Sporting Memories Handbook
Our Sporting Memories Handbook was developed to support local sports organisations in setting up Sporting Memories groups.
The handbook is an initiative of The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and is supported by the Dementia: Understand Together campaign led by the HSE.
Sporting Memories groups are intended to provide a forum for people with dementia, families, supporters and friends to reminisce and talk about bygone sporting days and encourage participation in physical activity.
The handbook aims to help improve the health and well-being of people with dementia and older people in general.
The campaign aims to help create communities that actively embrace and include those living with dementia and their families.
The development of the Sporting Memories Handbook was inspired by Sporting Heritage, a comprehensive guide for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Speaking about the publication of the new handbook, Donal Murphy, Operations Project Manager, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland said:
“We know that sport plays a key part in the lives of many people. From GAA to rugby, football to golf, people are immersed in sport from an early age as players, as club members, and as spectators. Sport gives us so much pleasure and often punctuates our lives with golden sporting moments of joy and ecstasy. Allegiance to club, county, and country, gives us a sense of identity that binds us together like nothing else, creating memories that last a lifetime.
“We also know that for people with dementia, remembering past events often comes more readily than recent events. Through this programme, we want to use the power of sport to help bring people together, and to re-establish that connection between people with dementia and the communities in which they live. By wearing the county jersey or team colours, and by using memorabilia such as match programmes, posters, and tickets, we want to be able to trigger exciting memories and take people on a trip down memory lane. With it, we hope to evoke stories of chance encounters with childhood sporting heroes, of flasks of tea and packed sandwiches on match days, of lining the streets to welcome home sporting champions.”
How can you order the handbook?
To order a copy of the handbook, go to www.healthpromotion.ie
You can download the handbook HERE
More information?