so today we’ve SAT and listened and I’m sure many of you have been inspired by
sure many of you have been inspired by
sure many of you have been inspired by the amazing talks that you’ve heard and
the amazing talks that you’ve heard and
the amazing talks that you’ve heard and the people that you’ve no doubt met
the people that you’ve no doubt met
the people that you’ve no doubt met you’ve had breaks to get up stretch your
you’ve had breaks to get up stretch your
you’ve had breaks to get up stretch your legs go outside get some fresh air have
legs go outside get some fresh air have
legs go outside get some fresh air have a cup of tea normal stuff but what if
a cup of tea normal stuff but what if
a cup of tea normal stuff but what if would invited you here today sat you
would invited you here today sat you
would invited you here today sat you down given you one two minute talk and
down given you one two minute talk and
down given you one two minute talk and then left you SAT there in silence until
then left you SAT there in silence until
then left you SAT there in silence until now how do you think you’d feel probably
now how do you think you’d feel probably
now how do you think you’d feel probably asking for a refund right well that has
asking for a refund right well that has
asking for a refund right well that has been a reality for many people living in
been a reality for many people living in
been a reality for many people living in with dementia in care today and it will
with dementia in care today and it will
with dementia in care today and it will be tomorrow and the day after because if
be tomorrow and the day after because if
be tomorrow and the day after because if you live with dementia in a care home
you live with dementia in a care home
you live with dementia in a care home you get on average two minutes of
you get on average two minutes of
you get on average two minutes of meaningful interaction every six hours
so living with dementia which is
so living with dementia which is essentially brain failure means that
essentially brain failure means that
essentially brain failure means that that normal everyday stuff that we’ve
that normal everyday stuff that we’ve
that normal everyday stuff that we’ve been doing today becomes really
been doing today becomes really
been doing today becomes really challenging so making a cup of tea you
challenging so making a cup of tea you
challenging so making a cup of tea you might forget to boil the kettle you
might forget to boil the kettle you
might forget to boil the kettle you might no longer recognize what a tea bag
might no longer recognize what a tea bag
might no longer recognize what a tea bag is some of the early symptoms of some
is some of the early symptoms of some
is some of the early symptoms of some dimensions is lack of initiation so you
dimensions is lack of initiation so you
dimensions is lack of initiation so you might need someone to prompt
might need someone to prompt
might need someone to prompt conversation with you to guide you
conversation with you to guide you
conversation with you to guide you through without judgment so that if your
through without judgment so that if your
through without judgment so that if your words tend to get jumbled you don’t feel
words tend to get jumbled you don’t feel
words tend to get jumbled you don’t feel like you failed their recurrently
like you failed their recurrently
like you failed their recurrently 800,000 people living with dementia in
800,000 people living with dementia in
800,000 people living with dementia in the UK and that figure is set to soar to
the UK and that figure is set to soar to
the UK and that figure is set to soar to over two million by 2050 one that means
over two million by 2050 one that means
over two million by 2050 one that means dementia will affect all of us whether
dementia will affect all of us whether
dementia will affect all of us whether it’s directly or indirectly so back at
it’s directly or indirectly so back at
it’s directly or indirectly so back at the end of 2012 I was sat at the kitchen
the end of 2012 I was sat at the kitchen
the end of 2012 I was sat at the kitchen table having a cup of tea with my nan
table having a cup of tea with my nan
table having a cup of tea with my nan she was 93 at the time very Sparky but
she was 93 at the time very Sparky but
she was 93 at the time very Sparky but had short-term memory failure so I said
had short-term memory failure so I said
had short-term memory failure so I said to her house the day centre going ham
to her house the day centre going ham
to her house the day centre going ham and for the sixth time that our she told
and for the sixth time that our she told
and for the sixth time that our she told me all about her new boyfriend Dave now
me all about her new boyfriend Dave now
me all about her new boyfriend Dave now to mere 83 years old she was very proud
to mere 83 years old she was very proud
to mere 83 years old she was very proud to tell me that Dave was her toyboy
to tell me that Dave was her toyboy
to tell me that Dave was her toyboy very happy she was they used to sit in
very happy she was they used to sit in
very happy she was they used to sit in hold hands but then she got a serious
