Alive recently ran the first session of the latest project to be conjured up from the brains of their gardening team – growing hop plants in care home gardens with which to make a unique green hopped beer.

We’ve been growing hops in our community gardens for several years now. One of the participants at our Lawrence Weston Community Garden initially proposed the idea. The group had been discussing what they’d like to grow in the coming season, and G quipped: “I’d like to grow beer”. Little did he know that one of the team already grew hops alongside the East Bristol Hops Collective – a group of over 100 gardeners and allotment holders across Bristol who supply Dawkins Brewery with freshly picked hops at the end of the growing season. Before he knew it, a hop plant was being grown at Blaise Weston Court, which hosts our Lawrence Weston Community Garden.

A former colleague suggested we take the idea into care homes. This year we’re piloting the proposal with Deerhurst Care Home, and the hops will join those grown by East Bristol Hops Collective. The following year we’re hoping to collaborate with a local brewery to make a beer containing hops solely grown by care home residents.

The first session at Deerhurst Care Home introduced the project via a reminiscence and sensory session. We took photos of hop picking in Kent, the old Courage brewery in Bristol and scenes from inside pubs to stimulate conversation. We also had objects for people to touch and play with – dimple glasses, bottle openers, beer mats – and sang drinking songs together. We smelt and ran our hands through dried hops and sampled locally brewed beer!

There was much laughter during the session, and we discovered many people who had a connection to beer and gardening. One man used to grow hops in his garden, and another spoke enthusiastically about St Austell Brewery. There was lots of engagement throughout, and we can’t wait to return.

Once brewed, the beer will go on sale in local pubs, helping to raise awareness of dementia and to challenge stereotypes around old age, care homes and activity provision for those living with dementia. We’re also excited to be starting a project accessible to male residents who are often under-represented in activity provision. And, of course, the project will also tap into all the benefits of gardening – getting people outdoors, connecting them to nature, providing multisensory stimulation, giving people physical exercise and improving their mental well-being.

Academics from Bristol University will be with us for the journey, exploring some of the above issues. So expect to hear a lot more about The Hoppiness Project very soon!

Guy Manchester, Community Allotment Project Officer

Hear from Winsome, our South Gloucestershire Meeting Centre Manager, about the group’s recent trip to Bristol Aerospace.

Last Tuesday, our Thursday group visited Concorde as part of our Cultural & Historical trip. It was a windy, cold day with some light rain showers, but it didn’t matter too much as we were planning to soak up the sights of the museum.

Our itinerary for the day included a peek inside the mighty Concorde and tour of the conservation hanger, but first: coffee! For two of the carers in our party, the trip held a special place in their lives with both having worked for Aerospace before; one in providing parts for the planes, and the other in wing development.

Chatting continued after a much-appreciated and generously-sized lunch, with our discussions turning to other places our members and carers would like to visit in the future, ranging from National Trust gardens and steam rails, to WWT Wetlands Slimbridge and everything else in-between. It was then that Jeff, our Meeting Centre Activity Worker, was asked by a party at a nearby table who we were!

Finding our conversation interesting, the party consisted of two parents and their daughter visiting from Germany, who were looking for a social group for the dad who they explained was living with moderate dementia. Taking their details, I promised to send them some information about attending a taster session at our Dementia Meeting Centres soon.

Three cheers for the power of positive gossiping! Not only did our Thursday group have a great visit, but our lunchtime chatting may even see some new faces join our mix. It was a great chance to really see the importance of getting out and about and you’ll also find me carrying one or two flyers in my bag from now on!

Millie Fuller is a creative copywriter at Content ‘n’ Coffee. She has a love of life (and caffeine). When she’s not at her laptop, you’ll find her in the garden or reading. Check out her latest blog post:

Grounded Gardening Advice for People with Restricted Mobility

Gardening is a peaceful and satisfying pastime that can help people improve their mental wellbeing by connecting with nature. Digging in dirt and weeding can be physically taxing and challenging for those with restricted mobility.

Thankfully, numerous tools are available that are designed for those with impairments or restricted physical capabilities. Furthermore, modifications can be made to make your outside environment more accessible.

6 methods for making gardens more accessible

Design doesn’t have to suffer in order to be accessible. It’s indeed possible to make your garden more practical without losing its aesthetic appeal.

Taking the sting out of stairs

Installing ramps to varying levels of your garden – such as patios, decking, and staircases – can let gardeners reach all sections of the space without climbing steps. Any ramp should have a mild gradient and wide, non-skid surface. This will make it easier for those with mobility impairments or needing a wheelchair to climb and descend the ramp.

Handrails and grab bars should be strategically placed

Handrails in the garden can benefit people who need help to navigate its different levels, particularly if they’re unstable on their feet or need a cane.

Dwarf fruit trees are pretty, yet practical

Dwarf fruit trees are functional, visually appealing, and simple to maintain. They grow to a maximum height of 6 feet, making them more manageable, requiring less room than traditional trees, and may be planted in pots or raised beds. They’re also simpler to harvest due to their branches being lower hanging than those on larger trees.

