Decision details

Train to Reminisce - The project will design a reminiscence-training programme with defined course objectives, outcomes, and content and delivery methods for use by volunteers working with lonely elderly clients. To support the training, the project will develop training resources (manuals, DVDs) and provide props. The Councillor grant will be used to purchase training equipment.

Loneliness significantly affects the health and wellbeing of the elderly, hence the main beneficiaries are older people aged 55+ who are clients of care settings, dementia cafes and community groups.

The main objective of the funding is to enhance delivery of the reminiscence service in the New Romney Marsh area through the provision of training and resources for community groups, dementia cafes, and volunteers and care setting staff so they can deliver reminiscence sessions to older clients.

The skills gained and the resources will enable staff and volunteers to offer enjoyable reminiscence sessions with good content, props, musical aids and activities that stimulate clients. We will develop a training course kitted with teaching resources including, guides, workbooks and DVDs to support community groups, dementia café’s to set-up their own reminiscence programmes.

The project is a pilot; the evaluation will provide valuable feedback for improving the course offer and for scaling-up.

The number of people currently accessing the service is 450. The project target is to train 30 volunteers so we can double the number of beneficiaries; the training will be particularly useful to community groups and care settings supporting people living with dementia.

DECISION:

To provide funding of £500 to the above project.

Reason for decision:

The demography in the Romney Marsh area is skewed towards older people (30%). The area has pockets of deprivation and inequality along the coast. Older people are more likely to experience deteriorating health; dementia is also on the increase. The closure of traditional meeting points such as banks, post office and libraries, compounded by limited access to transport and broadband services all contribute to older people feeling isolated from social interaction.

CARM has been providing befriending services to the older population in Romney Marsh since 1997. The reminiscence service was introduced 10 years ago in Meeting Points (drop-in coffee mornings) and care settings. Clients and volunteers recognise the important and intrinsic value group reminiscence can have in retaining a sense of self, aiding well-being and facilitating friendships.

CARM is currently offering reminiscence session in 9 settings. Due to the labour intensiveness of running reminiscence sessions, CARM staff cannot be present in every community group, dementia café or care setting; we are working at full capacity and yet have unmet demand as we are not able to respond to requests to help set-up from other groups. Training more volunteers to set-up and run their own reminiscence service promotes scaling-up in a cost-effective and sustainable way.