Give the gift of hope this Summer: Caring for a Person on their ‘Dementia journey’ can be a very demanding, and often lonely challenge. Help us be there for those affected by Dementia in our local community. Read Tony and Jean’s Story and give the gift of hope this summer by donating today.

We were told about ‘ADS’ Charity by an Optalis Dementia Advisor when discussing what we might need. At first we didn’t know whether we wanted to attend, but then we went and liked it so we carried on going. Everyone there is in the same boat and they’re all there together, they are all chatting away. It is good and relaxing.

We like singing - Jean in particular likes singing, she never stops. Jean remembers a lot of old favourites. We go to the singing services and we have also been to moves and grooves and the ‘ADS’ holiday. This year will be the third time we go on the holiday and we stay in the same room every year. Jean enjoys the swimming.

The singing sessions are the highlights of the week, we both enjoy them. We get there early and I help with the setting up. Chatting with people you see every week is very good for mental well-being and we enjoy having tea and biscuits together. Karen the facilitator who plays the keyboard is fantastic. For me the sessions offer a sense of togetherness, there’s a lot of comfort in seeing people experience happiness for a short while at least. Singing is such a powerful tool, even as memory fades and familiar details slip away, music seems to reach a place untouched. The ladies that serve the tea and coffee are always cheerful and friendly, it is a welcoming environment.

If ‘ADS’ wasn’t around that would be really bad news as we would be going around trying to figure out what to do. It is good for everyone who attends really. Everybody loves it, it changes the mood positively and it triggers memories.