Alzheimer's & Dementia Weekly features 'Work of Art' (April 2024)
With a new post on Alzheimer’s or dementia appearing on the internet every 7 minutes, Alzheimer's & Dementia Weekly focuses on the best available information & resources, including our new song, “Work of Art” (inspired by Bill Yeates, and his Tree of Awakening Your Positivity).
Sing-along at Avalon Beach Community Centre (March 2024)
Memory Lane Cafe (Dementia Australia)
Dementia Australia invited Kay to provide a sing-along for members of the Memory Lane Cafe at Avalon.
Personal stories were told before each song to share a little of Kay's experience with her husband's dementia.
Everyone joined in for the final song, The Man She Married.
Kay was well supported by talented local musician Ray Quine and a great time was had by all who attended.
Working Together to Raise Awareness
Royal Motor Yacht Club (March 2024)
presented by Bill Yeates & Kay Hughes
Bill & Kay presented to a highly engaged audience at the RMYC (Pittwater), sponsored by RMYC, AWMarine Sales, Awakening Your Positivity and Kay Hughes Music raising much-needed funds for the Race Against Dementia - Dementia Australia Research Fellowship.
The Unforgettables Dementia Choir (Newcastle, NSW)
In Feb 2024, we received a delightful message from the Unforgettables Dementia Choir (Newcastle, NSW) which is hosted by the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, "thank you for your generous donation to our dementia-friendly choir in Newcastle".
The power of music to re-awaken memories and motivate us to engage is well known. Singing in a group also brings physical benefits in improvements to breath, posture and muscle tension, as well as a sense of social connections which are enhanced by group singing.
The Unforgettables Dementia Choir is a fantastic initiative and we look forward to attending one of its performances.
Northern Beaches Dementia Alliance: "It's OK to ask for help"
Northern Beaches Dementia Alliance (NBDA) provides wonderful resources and information about support for people living with dementia.
In 2023, Bill & Kay - along with Professor Sue Kurrle - were included in NBDA's excellent video letting people know “It's OK to ask for help”, a message which is highly relevant now.
Bill & Kay Presented at Anglicare's "We Matter" forums at Pittwater (Oct 2023) and Gymea (Nov 2023)
Dementia and Relationships
Bill spoke about how Dementia affects his relationships with family, friends and work colleagues, paying particular attention to the strategies he uses to minimise this impact.
The audience resonated with the songs that Kay wrote and sang, particularly ‘Dementia Blues’ and ‘The Man She Married’.
Bill said, "music is often a great medium to express feelings and thoughts, allowing Kay to reach out and convey the emotional experiences of being a carer".
The Q&A panel consisted of advocates and clinicians. Besides the personal stories the advocates shared, it was also a real highlight to hear an explanation of “complicated grief” and how it affects people living with dementia and their carers.
Bill & Kay presented a Development Session to Northern Beaches Hospital Geriatrics Department (October 2023)
Bill & Kay presented a Development session to the Northern Beaches Hospital Geriatrics Department.
Bill's excellent video footage of his Neurocognitive Training Program stimulated lively discussion.
Bill & Kay presented a session at Energize Health Club (Sep 2023)
Encouraging Wrap-up from Energize Health Club
50 members of Energize Health Club (Frenchs Forest) listened, learned, laughed and cried as we told and sung our stories. There was plenty of wonderful feedback and $500 was raised for The Rockpool Tour (2024) - a great outcome!
"Invisible No More" CD included in CA Brown's Time Capsule
Present-day items such as the daily newspaper, a $5 note, photos of staff and residents and our album of dementia-inspired songs ("Invisible No More") were put into a time capsule and buried in the garden at CA Brown Lodge (Booragul, NSW).
We look forward to seeing it open in 2043.