Members of a support group for people with young onset dementia enjoyed afternoon tea at a five-star hotel with a star of an Oscar-winning film based on their condition.
Bromley, Lewisham & Greenwich Mind’s young onset dementia activist group (YODA) met with Mark Gatiss, who recently appeared in The Father, alongside Anthony Hopkins.
The acclaimed actor, writer and producer became involved through his cousin, Sue, who is a member of YODA.
In his speech at The Langham hotel, Gatiss said it was a “great honour” to support Sue and the other YODA members, and paid tribute to his father, Maurice, who sadly died with dementia earlier this year.
Charlotte Fletcher, Head of Development at BLG Mind, said: “The Langham laid out a stunning room for us. It was so beautifully done, it felt like we were at a wedding.
“There was such positive energy and feelgood factor in the room. Group members shared personal stories of their dementia journeys. They talked about how the group has changed their life; that they feel like they have a new family.”
Young onset dementia is defined as dementia diagnosed in people under the age of 65.
Black cab drivers waived fares to transport the group in a fleet of cabs to and from London’s prestigious Langham hotel, which provided a complementary room and afternoon meal.
The event was organised by Bromley Dementia Services Manager Saira Addison to celebrate the end of BLG Mind’s eight-week long YODA pilot project, which was part-funded by City, University of London.
The YODA pilot came about when Caroline Sipos, Business Development Manager at City, approached BLG Mind after spotting the MindCare Dementia Centre in Beckenham on her daily bus commute.
Caroline, together with City University’s Dr Trudi Edginton, a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer, met with BLG Mind staff Saira Addison, Christine Gallagher and Charlotte Fletcher to discuss how the university could support a project for people with dementia.
Saira suggested a service aimed at younger people affected by the condition.
The YODA pilot was open to everyone living with the condition and their carers in the boroughs of Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich.
The group decided what shape the pilot would take and the kind of activities they would like to do, meeting weekly, supporting each other and sharing experiences together.
Activities included Brazilian dancing, mindfulness and poetry and, for carers, a wellbeing training session.
The group also contributed to a leaflet giving tips on living with young onset dementia being created by psychology students at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.
While the YODA pilot may have ended, BLG Mind is committed to providing ongoing support for people with young onset dementia via a new peer support group, the formation of which was announced at the event.
Saira said: "It’s a memory the head may forget but the heart will cherish. Although we are celebrating the end of the pilot, it is also the beginning of a new adventure: the YODA peer support group."
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