge to facilitators includes the decision regarding, at times, which group they work in.
the group permutations are:
5 The group permutations
1 Everyone together
2 Women together
3 Men together
4 Carees together
4.1 Female carees together
4.2 Male carees together
5 Carers together
5.1 Female carers together
5.2 Male carers together
6 Volunteers
7 Host and Leader
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6 Activities & meetings - the practicalities
It does not follow that all these meetings take place every day the DIY DMC is open.
6.1 Discussion meetings
Vols = volunteers - front-of-house vols. It is assumed that admin vols don't participate but that can be discussed.
- Purpose - to obtain feedback to help planning.
- The emphasis is on carees and carers giving their views and incorporating them in immediate outcomes - the following week, or more mid-term outcomes stated in programme docs
- Vols encouraged to attend and give their views after any meeting
- Early discussion may determine that the Leader attends some of the meetings without vols
- Leader skills and experience within vol meetings will help determine how those views are dealt with. Leader means leading.
- The Leader will have discussed with the Advisory Board whether it wants a representative at certain meetings
6.2 Timing and content - the day framework
Relaxing together - generally means having a cuppa and chatting.
6.2.1 Everyone together
- Activities/sessions
- Discussion meetings
- Relaxing together
2 Women together
- Activities/sessions
- Discussion meetings
- Relaxing together
- Relaxing together with a purpose - Knit and Natter
3 Men together
- Activities/sessions
- Discussion meetings
- Relaxing together
- Relaxing together with a purpose - Shed Talk
4 Carees together
- Activities/sessions
- Discussion meetings
- Relaxing together
4.1 Female carees together
- Activities/sessions
- Discussion meetings
- Relaxing together
6.2.2 Timing and content
- Start and finish are vital. The rest of the day needs some flexibility.
- Arrival of participants from 1040 - beverage available
- The time has been announced (in paperwork before arrival*) as 1100 and starts promptly at 1105 (need to see how that works)
- It ends promptly at 1445 due to members who are to be collected at 1500
- 1105 to 1120 - Phones off, beverage and details re lunch
- 1120 to 1200 - first activity
- 1200 to 1220 - toilet break - beverage
- 1220 to 1300 - second activity - it could be making lunch
- 1300 to 1400 - lunch including clearing, washing up and WC
- 1400 to 1445 - third activity - probably sedentary - conclude with diary/log* and outline for next week
- 1445 - hats and coats - - reminder of programme for the next week
- 1500 - departure
- 1515 - 1530 - evaluation discussion
* 5 & 19 - the plan is to provide (at cost) carers and independent carees** a thin A5 binder
** 8.5 here
from 3.1 here
4.2 Male carees together
- Activities/sessions
- Discussion meetings
- Relaxing together
5 Carers together
- Activities/sessions
- Discussion meetings - sometimes looking at ways to improve the activities and other aspects of the operation
- Relaxing together
5.1 Female carers together
- Activities/sessions
- Discussion meetings - sometimes looking at ways to improve the activities and other aspects of the operation
- Relaxing together
- Relaxing together with a purpose - if topics are seen as too involved for carees
5.2 Male carers together
- Activities/sessions
- Discussion meetings - sometimes looking at ways to improve the activities and other aspects of the operation
- Relaxing together
- Relaxing together with a purpose - Shed Talk if topics are seen as too involved for carees
6 Volunteers
- Activities/sessions - often looking at ways to improve the activities
- Discussion meetings - often looking at ways to improve other aspects of the operation
- Relaxing together
- Vols and Leader - before launch and every day at end of day
- Carers, front-of-house vols and Leader - ditto. Training sessions.
7 Host and Leader
- Not listed last for any reason other than all other parties have been dealt with
- They will discuss and agree terms prior to the DIY DMC opening its doors
- the frequency and format of review etc meetings.