hold hands but then she got a serious
hold hands but then she got a serious look on her face and she said it’s
look on her face and she said it’s
look on her face and she said it’s lovely to be with people my own age it’s
lovely to be with people my own age it’s
lovely to be with people my own age it’s just there’s not much to do well that
just there’s not much to do well that
just there’s not much to do well that got my brain wearing at the time I was a
got my brain wearing at the time I was a
got my brain wearing at the time I was a full-time artist and I was looking for
full-time artist and I was looking for
full-time artist and I was looking for excuse to get out the studio to be
excuse to get out the studio to be
excuse to get out the studio to be honest so I thought what if I go and
honest so I thought what if I go and
honest so I thought what if I go and teach painting and she thought I was
teach painting and she thought I was
teach painting and she thought I was pretty good at it so I find around a few
pretty good at it so I find around a few
pretty good at it so I find around a few care homes and found it astonishingly
care homes and found it astonishingly
care homes and found it astonishingly easy to get booked to do art workshops
easy to get booked to do art workshops
easy to get booked to do art workshops so I arrived at the doorstep got the
so I arrived at the doorstep got the
so I arrived at the doorstep got the first care home and there’s a sign next
first care home and there’s a sign next
first care home and there’s a sign next to the door and it said the name of the
to the door and it said the name of the
to the door and it said the name of the care home and then the letters e.m I and
care home and then the letters e.m I and
care home and then the letters e.m I and no idea what I meant but I press the
no idea what I meant but I press the
no idea what I meant but I press the buzzer and I got assured in by kara and
buzzer and I got assured in by kara and
buzzer and I got assured in by kara and I stood in the lobby and she hurried off
I stood in the lobby and she hurried off
I stood in the lobby and she hurried off and it was assault on my senses there
and it was assault on my senses there
and it was assault on my senses there was the stuffy heat that hit me the
was the stuffy heat that hit me the
was the stuffy heat that hit me the smell that overwhelm me and the cool
smell that overwhelm me and the cool
smell that overwhelm me and the cool bells ringing out and I waited and I
bells ringing out and I waited and I
bells ringing out and I waited and I waited nobody came back so I wandered on
waited nobody came back so I wandered on
waited nobody came back so I wandered on through to the lounge and that’s when I
through to the lounge and that’s when I
through to the lounge and that’s when I saw armchair after armchair of people
saw armchair after armchair of people
saw armchair after armchair of people sat in silence not doing anything the TV
sat in silence not doing anything the TV
sat in silence not doing anything the TV droning in the background a lady in
droning in the background a lady in
droning in the background a lady in uniform caught my eye and she said oh
uniform caught my eye and she said oh
uniform caught my eye and she said oh and could you just go and set up over
and could you just go and set up over
and could you just go and set up over there so if I wondered started unpacking
there so if I wondered started unpacking
there so if I wondered started unpacking my paints and then a lady wandered over
my paints and then a lady wandered over
my paints and then a lady wandered over and she said to me are you my mother and
and she said to me are you my mother and
and she said to me are you my mother and I looked and I thought oh she’s about 85
I looked and I thought oh she’s about 85
I looked and I thought oh she’s about 85 right so I thought well this is not a
right so I thought well this is not a
right so I thought well this is not a standard residential care home and it
standard residential care home and it
standard residential care home and it was later that night that i found out
was later that night that i found out
was later that night that i found out that emi stands for elderly and mentally
that emi stands for elderly and mentally
that emi stands for elderly and mentally infirm which frankly is as archaic as it
infirm which frankly is as archaic as it
infirm which frankly is as archaic as it sounds and it suggests that dementia has
sounds and it suggests that dementia has
sounds and it suggests that dementia has really been left in the dark ages so
really been left in the dark ages so
really been left in the dark ages so that afternoon as well as being thrown
that afternoon as well as being thrown
that afternoon as well as being thrown in at the deep end with people with
in at the deep end with people with
in at the deep end with people with dementia I watched well-meaning carers
dementia I watched well-meaning carers
dementia I watched well-meaning carers plunking down cups of tea in front of
plunking down cups of tea in front of
plunking down cups of tea in front of people that weren’t even aware they’d
people that weren’t even aware they’d
