FLOWER ARRANGING ACTIVITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA

In May 2014, we set up a community enterprise taking flower arranging activities to residential care homes and day centres for people with dementia and Alzheimers as flower arranging can benefit this group of people in many ways: It serves as a group activity. It is a relaxed, enjoyable activity which involves both mental and physical aspects as well as hand/eye coordination. It involves the sense of smell and touch so is a sensory experience. Helps to keep the brain working in pattern recognition, prediction and comparison. It is a pleasurable experience.  Participants create a beautiful floral arrangement which they can keep so gaining a sense of achievement. The activity has proved to be a great success and we are taking on new clients weekly, plus those we have already visited are inviting us back again and again.   The people with dementia have really engaged with the activity and for many the touch and smell of flowers has kindled happy memories of the past. It is a joy to see the delight the activity brings as the activity is a welcome break from the day to day routine, which enhances their mental health and social wellbeing.  People with dementia can become apathetic and uninterested in their usual activities, however, we have been told by care managers how the residents look forward to our visits and ask when we are returning, so we are being asked back time and again. What we have also found is that when working with people with Alzheimers, the family and carers are amazed when they see their loved ones engaging in an activity and creating something which they can take away and talk about over the coming days.   Although the government is supporting Alzheimers research, we have found that residential care homes and day centres struggle to gain funding to support activities for people with dementia. Some homes and day centres we have contacted would love to book the activity but just don't have the funds to support it, which is sad for the people with dementia as they are missing out on a very enjoyable activity.  So, to support our community activity we need help with funding to help us continue to support people with dementia and Alzheimers with an enjoyable and beneficial activity. The cost to take the flower arranging activity into a care home or day centre is £3.00 per person to cover the cost of the equipment and flowers, plus £20.00 per hour to cover costs.  We find that we can work with 8 to 9 people with dementia for an hour creating fresh flower arrangements which they keep, this also includes a short flower arranging demonstration.  We also take along woven and plaited leaves and roses made from leaves, which they are all amazed at and really love to see and feel.  We then leave the arrangement made during the demonstration with the centre as a "thank you for inviting us".  We don't charge for the flowers on the first visit, or the flowers for the demonstration so need funding to support this. £3.00 would pay for the equipment and flowers for one person with dementia to create a flower arrangement.  £20.00 would cover costs.  £57.00 would cover all the costs for an hours flower arranging activity for 9 people. We would be extremely grateful for any donation to support this activity.  Should you be able to help our project, you will have contributed more than just money for flowers and equipment.  The result of your donation means that more people with dementia can engage in this activity, which in turn also benefits their family and carers as they can see their loved ones enjoying the activity. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Flowers From The Heart