A member of the Live Simply team welcomed Sister Moira to St. George’s.

The presentation was both engaging and educational. It began by explaining what dementia is, the different types (such as Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, fronto-temporal dementia) and its symptoms.  We learnt how dementia can effect different parts of the brain which means people can behave differently.                                                                     

Part of the presentation was devoted to dispelling common myths and misconceptions about dementia.  This included clarifying that dementia is not just about losing your memory, it can also affect people’s perception.  An example was given: A dark mat at a doorway may look like a black hole to someone with dementia, causing distress and reluctance to step forward if they cannot communicate their feelings.

Those present took part in a light hearted ‘Dementia Friends Bingo’ activity.  Each participant received a bingo card featuring common words, phrases, or facts related to dementia.  As the presentation progressed, participants marked off items on their cards when they were mentioned or discussed, encouraging active listening and reinforcing key learning points. 

The five key learning points from the game of bingo were:

1. Dementia is not a natural part of aging.

2. Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain.

3. Dementia is not just about losing your memory.

4. It is possible to live well with dementia.

5. There is more to the person than the dementia.

Attendees listening to Sister Moira give the Dementia Friends Presentation

Sister Moira then used a bookcase analogy to help explain the impact of dementia on memory and behaviour. Imagine your brain as a bookcase filled with books, where each book represents a different type of memory. The shelves at the bottom hold our oldest, strongest memories—childhood experiences, family traditions—while the upper shelves contain more recent memories, such as what you had for breakfast or the name of someone you just met.  Dementia affects the bookcase by shaking it, causing the books on the upper shelves (recent memories) to fall out more easily, while those on the lower shelves (older memories) remain more stable. This analogy helps to illustrate why someone living with dementia may forget recent events but still recall stories from their youth. It also emphasises that when memory loss occurs, it is not a choice, and patience and understanding are essential when communicating with someone affected by dementia.

You may think a person with dementia loses everything, but this is not the case.  Sister Moira continued with the bookcase analogy.  Imagine the side of the brain managing factual and biographical data such as faces, names, dates etc in terms of a bookcase made of plywood and poorly constructed.  It is not very resistant to dementia, it moves a lot, and books fall out easily. However there is another side of the brain, which we were asked to picture as a separate bookcase, that manages feelings and emotions.  This bookcase is made of solid oak and is very sturdy, it is more resistant to dementia so the contents will be safe from dementia for longer.

Sister Moira then used personal stories to illustrate the bookcase analogy.  One was a negative example of a daughter visiting her mother for a cup of tea and getting exasperated and arguing with her mother.  The mother may not remember the argument or even the daughters visit but the feelings of sadness, upset and anger will remain.  We then heard a positive example of a daughter taking her mother out for a lovely day at the seaside.  By the time they returned home the mother may have forgotten the whole day, but the feelings of love, happiness and comfort will remain.  This is why we are always encouraged to keep visiting people we know with dementia, they may not remember that we visited but the positive feelings of our visit will remain long after we have gone home.

The final exercise was for each attendee to write on a piece of paper the steps involved in making a cup of tea.  We all provided different numbers of steps and in different orders!  During discussions we realised that there are a lot more steps to making a cup of tea if we really break it down.  For someone living with dementia, the sequence of steps—boiling the kettle, adding the tea bag, pouring the water, and so on—may become confusing or disrupted, especially if recent memories or learned habits are affected. This means that people living with dementia may struggle with everyday tasks such as making a cup of tea.  By using this relatable scenario, we were encouraged to show greater patience and support. For example, rather than taking over, it can be more helpful to gently prompt or assist with each step, ensuring that the person with dementia still feels involved and valued. The cup of tea analogy serves as a reminder that small acts of understanding and kindness can make a big difference for those living with dementia, reinforcing the importance of empathy and practical support in everyday situations.

Sister Moira concluded the presentation by stating that by attending this information session we are now considered Dementia Friends.  We were presented with a Dementia Friend badge.
Sister Moira was thanked for her excellent presentation and presented with a donation of £200 for the Irenaeus foodbank and over 100 coats for their Warm Coat Appeal, helping vulnerable people this winter.          

With thanks to the parishioners of Saint George’s for their generous support of Irenaeus and the work they do in our local community.

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