The challenging experience of caring for a relative suffering from dementia has led to a Salford organisation winning most-loved community group in a regional contest.
Dancing with Dementia has gone from strength to strength since it was formed in Swinton by a group of carers, including trustee Lesley Fisher.
Lesley said: “This was started for the love of family, really. My sister, Anne’s mum, Jeanette’s sister, Elaine’s grandfather… we’ve all lived experience of caring for a loved one with dementia, so it is in their honour that we did this.”
The idea of using dance to support people with dementia came from taking her sister Jean to Humphrey Booth day care centre, where a Wednesday group, called ‘Singing with dementia’ took place.
She said: “There were these ordinary people, doing extraordinary things and I thought ‘If they can do it, so can I’.”
Photo by Hollie Smith
The first meet-up, 10 years ago, was just around 24 people, and now Lesley has contacts with more than 1,000 people.
Dancing with Dementia now supports dementia wards at Salford Royal Hospital and The Woodland hospital in little Hulton, alongside Bolton Royal Hospital and 15 care homes.
It runs regular events, including dances at Swinton Palais.
Its volunteers include carers and those who have lost a loved one to the condition.
Lesley said: “You have all of these people with highly skilled experience. Where do they go? We needed to give those people a focus, a reason for surviving, a reason for living that torment.
“It’s not just that person with dementia you are supporting, it’s the others too,”
Lesley described the compliments she has received from carers whose relatives may not speak all day but respond to the song and dance.
One participant told her: “When my partner passed away, I didn’t want to live, but coming here to volunteer with you has given me a purpose.”
Lesley is relieved times have changed since her sister Jean’s diagnosis in 2015.
She said: “When Jean was diagnosed, it was almost a case of, here’s a leaflet, go away. There was not the support out there that there is now. With the development in Salford, if you have dementia, Salford is the best place to have it.”
And Dancing with Dementia has played a crucial role in making lives better for those living with the condition.
Most common types of Dementia.
The group is also planning to donate £600 of its funds to the charity ‘Purple Angels’ that has helped supply MP3 players to people living with dementia.
Lesley never thought Dancing with Dementia would win, but the award provides more recognition for the charity won the King’s Award for voluntary service just last year complete with a visit to Buckingham Palace.
The charity was nominated for the I Love Manchester awared in June, but they only found out a few days before the awards and almost didn’t go.
She said: “It’s usually us organising the event so to go to something that’s been organised is a real treat.”
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