MEN’S SHEDSMEN’S SHEDS
DownsizingDownsizing Loss of own ShedLoss of own Shed (Early) Retirement, job redundancy, (Early) Retirement, job redundancy,
unemploymentunemployment Loss of life purpose/ personal idLoss of life purpose/ personal id Isolation/lonelinessIsolation/loneliness Personal relationship loss Personal relationship loss
death/divorce/separationdeath/divorce/separation Need to feel useful in some capacityNeed to feel useful in some capacity
Why have a Community Shed?
BENEFITS OF A MEN’S BENEFITS OF A MEN’S SHEDSHED
Men have own meeting place where ‘blokey’ things Men have own meeting place where ‘blokey’ things happenhappen
Skilled and non-skilled share and learn with each Skilled and non-skilled share and learn with each otherother
Networking opportunities – new friendships and Networking opportunities – new friendships and supportssupports
Share health informationShare health information Feel viable and vital again and contribute to Feel viable and vital again and contribute to
society society Men can be creativeMen can be creative HAVE FUNHAVE FUN
A Typical Men’s ShedA Typical Men’s Shed
What happens at ShedsWhat happens at Sheds
Shed “Doings”Shed “Doings”
A Shed Member at WorkA Shed Member at Work
Shed CamaraderieShed Camaraderie
Looks great…But what’s Looks great…But what’s available for other men….?available for other men….?
Can a Shed work for men with disabilities?Can a Shed work for men with disabilities? What about Alzheimer's & dementia patients?What about Alzheimer's & dementia patients? Aren’t Sheds too dangerous for them?Aren’t Sheds too dangerous for them? What sense of purpose would they gain?What sense of purpose would they gain? What activities could they do?What activities could they do? What fun can they have?What fun can they have?
But … where do you put But … where do you put them?them?
Probably the easiest Shed to actually getProbably the easiest Shed to actually get Does not require huge fundingDoes not require huge funding Can be built in a ‘corner’ of any facility caring for Can be built in a ‘corner’ of any facility caring for
men with Alzheimer's.men with Alzheimer's. Requires minimal materials to ‘stock’ itRequires minimal materials to ‘stock’ it Can cater for many projects at a timeCan cater for many projects at a time Is limited only by lack of imagination!Is limited only by lack of imagination!
W.H.O. defines dementia A syndrome due to disease of the brain of a Chronic or progressive
nature:disturbance of cognitive functioning - affecting:
______________________________________________________________
memory thinking orientation comprehension calculation learning capacity Language judgment age is the greatest risk The World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases World Health Organisation, 1990
2008 52,000 people newly diagnosed 1000 per week Number of Australians with dementia will
be more than 200,000 or 1% of population 2050 Number of Australians with dementia will
exceed 730,000 or 2.8% of population
Dementia estimates & projections
Acknowledgement of Keith Bettany’s work on Acknowledgement of Keith Bettany’s work on Men’s Sheds and DementiaMen’s Sheds and Dementia
““Easier ‘Shed’ than done”Easier ‘Shed’ than done”
““A means to providing meaningful A means to providing meaningful activities for Men with Dementia in activities for Men with Dementia in
the community and Aged Care the community and Aged Care Facilities”Facilities”
From Keith Bettany’s Work for Alzheimer’s Australia From Keith Bettany’s Work for Alzheimer’s Australia S.A.S.A.
Problems:Men living in an aged care
facility relocation stress drastic changes female environment staff team “lovely’’ surroundings alien to most men no shed - no escape square pegs in round holes
Disengagement from Activity
At risk group:
•frail •aged •institutionalised
Disengagement leads to:
•reduced physical health •reduced psychological health •increased agitation
Common Unmet Needs Leads to Increased
Agitation
discomfort sitting all day no activity need for love and belonging social contact want to be of help limited stimulation
One Therapy Missing in Aged Care Facilities...
For people with dementia
SHED THERAPY
Shed TherapyShed Therapy
Thank Goodness for Sheds
a man’s domain last area .. has control workshop of equipment, tools of equipment
and hoarded goods strange smells, clutter, dust, disorder - the
norm opposite to home
Meaningful Activities help:
physical and psychological benefits reduces stress feelings of competency Increases in self esteem opportunities for conversation and companionship socially engaging creates fun, laughter, mateship feel busy & useful. stimulates the senses, the mind & memory and
more The Alzheimer’s Society Book on Activities, (2002), Sally Knockers
The Shed Provides Sanity at the Home Front
Time spent meaningfully Transition –a different space of their ‘own’ Purpose – can be productive and useful ‘out’ – not in the same old spot! not under foot- they are not a nuisance, in
own space reduces stress-more relaxed sanity – allows life to be more meaningful rhythm – important to look forward to a
pleasure at given times
Factors that Decrease Agitation
music providing meaningful activities opportunities for socialisation 1:1 human contact massage pets
and this can all occur in a shed
Shed Activities for Men with Dementia
reading sorting hardware (great link with other Sheds) assembly work (pre-made kits) Reminiscing (photo albums, ‘old’ picture
books, talking) project work relaxing jigsaws (shadow board) listening to music gardening activities playing games (and more) activity boards
risk assessment on each man to maintain safety
Take Home Message
Work is a source of a meaningful quality of life. Residents with dementia all were viable, active citizens in their homes, jobs, and community.
The challenge is to take the tasks that they one time were engaged in easily … and successfully adapt or modify them for a continued sense of purposeful participation.”
Carly CarlyHellen Hellen., ., ‘‘Using Activities for Behaviour Intervention Using Activities for Behaviour Intervention’’, Pp 85 , Pp 85--91
The “Portable” ShedThe “Portable” Shed
Portable ShedsPortable Sheds
Can be built in a disused cornerCan be built in a disused corner Does not have to be bigDoes not have to be big Cheap – a few donated tools and some wood Cheap – a few donated tools and some wood
provide a ‘shed’provide a ‘shed’ Easy activities are a backdrop to the men’s Easy activities are a backdrop to the men’s
space and ‘talk area’space and ‘talk area’ Add creative things like wood shavings and Add creative things like wood shavings and
secreted jars of ‘metho’ for authentic secreted jars of ‘metho’ for authentic ambience!!!ambience!!!
Portable Shed operatingPortable Shed operating
Funding Bodies to Funding Bodies to ApproachApproach
Uniting Care if under U/CUniting Care if under U/C Dept. Vet. AffairsDept. Vet. Affairs DADACDADAC Fed. & State Govt. GrantsFed. & State Govt. Grants Local CouncilsLocal Councils Small Business GrantsSmall Business Grants
Funding Bodies to Funding Bodies to ApproachApproach
Rotary/Lions ClubsRotary/Lions Clubs Insurance Companies and Health Insurance Companies and Health
FundsFunds Local RSL-type clubsLocal RSL-type clubs Sponsors – may give donations of Sponsors – may give donations of
equipment etcequipment etc
WEBSITESWEBSITES
www.mensshed.orgwww.mensshed.org interactive national siteinteractive national site www.mensshed.org.auwww.mensshed.org.au
Lane Cove Site Lane Cove Site
For Funding Help:For Funding Help: www.ourcommunity.com.auwww.ourcommunity.com.au ($156 per ($156 per
year – will provide access to grants search year – will provide access to grants search database etc.database etc.
www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.auwww.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au(searchable database of NSW Grants)(searchable database of NSW Grants)