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Igniting the Spark of Life in people with dementia

Nigeria

Lagos & Ibadan

The Hebron Love & Care Centres – On the journey to become Spark of Life Centres of Excellence.

The Hebron Love & Care Centre is a non-government organisation with the sole aim of caring for elders consisting of six day centres and one residential care home opening in 2022.

Members meet in different locations within Lagos and Ibadan. Volunteers educated in the Spark of Life Philosophy provide the service to elders in Lagos and in Ibadan.

In 2017 Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life provided 2 scholarships for pioneering leaders in Dementia Care in Nigeria, Elizabeth Aina-Scott and Olayinka Ajomale to come to Perth Australia and attend the 3 week intensive Spark of Life Master Leadership Program, so they could become certified to implement the Spark of Life Philosophy in their dementia centres.

Elizabeth Aina-Scott, Spark of Life Master Practitioner, Founder of the Hebron Love & Care Centre.

Elizabeth left a successful career running 13 television stations across Nigeria, to put her full commitment and energy into pioneering community development, giving much needed support to older Nigerians, including those who have dementia.

Elizabeth is focused on implementing the Spark of Life Philosophy in her Day Centres for people with dementia in Lagos and new Care Home in Ibadan and she is setting up the Spark of Life Rehabilitative Program in each Centre.

Elizabeth educating her team in the 3-day certified Spark of Life Practitioner Course in Lagos

Read Elizabeth’s Story – In her own words >>

An article by Elizabeth – Spark of Life: The How of Unconditional Love >>

Hebron Love & Care Team learning about the Spark of Life Sunshine Club Program

Elizabeth shares how Spark of Life is embraced:

“We have our regular meetings based on the Spark of Life Philosophy. The elders who attend from the community benefit from the social engagement and emotional support and this program supports healthy ageing in the community.

We adopt the Spark of Life principles of:

  1. Rediscovering their potential to make them confident in themselves and rekindle the hope of a better future
  2. We engage them in meaningful social activities and group discussions
  3. Dancing
  4. We encourage them to tell  stories about their lives, and giving support for areas of distress or depression which might have a future consequence in future.

Our activities go deeper into areas of assistance – financial, health, emotional and offering and we apply preventive measures to bring the spark out in their eyes.“

Elizabeth’s Spark of Life Education at her new Hebron Love and Care Home in Ibadan, Nigeria

PlusTV Africa Lifestyle Interviews Elizabeth, Discussing The Challenges Caring For The Elderly:

Ibadan

Jane May Elder Care Centre

The Jane May Elder Care Centre is a residential facility for older persons living with various cognitive impairments and memory challenges. At the centre regular programs and activities are organised to enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of those living with dementia and depression. There are eight male and female residents with seven permanent staff and three volunteers.

Olayinka Ajomale, Spark of Life Master Practitioner

Olayinka is the Executive Director for the Centre on Ageing, Development & Rights of Older Persons, Consultant Geriatric Social Worker at Jane May Elder Care Centre,  Ibadan  and until recently the Executive Secretary of the African Gerontological Society AGES based in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Heading the management team of AGES Day Centre for Senior Citizens for many years, Olayinka has now joined the management team of the Jane May Elder Care Centre, where he is focused on implementing the Spark of Life Philosophy.

Olayinka has begun educating his team members on the 3-day Certified Spark of Life Practitioner Course and hopes to start a Spark of Life Club for  residents of the centre.