Apples, pears, peaches, plums, and cherries are all available as dwarf trees. Their ‘breed’ names are as follows:

Elevated planters and beds for those with limited mobility

Raised beds and planters can help those who are wheelchair users or have trouble standing for lengthy periods of time. They minimise the need to reach or lean over, allowing plants to be accessed easier while sitting or standing. Wheelchairs may also be manoeuvred against the bed to take advantage of its stability while working.

Low maintenance shrubs

Plants that require minimal maintenance and occasional watering – like lavender or rosemary – are an excellent choice for those who struggle to care for their garden. They can be grown in raised beds or planters, so a lot of stooping or lifting isn’t required. Additional low-care shrubs include:

Clear walkways and paths

Keeping pathways clear improves accessibility. Paths should be broad enough to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers and made of non-slip material, such as cement, brickwork, or slabs.

5 tools for restricted mobility

Adjustable seats for wheelbarrows

Anyone regardless of height or size might easily move their tools about the garden without having to stoop over or exert themselves thanks to an adjustable wheelbarrow seat.

Specialised tools

Those with restricted mobility may benefit from long-handled tools since they don’t have to bend to the same extent. Long-handled cultivators, garden shears, and trowels are examples of adaptable tools that make the task easier by enabling the user to stand and maintain a stable footing while caring for their plants.

Robotic lawnmowers

While they are made for everyone, those who use wheelchairs or can only travel short distances will benefit the most. Robotic lawn mowers have different battery lives and decibel levels and are compact enough to fit between plant rows without harming them.

Mechanical weed pullers

The purpose of weed pullers is to enable users to work upright. The weed is pulled out of the ground at the root by a spike that is embeds the soil. However, they can’t be used by those who aren’t able to stand since they need to be pushed into the ground with the feet in order to work.

Carts for gardening

Garden carts come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, yet all have a level surface so you can easily transport equipment or plants about the garden.

Summary

Here are just a few ways to make outside spaces more accessible. Although gardening is an activity that can be quite enjoyable, those with mobility issues may struggle with it. Fortunately, even individuals without gardens can enjoy the pleasure of seeing an indoor plant grow.

With a momentous birthday comes three days of celebration for our Dementia Meeting Centre!

Marking one year of our Meeting Centres opening in Clevedon, Portishead, and Nailsea, we joined together to celebrate in style – with the festivities chosen by our very own members.

In Clevedon, Elvis entered the building thanks to the European Elvis Tribute Artist Champion, Emilio Santoro. An open house that saw friends and partners from Alzheimer’s Society, Vision North Somerset, Wellspring, and Curo attend, we sang and danced along to all the old classics.

“I can’t believe we’ve been open a whole year,” said Anne Ellis, North Somerset’s Meeting Centre Manager, “it was great to have such a fun party, all the members were up and dancing and thoroughly enjoying themselves. We’re so proud of the centres and how they have grown and supported so many people – Elvis was an amazing way of celebrating our achievements!”.

The next day, we set our sights to the skies with a trip to Aerospace Bristol. With several of our members having worked there in their younger years, we exchanged stories and said hello to Concorde before enjoying lunch and a traipse around the museum. The wonderful trip was a ‘Gift in Kind’ funded by a family who had recently lost their beloved mum, Pat. Her son, John, who came along, said; “It was a fitting tribute to my Mum who had dementia in the last few years of her life and it was wonderful to see the smiles on the faces of members and their carers”.

Finishing our celebrations in Nailsea with some delicious fish and chips from Noggin’s Old Fish Bar, we were also treated to a show from The Deadbeats – a six-person ukulele group. With the members across all three Centres invited to each day of the celebrations, it was a wonderful opportunity to get together.

A huge thank you to Emilio Santoro, Aerospace Bristol, Noggin’s, The Deadbeats, and the folks at Blue Iris for helping us celebrate in such style. And a special shoutout to Clevedon Lions & Clevedon Inner Wheel whose generous donation paid for our lavish buffet and very own Elvis.

As always, we are hugely grateful to our amazing members, team of volunteers and staff, as well as everybody who has contributed to our Dementia Meeting Centre this past year. Here’s to more birthdays to come!

Last week we welcomed two special visitors to our Dementia Meeting Centre groups – Dr Shirley Evans, Interim Director of the Association for Dementia Studies (ADS), and ADS Research Assistant, Jennifer Bray from the University of Worcester. 

Speaking to our members in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, we heard how the Meeting Centre concept was brought over from The Netherlands; with there now being over 50 Dementia Meeting Centres across the UK! Our members fed back to Jen and Shirley, who is the UK’s leading expert on Meeting Centres, about how the sessions have been great for them and offer a much-needed resource for those living with dementia and their caregivers. 