people that weren’t even aware they’d been put there now this is not about
been put there now this is not about
been put there now this is not about bashing care homes and it’s certainly
bashing care homes and it’s certainly
bashing care homes and it’s certainly not about bashing care home carers
not about bashing care home carers
not about bashing care home carers indeed they are the true heroes in this
indeed they are the true heroes in this
indeed they are the true heroes in this story because they do some of the
story because they do some of the
story because they do some of the hardest jobs in society on the lowest
hardest jobs in society on the lowest
hardest jobs in society on the lowest pay but what I realized was they were
pay but what I realized was they were
pay but what I realized was they were struggling to communicate with the
struggling to communicate with the
struggling to communicate with the people they were looking after they
people they were looking after they
people they were looking after they didn’t understand their needs how much
didn’t understand their needs how much
didn’t understand their needs how much easier and more fulfilling their jobs
easier and more fulfilling their jobs
easier and more fulfilling their jobs would be if only they could talk to them
would be if only they could talk to them
would be if only they could talk to them no wonder then that the staff turnover
no wonder then that the staff turnover
no wonder then that the staff turnover rate in care was running about
rate in care was running about
rate in care was running about twenty-five percent and I later found
twenty-five percent and I later found
twenty-five percent and I later found out that those carriers it only ever had
out that those carriers it only ever had
out that those carriers it only ever had one hours dementia training so I went
one hours dementia training so I went
one hours dementia training so I went home that night and I googled and I
home that night and I googled and I
home that night and I googled and I googled and I googled I didn’t sleep for
googled and I googled I didn’t sleep for
googled and I googled I didn’t sleep for about three days I wanted to learn
about three days I wanted to learn
about three days I wanted to learn everything why was it like this was this
everything why was it like this was this
everything why was it like this was this it will be all working so hard all our
it will be all working so hard all our
it will be all working so hard all our lives to end up living somewhere like
lives to end up living somewhere like
lives to end up living somewhere like this it occurred to me I could put my
this it occurred to me I could put my
this it occurred to me I could put my dog in kennels and I’d cause a riot if
dog in kennels and I’d cause a riot if
dog in kennels and I’d cause a riot if it didn’t get walked at least once a day
it didn’t get walked at least once a day
it didn’t get walked at least once a day but you could put my nan in a care home
but you could put my nan in a care home
but you could put my nan in a care home and it’s entirely possible she would
and it’s entirely possible she would
and it’s entirely possible she would never step outside again this struck me
never step outside again this struck me
never step outside again this struck me as wrong so I knew I had to do something
as wrong so I knew I had to do something
as wrong so I knew I had to do something and that’s when I started the wheels in
and that’s when I started the wheels in
and that’s when I started the wheels in motion to create my social enterprise
motion to create my social enterprise
motion to create my social enterprise engaging create and we have one clear
engaging create and we have one clear
engaging create and we have one clear social mission to transform quality of
social mission to transform quality of
social mission to transform quality of life for people living with dementia and
life for people living with dementia and
life for people living with dementia and those that care for them so for many
those that care for them so for many
those that care for them so for many years I worked in media in London big
years I worked in media in London big
years I worked in media in London big media organizations TV organizations
media organizations TV organizations
media organizations TV organizations advertising and it was fun but I didn’t
advertising and it was fun but I didn’t
advertising and it was fun but I didn’t really feel like maybe it was the right
really feel like maybe it was the right
really feel like maybe it was the right career for me my suspicions were
career for me my suspicions were
career for me my suspicions were confirmed one night when I got an email
confirmed one night when I got an email
confirmed one night when I got an email from my boss at the time and she said
from my boss at the time and she said
from my boss at the time and she said rather panic Rachel I need you to spend
rather panic Rachel I need you to spend
rather panic Rachel I need you to spend 10,000 pounds by the end of the week
10,000 pounds by the end of the week
10,000 pounds by the end of the week otherwise I’m worried we’re not going to
otherwise I’m worried we’re not going to
otherwise I’m worried we’re not going to get that bit of budget back right what
