Dementia Activities

Cuppa Club is a friendly social group for people living with dementia, their family, and their carers.
Join us for refreshments and a chat every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m at Howdon Hub, Denbigh Ave, Howdon, Wallsend, NE28 0PP.

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To find out more, call us on 0191 287 7014 or email enquiries@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk

Life Story work is an activity in which the person with dementia is supported by family members or staff close to them to gather and review their past life events and build a personal biography. It is used to help the person understand their past experiences and how they have coped with events in their life, which can help to improve quality of life when they can no longer tell us this information.

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For further information contact us on 0191 2808484 option 1

Singalong Memories is a stimulating and enjoyable activity for people living with dementia and their families. You’ll be able to meet others in a friendly, relaxed environment and join in with a variety of songs.

When: Every Monday from 2pm to 3.30pm

Where: St Columba’s Church, North Shields, NE30 1PW

The cost is only £2.60 per person and includes refreshments.

To find out more, please call the Dementia Connections team on 0191 287 7014.

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During these difficult times, why not join one of our virtual carers’ peer support groups to share your experiences and build up friendships with others. The groups are led by our Dementia Connections Admiral Nurses and we meet via Zoom each week. (This is an App that is easy to use either on a smart phone, lap top or ipad.) 

We meet:

• Every Monday between 2pm and 3pm.
• Every Tuesday between 12.30 and 1.30pm.
• Every Thursday between 1pm and 2pm

We also have a bereavement support group on Mondays from 12:30 to 1:30pm.

Tel 0191 2877014 or email customer.services@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk for further details or to express an interest in taking part.

Transitions to Care group
Join us for a virtual support group to share experiences of those you care for, when they first go into residential care.

This is a very difficult time for someone who has been in a caring role. Often people feel guilty and think they should have done more to prevent it, or even feel bad because it can feel a relief! It is difficult to come to terms with the situation and it sometimes helps to talk to others who have experienced the same thing.

The group meets once a week for an hour, virtually at the moment, with the possibility of meeting face to face in the future. If you are interested in joining please ring the Dementia Connections service (0191 2877014) and they will call you back.

Our Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (MCST) programme is delivered over 10 weeks via weekly one to two-hour sessions on Zoom.
The cost per session is £4.50.

The sessions are anticipated to start in January 2021. For further details please contact Dementia Connections on Tel: 0191 2877014.

More details in our News section

Dancing for the Brain at Wallsend Memorial Hall. For people living with Dementia and Carers, relax, dance, socialise.

• Carer support and advice available
• FREE entry!
• Between 1pm and 3pm, refreshments provided
• Every Thursday commencing 20th May 2021
• Freestyle dancing Rock ‘n’ Roll, Motown, The Beatles and more, it’s your choice
• To book a place call Lesley 07988901434

Other lockdown-easing activities at the Mem

What is a Meeting Centre?

Meeting Centres are a local resource, operating out of ordinary community buildings, providing warm and friendly expert support to people living at home with dementia and their families and friends. At the heart of the Meeting Centre is a social club where people can meet to have fun, talk to others, and get great help that focusses on what makes life great.

Where did Meeting Centres begin?

They were first developed in the Netherlands approximately 25 years ago. Currently, there are 150 Dutch centres with a national network that groups can utilise. International and UK research shows that Meeting Centres have positive outcomes for people with dementia and for family carers using the Adaptation-Coping model put forward by Professor Rose-Marie Dröes in 1991.

What’s the evidence?

The evidence shows that people attending Meeting Centres experience better self-esteem, greater feelings of happiness and sense of belonging. There was also evidence that there were fewer of the more distressing symptoms of dementia and a greater feeling of support. Family carers experience less burden, feeling better able to cope. People with dementia and carers reported high levels of satisfaction with the programme, seeing it as an important way of keeping active and feeling supported.

Adjusting to change

A diagnosis of dementia is a huge challenge to come to terms with, both for the person receiving the diagnosis but also their loved ones. If people make good emotional, social and practical adjustment to dementia following diagnosis, then it is likely that they will experience fewer distressing symptoms later and will be able to live at home for longer with a better quality of life for them and their families. Meeting Centres are a way of providing accessible support on a local level to act against this.

What goes on in a Meeting Centre?

A team of staff and volunteers trained in the Meeting Centre ethos provide an enjoyable and flexible programme for both the person with dementia and their family carers.

Who is eligible to join?

Residents of North Tyneside who have a diagnosis of dementia or any other cognitive impairment, alongside a family member or carer.

How much does it cost?

£70 per month (total for both member and family or carer)

Where is it?

• West Moor Community Centre, Benton Lane, NE12 7NP (Tuesdays, 10am to 3pm)
• Howdon Community Hub, Denbigh Avenue, NE28 0PP (Thursdays, 10am to 3pm)

Interested in joining one of our Meeting Centres?

Please call us on 0191 287 7014 or email  enquiries@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk.

Find out more on our news pages.

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