The Happiness Cafes

Provide engaging, fun and stimulating activities for those with Alzheimers and Dementia

https://www.facebook.com/happinesscafes/

Our sessions typically revolve around the following themes -

Music – Provides comfort and can both soothe and stimulate people and elicit powerful emotional responses and reconnect them with memories.

Reminiscence, memory boxes & ‘my story’ boards - stimulating activities that leaves our service users in high spirits, providing that freedom from concern that in turn lessens the effects of depression, anxiety and irritability. Recalling childhood memories and happier times is hugely advantageous.

Painting, Crafting, Clay Model Making - Helps people create significance and give an insight to their thoughts in a non-verbal way

Mindfulness - improves health & well-being

Poetry – Stimulates creativity and happiness

Chair/Gentle Exercises – Improves self-sufficiency, self-confidence and cognition, builds or maintains muscle, strength and balance, helping those with dementia maintain their independence for longer. Also, it can help regulate their sleep and prevent restlessness and sleeplessness in the evening

Willow (a pup that visits) - Pets have been shown to relieve stress and symptoms of depression and anxiety whilst also providing a sensory experience. Pet therapy can help lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce the stress hormone cortisol, and boost serotonin. We have some videos here, here and here an outing here and activity/info photos here.