A Namaste Care Activity Book: Sensory Stories and Activities for People Living with Advanced Dementia - Paperback

by Nicola Kendall (Author), Rishi Jawaheer (Foreword by), Colette O'Driscoll (Contribution by)

I open the garden gate, which creaks on old, worn hinges. The rose garden is peaceful but not silent. Bird song and the buzz of bees provide nature's melody. Somewhere in the distance, gentle music is playing and it relaxes me.

Namaste Care offers compassionate care to people with advanced dementia through sensory input, comfort and pleasure, combining music, therapeutic touch, colour, food and scents. With ready-to-use structured sensory stories that are specially designed for people with advanced dementia, A Namaste Care Activity Book invites you to enhance your care through storytelling and sensory stimuli.

Early chapters give an overview of the approach, exploring the effects of sensory stimulation in improving quality of life. With contributions from professionals across the field, chapters describe ways to engage the different senses, including aromatherapy, food and memory and therapeutic use of lighting. These are followed by a selection of themed stories, with ideas for sensory activities to support each one. In addition to guides for Namaste Care sessions, the book provides a starting point for writing your own stories tailored to the person for whom you are caring.

Inspiring creativity and confidence in delivering Namaste Care, the activities provide valuable guidance in caring for and improving the lives of people with advanced dementia.

Author Biography

Nicola Kendall is a qualified psychotherapist, complementary therapist and mindfulness teacher, as well as the Namaste Lead at St Cuthbert's Hospice, Durham. She is responsible for setting up a community project involving trained volunteers delivering Namaste Care to people living with advanced dementia at home.