Bristol
In Bristol, the theme was 1960s Liverpool and our members enjoyed recalling artists such as Lonnie Donegan, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black and, of course, The Beatles (all of whom performed at the legendary Cavern Club!). It was great to look at some wonderful Beatles memorabilia and talk about our favourite tracks. After lunch, we enjoyed a truly magical performance from Emily at Mini Concerts as she re-created the Merseybeat sound. A lovely rendition of The Beatles song “All You Need Is Love” got everyone singing along at the end of the show – which provided a very fitting finish to a great day!

South Gloucestershire 
Our South Glos members enjoyed puzzles, singing, quizzes and exercises with music – and even had the opportunity to stretch their muscles while dancing with feathers! Our late morning members engaged in an art therapy workshop where artistic talents were ignited and rediscovered. Everyone was sharing a smile and a bounce in their step as we sat down to chat about life over lunch. 

A huge thank you to Shirley and Jen for their visit, and a special shout out to the fabulous folks at Mini Concerts. If you live in Bristol, South Glos., or North Somerset and are interested in joining our Dementia Meeting Centres, please get in touch or find out more here.

Bristol: 07377 199 148 / bristolmeetingcentre@aliveactivities.org
South Glos: 07377 197 893 / sglosmeetingcentre@aliveactitivities.org
North Somerset: 07423 741459 / northsomersetmeetingcentre@aliveactivities.org

Our South Glos Meeting Centre recently had a trip to Oakham Treasures to enjoy their unique collection of memorabilia from the last century on a recommendation from one of the group members.

Despite the terrible weather on the day, everyone had a lovely time, with people commenting on how much they enjoyed the varied and informative displays, having lunch together and the journey in the coach.

Another member said they hoped it was ‘the first of many trips together’ – and we’re sure it will be!

Alive would like to say a huge thank you to One You South Gloucestershire, whose donation funded the trip and Green community transport for the coach.

South Gloucestershire Meeting Centre members spent time decorating a Christmas cake and biscuits at their Wednesday session this week.

The biscuits made a perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea, while the cake will be enjoyed by Members over Christmas and into the New Year!

We wish you a peaceful time this holiday.

At the Meeting Centres, we support people living with mild to moderate dementia and their carers.

If you would like information on how to join the Meeting Centre, visit this page on our website or contact the manager on 07377 197893.

We run sessions in Downend on a Tuesday and in Bradley Stoke on Wednesday and Thursday, 10 am – 3 pm, £25 per couple.

At the beginning of December, one of the BME groups Alive has been working with, the Golden Agers, held a bring-and-buy sale in Easton.

The event was well attended and, as well as a raffle to win a beautiful Christmas hamper. There were many tempting bargains on offer, including some home-cooked tasty treats and a delicious handmade apple and tomato chutney, all prepared by some exceptionally talented members of the group.

It was a happy and lively occasion full of laughter. There was also an opportunity for everyone to enjoy each other’s company and share their latest news and special memories.

One of those memories came courtesy of an old photo from back in the day of some especially impressive stiletto heels 👠

CQC ratings play a big part in all of our lives. Whether you are trying to improve your rating or hold on to that ‘Outstanding’, it is a thought consistently at the forefront of our minds. From attracting future residents to reassuring existing families and loved ones; a good CQC rating can play a big part in one’s decision to choose a care home.

Alive on Demand (AoD) is a dementia-friendly video-streaming platform, with its content informed by years of conversations with older people and their support networks. Each video is supplemented by additional resources to delve deeper into a topic of an individual (or group)’s choosing. Related videos can be signposted to, and there is opportunity to expand learning with facts, quizzes and activities.  With over 300 carefully curated and original videos, using life-story work you are likely to find something that will resonate with everybody. Alive go one step further and, with AoD being a collaborative platform, welcome suggestions for future content, feedback if particular content isn’t having the desired response, and any other ideas that residents and staff alike would like to see. This collaborative experience really highlights that person-centred approach. 

Alive on Demand can showcase home’s responsiveness to individual’s needs: by demonstrating that staff are taking the time to talk to individuals to discover engaging content that can spark conversation and engagement. Utilising digital interventions shows your home is innovative and open to new approaches. Finding ways to incorporate technology into your day-to-day provision puts your practice ahead of the curve, encourages learning and development for all.   

Demonstrating the above can contribute to keeping that ‘Outstanding’ rating or elevate a home from ‘RI’ to ‘Good’ or from ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’. Being able to show CQC that you have Alive on Demand as a resource is an incredible tool to have ready for those surprise inspections.  

Alive would like to send a huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone that supported our Christmas Fundraising Bazaar at the Bristol Dementia Meeting Centre at St Monica Trust, Westbury Fields, last week.

For several weeks our members have enjoyed making lavender bags, crafting Christmas cards, potting up Spring bulbs and helping to prepare chocolate and sweetie cones. They also wanted to show appreciation to the hardworking carers at St Monica Trust and so they worked together to make children’s Christmas Eve treat boxes, which they gifted to care staff on the day.

The tombola stall was very popular and was run by members who raised money for animal welfare for many years. Lesley told us that she had loved the opportunity to contribute to the local community again.

We are delighted to say that our mini-social enterprise was a huge success! Our members helped raise a whopping £355 on the day!