These sessions are for people with dementia,
carers and friends to try out mindfulness. You can
come to as many sessions as you like.
Day and time
Room 3, Lidgett Grove Methodist
Church Hall, Wheatlands Grove,
Acomb YO26 5NH
Cost
There is no charge. A donation to the
Alzheimer’s Society would be
appreciated, but is not compulsory.
What to expect
Dementia Initiative
Third Tuesday in the month 1.30-3pm
21st July, (no August meeting)
15th September, 20th October,
17th November.
Where
Transport
Mindfulness
Maps and help with transport can be
arranged if you contact us well in
advance.
Easy parking at the venue and bus
services 5 or 10 to Poppleton
Road/Wheatlands Grove.
Each time we will introduce two
mindfulness practices, discuss them
and share experiences, and have
refreshments.
Summer and Autumn 2015
Susie Mackenzie and Alison Gear
For information contact:
susie.mackenzie@btinternet.com
Tel 01904 644606
www.susiemackenziemindfulsupport.com
Funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a set of skills that are simple to learn. We
can learn to use these skills in our daily life: meeting
challenges, dealing with emotions and worries.
Simple mindfulness techniques can be learned and
practised at home, or in a group:





a few minutes of sitting still and breathing
doing some simple movements or walking
noticing thoughts and letting them go
relaxing the body
being aware of emotions
Mindfulness is something anyone can learn and
practice, and it is helpful to learn and practice the
techniques with other people and the support of a
teacher. Mindfulness has been practised in a range of
spiritual traditions for centuries but more recently
scientific research shows the benefits of mindfulness for
a range of everyday problems. In particular in the last
twenty years mindfulness based stress reduction has
helped people with chronic pain, depression, anxiety
and helped people with dementia and their carers.
Mindfulness is not about fixing problems,
mindfulness is a life skill.
A pilot study in the UK using Mindfulness Based
Stress Reduction (MBSR) was carried out in
2013 with those with dementia and their carers.
This project found that people with dementia
and their carers experienced a range of
benefits: increased calm, improved coping with
emotions, better sleep, reduction in anxiety
and an increased ability to appreciate nature.
Here are some quotes from their participants:
“With dementia you have little control over things,
but this I can handle, and this allows me to go into
myself.”
“My problem is anger and frustration and the
course has made a massive difference, massive,
just massive”
“It’s making me think more constructively in day to
day situations. I’m taking more time over things.”
“He is a worrier – but when we sit down and
meditate and have a quiet moment, he forgets
that he is worried.” (A carer about her partner with
dementia.)
From: Innovations in Dementia, Bristol area, 2013