Watch: Dementia patients and carers take part in belly dancing therapy
A healthcare organisation has come up with a novel way of helping those suffering with dementia and their carers connect with one another – belly dancing classes.
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Carer Connect was set up to help people suffering chronic conditions connect with their carers and provides help finding reliable and compassionate healthcare professionals tailored to people's condition.
Jo Weaver-Jackson, Care Co-ordinator has set up groups in three Shropshire towns aimed at helping dementia sufferers and their carers.
The groups are run in partnership with the Shropshire Carer Support Team and the Alzheimer's Society.
She said: “Carer Connect is a group for carers and the person they care for. We started the first group at Priory Hall in Much Wenlock back in April 2023 and we now have a second group running at Quatt and we are launching a third group in Cleobury Mortimer in January.
“The idea is to connect people not only to each other, but to the services and organisations available to them in their local community.”
She said she introduced the belly dancing classes to not only helped carer and patient connect, but because it also provided health benefits.
Emily Reeves of Emira Belly Dance who ran the class, explained. She said: “Belly dancing is great for hand-eye coordination and keeping the body healthy as well as having lots of fun.”
Carer Connect meets at Cleobury Parish Hall on the second Thursday of each month from 11am-1pm; Quatt Village Hall on the last Thursday of the month from 2pm; and Priory Hall Much Wenlock on the first Tuesday of the month from 2pm to 4pm.
For more information on the groups people can contact Jo Weaver-Jackson on 01746 551137.