get that bit of budget back right what
get that bit of budget back right what exactly do you want me to spend 10,000
exactly do you want me to spend 10,000
exactly do you want me to spend 10,000 pounds on oh well just champagne that
pounds on oh well just champagne that
pounds on oh well just champagne that will do it will store it okay um that’s
will do it will store it okay um that’s
will do it will store it okay um that’s when it hit me I felt sick suddenly all
when it hit me I felt sick suddenly all
when it hit me I felt sick suddenly all those charity ads you see on TV flashed
those charity ads you see on TV flashed
those charity ads you see on TV flashed before my eyes how many people’s lives
before my eyes how many people’s lives
before my eyes how many people’s lives we could change if we actually
we could change if we actually
we could change if we actually and that money wisely I knew it was time
and that money wisely I knew it was time
and that money wisely I knew it was time for a career change and 28 years old I
for a career change and 28 years old I
for a career change and 28 years old I had a rather premature midlife crisis so
had a rather premature midlife crisis so
had a rather premature midlife crisis so I did what everybody does in a crisis I
I did what everybody does in a crisis I
I did what everybody does in a crisis I went backpacking and along the way
went backpacking and along the way
went backpacking and along the way rediscovered a bit about myself so I
rediscovered a bit about myself so I
rediscovered a bit about myself so I retrained as a Montessori teacher I
retrained as a Montessori teacher I
retrained as a Montessori teacher I rediscovered my passion for painting and
rediscovered my passion for painting and
rediscovered my passion for painting and I took up a psychology degree all of
I took up a psychology degree all of
I took up a psychology degree all of which was really interesting but every
which was really interesting but every
which was really interesting but every time I did something I felt yes not what
time I did something I felt yes not what
time I did something I felt yes not what I want to do in my life but that moment
I want to do in my life but that moment
I want to do in my life but that moment in the care home that’s what I need my
in the care home that’s what I need my
in the care home that’s what I need my purpose I will say though all those
purpose I will say though all those
purpose I will say though all those wrong turns were really helpful all of
wrong turns were really helpful all of
wrong turns were really helpful all of those things i did have come together to
those things i did have come together to
those things i did have come together to fuel what I do today so take the
fuel what I do today so take the
fuel what I do today so take the Montessori training we learn how we
Montessori training we learn how we
Montessori training we learn how we should focus on what people can do not
should focus on what people can do not
should focus on what people can do not on what they can’t do we learn about how
on what they can’t do we learn about how
on what they can’t do we learn about how the environment can help or hinder
the environment can help or hinder
the environment can help or hinder people when they’re doing daily tasks in
people when they’re doing daily tasks in
people when they’re doing daily tasks in advertising we would never launch a
advertising we would never launch a
advertising we would never launch a product or service until we’ve done a
product or service until we’ve done a
product or service until we’ve done a focus group get the opinions of the
focus group get the opinions of the
focus group get the opinions of the people that are going to be using it and
people that are going to be using it and
people that are going to be using it and yet here i was going back time after
yet here i was going back time after
yet here i was going back time after time to places that seemed to work
time to places that seemed to work
time to places that seemed to work against the very people they’re meant to
against the very people they’re meant to
against the very people they’re meant to be helping let alone asking the opinions
be helping let alone asking the opinions
be helping let alone asking the opinions of those living and working there as how
of those living and working there as how
of those living and working there as how they want it to be but i did go back day
they want it to be but i did go back day
they want it to be but i did go back day centres care homes i was there to teach
centres care homes i was there to teach
centres care homes i was there to teach painting but in reality very little
painting but in reality very little
painting but in reality very little painting happened people wanted to talk
painting happened people wanted to talk
painting happened people wanted to talk sometimes I understood often I didn’t
sometimes I understood often I didn’t
sometimes I understood often I didn’t but here was someone sitting willing to
but here was someone sitting willing to
but here was someone sitting willing to be part of their reality trying to
be part of their reality trying to
