http://tommakin-bellfreelance.blogspot.com/

Tom recently attended a performance of ours in Limerick.
He is working on an interesting project that can help bring together and inform arts organizations working with older people in the UK,Ireland and US.

Tom Makin-Bell currently lives in Norfolk UK. For the last ten years he has worked for various charities providing services for older people in UK. His specialism is the development of partnerships and services for the benefit of older people.

In February 2010, he was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travel Fellowship to travel to Ireland and USA to investigate the provision of arts and creative activities for older people. His wish is to better understand the differences in policy, research, funding, development and delivery of arts and creative activities for older people between UK, Ireland and USA. His investigation will be summarized and published in a report via Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

Show in Limerick

On Tuesday the 19th of May we were invited to perform a show in Limerick in the "Our Lady Queen of Peace" School in Janesboro. The event was organised by Limerick Community Partnership to promote community spirit and bring together senior citizens from across the city.
Over 80 older people from different active retirement groups had signed up to come along to celebrate Bealtaine.

I would like to thank Catherine Andrews and her team for organising this event and inviting us along. It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and we had a great audience.

Bealtaine

The Bealtaine festival is quite unique to Ireland and is organized by age and opportunity to celebrate creativity in older age.

We started our first show on the 4th of May and will be touring around Ireland in two groups.I get to work with Peter Roycroft,who is a fabulous pianist and our Jim Roche teamed up with MacDara, singer from the Aran islands.

"MacDara's command of the text of the songs and his ability to give them life within what is essentially a non-tradtional format will surely single him out as a distinctive talent to watch out for in the coming years". Seán Laffey, Irish Music Magazine

Our show is called " Have dreams and speak them without fear", in line with this years Bealtaine Theme.
This is the 3rd time we are participating in this festival and the organisers have been so very supportive of our work. A big thanks and I hope that we will successfully continue to grow together.

Have dreams and speak them without fear

The title of Serendipity's Bealtaine show this year is "Have dreams and speak them without fear"
Coincidentally one of our former members, Philomena Fitzpatrick, a charming girl with a lot of talent who was never fearful speaking about her dream of getting into musical theatre, has come a big step closer to seeing her dream fulfilled by securing herself a part in the RTE show FAME. Philomena is one of the six female finalists and we in Serendipity wish for her dream to come true. She certainly has the talent, looks,charm and most of all determination to go very far in this tough and often cruel and ruthless business.

If you can imaginge it, you can achieve it.If you can dream it, you can become it.
Philomena, best of luck form all your supporters here in Serendipity.

Developments

We are getting busier with every month. That is of course good news and great encouragement. In January I participated in a fundraising course led by Tom Suddes, Founder of "For Impact".
His concept of "Impact drives Income" is inspiring and gives fresh thinking and shifted focus to Non-profit organisations.
The Introduction of new regulations by HIQA (Health and Quality Authority) for the Care sector brings new responsibilties and tasks to the sector,it is challenging but at the same time it is good news for our work in Serendipity.
I am working on a concept and strategy for training modules to bring our members up to speed with Issues like Elder abuse, ageism, Health and Safety and Dementia Care.

We are delighted to be working now also in Counties Kilkenny and Waterford on a regular basis and we will be touring our Bealtaine Shows all around Ireland throughout May.

Christmas show reviews

Some Feedback from our Christmas Shows Activities:

The presentation and the variety of repertoire.
In particular the extract from Oscar Wilde. The performers engagement with the audience and the entire content.
On behalf of all who attended the festive celebration a thousand thanks to all concerned.
Margharita Solon
Nas ne Riogh Housing association ltd.

We always like the choice of songs and our people are always delighted with the whole show.
The material is very appropriate for people in our club.
Perhaps what pleases our group most is that Hedda interacts brilliantly with them and Josh's unusual input is great!
Kay Hanlon, St. Bridgets Senior Club

Lovely piano music and songs, great interaction with audience. All residents who I asked said they really enjoyed it. I loved the expressions of focused enjoyment on the resident's faces.
Aine Mc Laughlin, Director of Nursing, Trim, St.Josephs Hospital

The beautiful singing and music of Inspiration, Hope and friendly content.
The presenter Hedda delivered with great fun and eloquence in a real drama style.
The Christmas Carols and many show songs brought warmth and a great love and Blessing to our Hospital.
The patients benefited greatly from it. Thank you so much.
Mary Prendergast
Director of Nursing, St.Patricks Hospital' Cashel

Lovely mix of music, something for everyone ,
Audience participation.
I have met Una several times we are delighted with her shows and also her colleagues.
Many thanks
Deidre McNally,Proprietor, Dargle Valley Home, Enniskerry,

The Human Touch in Dementia Care by Anne Quinn,Advanced Nurses Practitioner in Dementia Care

—The greatest threat to a person living with dementia is the threat of not being seen as a person
—Being viewed as less than human – a non person – a shell
—A state worse than death – already dead – a living death

...and therefore not a person to be concerned with


—Seeing the person as worthy of our compassion and understanding
—Compassion is different from pity which implies the person who is suffering is weak and hence inferior
—More vigorous than empathy which seeks to understand a person’s suffering
—Compassion recognises shared humanity and a desire to alleviate suffering
—Compassion is synonymous with good dementia care

—Possibly the most important component of compassionate care is listening to our patients
—As much as possible, we need to see the world through their eyes, and we need to do so in an accepting fashion, not from a judgmental perspective


We must see the PERSON with dementia
rather than
the person with DEMENTIA

I WHO LIFTED A CAR
by Gerald Stern

My lips say the words too slow
but I am a drop in the bucket
and my body will never catch up
for I am going in reverse
and my slow mind has ruined me
and I can guess the weight of a woman I am so good
though my lips says the words too slow
and my heart goes out to a woman,I who drove a car.
But I am a drop in the bucket and my body will never catch up
for I am going in reverseand my slow mind has ruined me,
I who lifted a car.