People with dementia at Alzheimer’s Society’s Activity Group in Yardley were joined by a pair of Miniature Shetland ponies named Angel and Lollipop. Alzheimer’s Society regularly hosts an Activity Group at Yardley’s Digbeth in the Field United Reformed Church and this caters for people with more advanced dementia who want to keep active and socialise with others. The groups are run by facilitators who provide a structured programme of activities.
The ponies were provided by Lollipop Pony Parties and joined the members of the Activity Group on a spacious field and seemed to appreciate the copious amounts of grass at hand. They were calm and willing to be patted, stroked and ruffled as Group members got to know them. The height of the animals meant that members could engage with them from a seated position which was helpful for some of the members with mobility issues.
Debbie Nixon, a volunteer at the café who lives in Kings Heath, said: “The ponies provoked a lot of discussion and people were engaging with them on a social, physical and emotional level. Members were able to walk with the ponies and share discussions of past experiences.”
The presence of the ponies represented the flexibility of Activity Groups to provide interesting and unusual means for people with dementia to stay active. Alongside this, Activity Groups offer standard forms of entertainment such as puzzles, indoor games and music.
James Heard from Solihull attends the Activity Group and said: “I found today very enjoyable and very interesting: it was a lovely morning.”
Sukwinder Singh, Dementia Café Coordinator for Alzheimer’s Society, said: “I think the Group members participated really well and the activity was something that drew out a lot of emotion.”