be part of their reality trying to connect but what could I use to engage
connect but what could I use to engage
connect but what could I use to engage everybody so I tried lots of different
everybody so I tried lots of different
everybody so I tried lots of different things and I failed at lots of different
things and I failed at lots of different
things and I failed at lots of different things but after hundreds of hours of
things but after hundreds of hours of
things but after hundreds of hours of asking observing listening I finally had
asking observing listening I finally had
asking observing listening I finally had a program they could spark conversation
a program they could spark conversation
a program they could spark conversation with even those that had communication
with even those that had communication
with even those that had communication problems it wasn’t painting but it was
problems it wasn’t painting but it was
problems it wasn’t painting but it was using historic paintings to spark
using historic paintings to spark
using historic paintings to spark conversations
conversations
conversations so by combining artworks and a clear
so by combining artworks and a clear
so by combining artworks and a clear structure of questions I found I was
structure of questions I found I was
structure of questions I found I was able to guide people through a
able to guide people through a
able to guide people through a conversation so it’s a bit like having a
conversation so it’s a bit like having a
conversation so it’s a bit like having a map so the great thing about art is that
map so the great thing about art is that
map so the great thing about art is that there’s no right and wrong we all have a
there’s no right and wrong we all have a
there’s no right and wrong we all have a different response to artworks dementia
different response to artworks dementia
different response to artworks dementia or no dementia by looking at a painting
or no dementia by looking at a painting
or no dementia by looking at a painting in front of us we could focus on the
in front of us we could focus on the
in front of us we could focus on the response not on something a lot of
response not on something a lot of
response not on something a lot of people with dementia struggle with
people with dementia struggle with
people with dementia struggle with memory sure people often told stories
memory sure people often told stories
memory sure people often told stories but if they didn’t want to tell stories
but if they didn’t want to tell stories
but if they didn’t want to tell stories or they couldn’t remember there was no
or they couldn’t remember there was no
or they couldn’t remember there was no pressure they could just tell the story
pressure they could just tell the story
pressure they could just tell the story in unpicked the story in the painting it
in unpicked the story in the painting it
in unpicked the story in the painting it was perfect people’s anxiety levels drop
was perfect people’s anxiety levels drop
was perfect people’s anxiety levels drop and conversation started to flow I mean
and conversation started to flow I mean
and conversation started to flow I mean if it had a broken leg I wouldn’t have
if it had a broken leg I wouldn’t have
if it had a broken leg I wouldn’t have asked them to hop on it would I so it
asked them to hop on it would I so it
asked them to hop on it would I so it seemed perfect to me that here we were
seemed perfect to me that here we were
seemed perfect to me that here we were in the moment it was like a master class
in the moment it was like a master class
in the moment it was like a master class in mindfulness so it’s like a journey of
in mindfulness so it’s like a journey of
in mindfulness so it’s like a journey of discovery take George for example i went
discovery take George for example i went
discovery take George for example i went to a care home one afternoon and I saw
to a care home one afternoon and I saw
to a care home one afternoon and I saw George and he was in the reception and
George and he was in the reception and
George and he was in the reception and he was trying every single door trying
he was trying every single door trying
he was trying every single door trying to get out he was really distressed so I
to get out he was really distressed so I
to get out he was really distressed so I invited him to come and sit down with me
invited him to come and sit down with me
invited him to come and sit down with me to explore some art with the group and
to explore some art with the group and
to explore some art with the group and he looks a bit hesitant but then came
he looks a bit hesitant but then came
he looks a bit hesitant but then came over and I put this painting up on the
over and I put this painting up on the
over and I put this painting up on the screen and immediately George SAT up and
screen and immediately George SAT up and
screen and immediately George SAT up and he said oh well I’ll tell you what you
he said oh well I’ll tell you what you
he said oh well I’ll tell you what you got there that cloud of smoke that’s
got there that cloud of smoke that’s
got there that cloud of smoke that’s where the steam trains just gone into
where the steam trains just gone into
