What will I learn?

Topics will include:

• Communicating with dementia course at St Christopher’s – how do we work to support connection and interaction.
• Family members reflections on their experience of attending the Communicating with dementia group.
• Workshops delivered by art therapy, wellbeing & music therapy, focusing on presence as intervention and compassionate communication with people with communication difficulties, including legacy work.
• Social work presentation on their role in coaching family and carers in coping with loss of verbal communication, changing identities, and validating grief, hope, fear and love.
• Facilitated reflection activity with opportunity for attendees to consider how to implement new ideas and approaches.

Sessions will include:

Wellbeing:  The namaste session will explore how physical and sensory input can help make a compassionate and gentle connection for those living with dementia who have difficulty communicating. The Namaste approach is client-centred and focuses on acceptance and identity. This workshop will provide the opportunity to discuss and explore what resources and techniques can be used, and to consider how this approach can be used in different settings.

Music Therapy Workshop
This interactive workshop will offer an introduction to how music-based approaches can support connection and communication for people with communication difficulties. Participants will have the opportunity to experience simple, adaptable techniques that can be used across a range of clinical settings, with a focus on facilitating expression, engagement, and relational connection between individuals and those supporting them.

Art Therapy Workshop
This experiential workshop will explore how artmaking can support communication, expression, and connection where verbal language may be limited. Participants will be invited to engage in accessible creative activities and reflect on how these approaches might be adapted for use across different settings, supporting meaningful interaction between individuals and their families or care teams.