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)