where the steam trains just gone into the station he was right in one so he
the station he was right in one so he
the station he was right in one so he then went on to tell us about his life
then went on to tell us about his life
then went on to tell us about his life as a steam train driver in Devon the
as a steam train driver in Devon the
as a steam train driver in Devon the carers around had their mouths wide open
carers around had their mouths wide open
carers around had their mouths wide open they didn’t know this about George they
they didn’t know this about George they
they didn’t know this about George they hadn’t known anything about his life and
hadn’t known anything about his life and
hadn’t known anything about his life and not only that now his anxiety had
not only that now his anxiety had
not only that now his anxiety had dropped and he was being part of a group
dropped and he was being part of a group
dropped and he was being part of a group having social interaction then it was
having social interaction then it was
having social interaction then it was Margaret and the Margaret had no words
Margaret and the Margaret had no words
Margaret and the Margaret had no words she’s come and sit and look at the art
she’s come and sit and look at the art
she’s come and sit and look at the art and smile and nod but she never said
and smile and nod but she never said
and smile and nod but she never said anything
anything
anything until I showed her this piece it was
until I showed her this piece it was
until I showed her this piece it was right at the end of a long session and I
right at the end of a long session and I
right at the end of a long session and I said to her Margaret when you look at
said to her Margaret when you look at
said to her Margaret when you look at this painting how does it make you feel
this painting how does it make you feel
this painting how does it make you feel and she looked me straight in the eyes
and she looked me straight in the eyes
and she looked me straight in the eyes SAT up and said when I look at that
SAT up and said when I look at that
SAT up and said when I look at that piece the mood and the color move right
piece the mood and the color move right
piece the mood and the color move right through me so since we launched ignite
through me so since we launched ignite
through me so since we launched ignite at the end of last year they’ve been
at the end of last year they’ve been
at the end of last year they’ve been over 150 sessions done that’s a thousand
over 150 sessions done that’s a thousand
over 150 sessions done that’s a thousand interactions really with people with
interactions really with people with
interactions really with people with dementia which is great but you heard
dementia which is great but you heard
dementia which is great but you heard the numbers it’s not enough so I’m
the numbers it’s not enough so I’m
the numbers it’s not enough so I’m determined to start spreading this so
determined to start spreading this so
determined to start spreading this so that we can have more joyful connections
that we can have more joyful connections
that we can have more joyful connections memory or no memory and as I said the
memory or no memory and as I said the
memory or no memory and as I said the true here is the story of the carers so
true here is the story of the carers so
true here is the story of the carers so we’re going to train these people to be
we’re going to train these people to be
we’re going to train these people to be able to Phyllis facilitate sessions
able to Phyllis facilitate sessions
able to Phyllis facilitate sessions themselves because it’s really important
themselves because it’s really important
themselves because it’s really important that they can create conversations
that they can create conversations
that they can create conversations throughout the day last month we move my
throughout the day last month we move my
throughout the day last month we move my name into a care home so I’m more
name into a care home so I’m more
name into a care home so I’m more determined than ever to help reshape the
determined than ever to help reshape the
determined than ever to help reshape the way that we deliver care I don’t want
way that we deliver care I don’t want
way that we deliver care I don’t want her to become another invisible person
her to become another invisible person
her to become another invisible person sat in an armchair dementia is
sat in an armchair dementia is
sat in an armchair dementia is challenging it can feel like it’s
challenging it can feel like it’s
challenging it can feel like it’s stripping people of their identities but
stripping people of their identities but
stripping people of their identities but what if we could turn that around even
what if we could turn that around even
what if we could turn that around even for a few moments I think we need to get
for a few moments I think we need to get
for a few moments I think we need to get away from this them and us because you
away from this them and us because you
away from this them and us because you know what they are us in years to come
know what they are us in years to come
know what they are us in years to come thank you
”
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