The Power of Memory: Valuable Meetings for People with Dementia and their Carers

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REGULATION – Evenmen organizes ‘The Power of Memory’ meetings. The meetings are about sharing experiences, reminiscing and just being together. Read how valuable the meetings are for people with dementia and their informal carers.

Working together in a positive way, that’s the idea behind the Evening Remembrance Power meetings. Last year, three couples met six times in the Noaberhuus in Hellendoorn. Dirk Miedema explains that the atmosphere of the meetings is relaxed. “We hear from other people here about how they deal with depression.” His wife Jettie was diagnosed with the disease about a year and a half ago. Dirk: “Here you are in a different situation than at home, we have always liked coming here. Sometimes things can be very emotional at home, which is also discussed here, but always with humor.”

Gerrit and Dinie Zwiers are also committed. Gerrit was diagnosed with dementia about a year ago. It became clear during the meeting with the topic of falling in love that there is nothing wrong with his long-term memory. Gerrit managed to recall the memories of his meeting with Dinie. “We walked back and forth on Grotestraat in Nijverdal, that’s how it was. That’s where I met Dinie.” Dinie also remembers him well. “Then you looked for a bench in the woods together,” she said, laughing. They eventually married in the Noaberhuus, where the meetings now held. And coincidentally, that fit the idea of ​​Evenmens. During the meeting they were married ‘again’, the a repeat event with, among other things, a wedding cake, vows and a wedding bouquet. Gerrit: “That wedding is what I remember most about the meetings.

To bring back memories, consultants Margret Overkamp and Henriëtte Veneberg prepare items from the past in advance. Think wooden spinning tops, reading tables and domino games, but also ground coffee beans and music from years ago. Margret: “It’s these little things that create the positive feeling of the past. Because often there is nothing wrong with long-term memory.” Henriëtte said: “Only by working with topics do conversations start. Conversation material is immediate. That’s how we start in the first hour of the meeting. The informal carers then receive a separate lunch from their partners, so that both groups can share their experiences in more detail.”

The fact that the meetings are always with the same group ensures that there is even more recognition. Margret: “The first time couples are often still a little nervous, at the second meeting they are more relaxed and from the third on sometimes very good bonds are formed. That was true with this group as well. Gerrit and Jan Hoekjen were almost neck and neck in the third meeting. Gerrit: “I didn’t know Jan at all before these meetings. But a real bond was formed. We experience the same things and I get along well with him. Dinie said: “You’re in the same boat, so you get closer to each other little by little. You recognize each other’s position.”

Communication with fellow victims. That’s one of the main reasons why people sign up for these meetings. And that also applies to informal carers. Dirk: “You hear others talking about how things are going at home. For example, sometimes Jettie can’t come up with a specific concept, we’ve seen this with others as well. And sometimes others have ‘words to each other’ because of the situation.” Dinie also received recommendations from other informal carers.

What is particularly surprising, according to the Evenmens advisers, is that everyone is so open at the meetings. Gerrit: “I can say everything I want to say here and people will understand it. We can trust each other. I was allowed to be emotional here.” And that’s just the power of meetings. Dirk: “Some people with depression are ashamed, but as a partner of someone with depression you have to keep ‘ go sometimes. I would absolutely recommend these meetings.” Dinie agrees: “You’ve been sitting with your partner all day, this is something different. In fact, we’ve become so close that we’d like to meet again at each other’s homes each other.”

More information about The Power of Memories? Then check out the website www.evenmens.nl. These meetings are offered throughout the Evenmens area of ​​work. Or call 0548 638830 for more information.