Meet Pauline…

Pauline Spooner was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia in 2020 and now attends three Dougie Mac Dementia Services groups a week. Her daughter, Tracey Turner, says her mum has never been happier.

“When Mum was diagnosed at the Memory Clinic, she became very depressed and suffered with anxiety,” says Tracey. “Doctors wanted to put her on anti-depressants but we didn’t want that for her.

“When my Mum was feeling particularly down, I struggled to find the right motivation for her until I reached out to Dougie Mac for help.

“Meeting the staff and in particular Michelle at Dementia Services was a turning point; she was not only extremely helpful but also incredibly friendly. Her ability to put my Mum at ease right away was remarkable and made all the difference.

“I had been attending a group for carers at Cheadle Cricket Club on Fridays, which we enjoyed immensely, so it was such a relief when I discovered that there was a dementia group every Thursday — this opportunity felt like a godsend for my Mum.

“But Mum was adamant she didn’t want to go – she said she couldn’t see the point and was really down in the dumps. Eventually, we managed to persuade her to try the group.

“I will never forget the first day I took her. She was quite nervous going in and I worried when I picked her up at 12pm especially when I saw tears in her eyes. “I thought: ‘oh what have I done leaving her there’, but she was actually crying because she was so happy and had thoroughly enjoyed herself. She told me: “I absolutely loved it! It’s the best day I’ve had in a long time!

“Now, my Mum eagerly rises at 6am every Thursday, excited for the club that doesn’t even start until 9am! This newfound joy and enthusiasm have brought such light into her life and she is incredibly happy – it’s like someone has pressed a switch.”

Tracey says since attending the groups her Mum now regularly listens to music which brings her great joy and comfort.

She said: “The Tuesday and Friday sessions run by Kevin and Jackie have truly brought a new spark of joy into my Mum’s life. It’s wonderful to see how much fun she has while attending these groups and  she’s become quite excited about her newfound routine.

“This enthusiasm speaks volumes about the positive impact the Dementia Services team has as they have given my Mum a new lease of life. I honestly believe that if it wasn’t for Dougie Mac my mum wouldn’t have lived and without these clubs, I would be facing a very different and much more challenging situation.

“Thank you for creating such a wonderful environment that fosters connection and happiness. It means the world to us!”

Pauline said: “I love the groups as we do silly things which makes me very happy. We like to sing and dance and play games and everyone does nice things for us. I didn’t want to come but I have made some good friends and I am happy.”