When words escape us …
Hello and welcome to my brand-new shiny newsletter!
Here’s what’s on my lovelies …
#stuffoflife
Upcoming courses
Touchpoints of Connection – a poem
Let’s go outside
#stuffoflife
As you know I’m passionate about using therapeutic touch toimprove the quality of life and wellbeing with people living with dementia. When we consider a person’s holistic health though, we also need to think about their wider health borne from connections with other people and their environment. It is well documented that connection and environment can contributetowards wellbeing or illbeing.
Sadly, I see too many homes, notably residential establishments where the over medicalisation of people’s care means that environments have become clinical, spartan, uninspiring, cold or downright dismal. This may be because itneeds to be a space where cross infection risks are reduced and the task is made easier for staff to clean the area. It’s not just an area though, it should be home. Making a place easy to clean and maintain can come at the costof a homely place where you feel safe and nurtured and this in turn negatively impacts health.
A clean space can still have warmth and nurture a sense of belonging (my bathroom is both clean and a place to have a relaxing soak).Coombe House in Cornwall know this and cultivate the magical sense of being at home for everyone. If you feel truly at home you are less likely to go into fight/flight/freeze mode which means less panic, stress and ill health which is communicated through behaviour. You are more likely to feel relaxed and engage your brain more effectively, feel less depressed and part of a community or family if you feel at home, being expressed through behaviour that manifests as content, feeling safe, feeling equal and included. It is no surprise that Coombe House are proud to herald the motto, “there is no them and us” as testament to their commitment to equality and dignity in a homely environment. You can findout more about them here:
Forget everything you think you know about care homes…Coombe House Is Different! – Coombe House is different (coombe-house.org.uk)
Anyway, I’ve been running a wee campaign on the #stuffoflifeand #homemakers on social media for the past few months which I hope prompts people to make positive changes to the homes they work in, or the place wheretheir loved one lives helping build a context of belonging for the person living with dementia. After all, when words escape us or we don’t recognise the person in the room with us, sometimes it’s what surrounds us that gives us those touchpoints of connection to feel safe and at home. To explore this more have a wee read of my blog by clicking on the button below, oh and do feel freeto follow me on social media.
Upcoming Courses
Massaging Persons Living with Dementia – Friday 18th October in Cornwall – all welcome from a carers wishing to connect withoutwords to therapists wishing to specialise or refresh dementia aware approaches
**NEW!** Aromatherapy for Persons Living with Dementia –Saturday 19th October Cornwall – for qualified or qualifying aromatherapists who wish to explore the art and science of using essential oils to improve health outcomes for people living with dementia. (I’m very excited about this brand new course and can’t wait to start facilitating it – it’sgoing to be sharey, evidency and fun!)
Massaging Persons Living with Dementia – Friday 1st November in London – all welcome from a carers wishing to connect without words to therapists wishing to specialise or refresh dementia aware approaches
Click on the button above to learn more or book your place
Oh, and remember if you’ve attended my Massaging Persons Living with Dementia course before you can attend the same course or the advanced 2 day version for half price to refresh or upgrade your skills.
Touchpoints of Connection – a poem
Faded photo of my darling tot
Brandishing her oversized handbag aloft
In salute across the room to
A canvas of mini handprints in cahoots
Touch points of connection
To the wee girl I miss
Bittersweet memories
Of heart-burst bliss
Cat curled around herself
On the squeaky uneasy chair
Draped in soft wool
And strewn with her hair
Her comforting chirps
Warm a quiet space
Reminding me we belong in this place
A deep dark blue painting:
A dolphin ghosting through drift nets
“Not today” he smiles
My love’s artistic flair bound by wood and hardset
Touchpoints of connection to our creativity
Extensions of ourselves
Softening, filling, moulding
Our little legacy
Green twirling jasmin tendrils
Cuttings of love on windowsills
Overflowing patios
Abuzz with wings & a-fluff with trills
Gifted little trinkets adorning our story
Cushions of comfort supporting books and snores
A patchwork of our love represented
Through our stuff of life in all its glorious flaws.
Nicolle Mitchell
Let’s go outside
… and finally in the spirit of enjoying our environment going outside is so crucial for our wellbeing. Debbie Carroll of https://stepchange-design.co.uk/ knows this and has conducted research, written a book and provides great resources to inspire people to create enabling and stimulating outdoor spaces forpeople living with dementia. Check out her wonderful website for inspiration.
Imagine my delight when after 17months of living in her residential home mum finally got to enjoy this amazing view. It was challenge, which meant overcoming resistance and barriers from many quarters and more than a few tears had been shed getting to here. Swaddled in blankets to protect her from the sea breeze mum was so engaged and full of wonder. It was a beautiful half hour.
Here’s to more joy and wonder, warmest wishes, Nicolle 🧡