Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support (BIADS) have organised and run taster sessions for people with dementia, who are using services on inpatient wards and in the community, their carers and staff, which explore creative activities and the impact these can have on mental and physical wellbeing.
Sessions were developed to take account of participants needs and the activities that they would like to do. This allowed a range of activities to be tried during the sessions including dance, singing and physical activities such as jabadao, which are run in partnership with the mental health physiotherapy team.
The sessions offer participants the opportunity to explore the benefits of taking part in creative activities, find out more about activities available in the community and enjoy social interaction.
The sessions also give carers the opportunity to connect with other networks and carers in their local community, which supports them to maintain their own wellbeing.