We’re grateful to Hadrian Trust for a £500 grant supporting our Green Dementia Care programme. This funding enables creative, multisensory, nature-based activities that promote wellbeing, connection, and quality of life for people living with dementia and those who support them.
Stigma and discrimination remain a daily reality for many people living with dementia. This article explores common myths – including the idea that dementia is “just ageing” or always caused by lifestyle – and looks at how stigma affects younger people, family relationships, work, and access to support, with practical tips and UK-based resources.
Our Thornaby groups have been getting into the Halloween spirit! Together, members created A–Z word associations on the theme of Halloween, which inspired two fun, dementia-friendly poems: The Night of the Bewitched Pumpkin and The Night the Ghouls Came Knocking. Read the poems, enjoy a few smiles, and explore more of our Halloween stories written by Young at Heart members across Stockton-on-Tees.
A first visit from the knitting group from PCP in Newton Aycliffe brought faces to months of generosity, as handmade scarves, shawls and therapy dolls were shared with people living with dementia and their carers in Thornaby. This reflective piece explores how small acts of kindness build comfort, dignity and genuine community connection over time.
We’re delighted to share that Alison Watson-Shields, Director of Young at Heart ULO CIC, has successfully completed The Certificate in Green Dementia Care with The Therapeutic Forest CIC. This nationally recognised qualification explores how nature-based, sensory and reminiscence activities can enhance wellbeing for people living with dementia. As part of Read more
“After five years in the water you start routing for the shark.”
Sensory integration offers a gentle, non-medical way to support people living with dementia by engaging sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. From soothing music to familiar scents and textured objects, multi-sensory experiences can reduce anxiety, spark memories, and foster moments of connection. Discover how sensory approaches are improving quality of life in dementia care.
In this blog post, we’ll gently explore some of the common claims made around diet and dementia, and offer a balanced, evidence-informed view to help carers and families make confident, safe decisions.
Six weeks on from Carers Week, and today is Self Care Day — a timely moment to reflect on an important question: who cares for the carers? Whether you’re supporting a loved one or working in a caring role, self-care isn’t selfish — it’s essential. Today we explore practical ways caregivers can prioritise their own health, happiness, and resilience — not just for themselves, but to sustain the support they give others.
We’re proud to be offering a fully-funded Everyday First Aid Workshop this week at The Institute in Grangefield, Stockton-on-Tees thanks to the donation from One Stop.