Reflections - Friendship Group

Meets alternate Tuesdays from 1 to 3pm.

Contact: Peter Ley

Phone: 07981 741499
Email: reflectionsgreenwich@gmail.com
Website: reflections705.wordpress.com

Cost: Free

This is a free group for people living with dementia, and their family and friends. At the group you will find friends you haven’t met yet.

Come along for a chat with others who are understanding and in a similar situation. Local information available if required, please speak to a member of the team.

About Reflections

Reflections is a voluntary service, set up by husband and wife, Peter and Janet Ley.

We have personal experience of dementia, as we supported and cared for Peter’s dad, for almost 12 years, when he had vascular dementia. We know first-hand what it is like to live along-side the changes that dementia brings and the challenges faced in liaising with organisations and professionals to find out about, and get the help and support needed.

Larger organisations are needed to carry out research to find a cure and campaign for change. However, these things will come in the future. In the meantime there are people living with dementia now, so we want to do what we can and share knowledge that we did not have when we were carers that we believe can make a difference.

Peter

Following retirement from full-time work Peter volunteered for the Alzheimer’s Society Friends Together Cafe from its launch in September 2015. Earlier that year he trained to be a Dementia Friends Champion. By the end of January 2017 Peter had held 35 Dementia Friends sessions reaching 674 people.

Janet

Wanting to help to make a difference, Janet joined the Alzheimer’s Society in October 2007, initially as the Lewisham and Greenwich branch manager. Then, wanting to be more directly involved with people with dementia, in 2009 she became one of the first Dementia Advisors in the country. She left the Society in July 2016. Remaining passionate about helping people with dementia and carers, the week after she left she held the first Reflections Friendship Group on 12 July 2016.

Following feedback and recognition of how difficult it can be, especially for working carers, to find help and support, we  set up an evening carers’ group which launched in March 2017.

Reflections does not receive funding, so we are able to deliver what our “friends” tell us they would like. We could could not have achieved what we have without the help of others. We are grateful that so many people have wanted to be involved in various ways. We are amazed what can be achieved in our community.