Residents with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can now enjoy a host of therapeutic and recreational activities thanks to a three-year funding commitment from insurance company Zurich.

Action on Alzheimer’s and Dementia (AAD) has been able to more than triple the number of activities it offers its clients each week and expand to two new locations, St David’s and Somerset.

The move comes after the Bermuda Legion announced it was aiming to create a residential facility for seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

While there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, studies have shown that activity and engagement with one’s environment, learning, socialising and music are effective — even more so than medication, in some cases. AAD has been able to introduce or expand programmes such as music and movement, music therapy, art therapy, games, modified sports, animal interaction, drumming and boccia.

The charity had a limited number of programmes running out of the Peace Lutheran Church in Paget and WindReach Recreational Village in Warwick, but now has additional programmes at the Chapel of Ease in St David’s, and Allen Temple Church, Somerset. The donation will also allow it to offer services such as transport.

Before receiving the funding, AAD ran two morning sessions and one afternoon session each week — now the only open weekday slot is on a Wednesday morning and even then there is an activity once a month.

Zurich has also introduced a programme that allows its employees to volunteer a certain number of hours to the charity each month.

Elizabeth Stewart, who founded AAD in 2012, said: “The goal was always to expand the programmes if there was demand and we knew that people couldn’t come from the different ends of the Island.

“We also knew there were a lot of smaller care homes that probably didn’t have structured activities — it is required for only the larger homes to have a specific activities coordinator.

“We wanted to make it more accessible for people and we really want to encourage people to take advantage of what we are offering — it is all free as a result of Zurich’s funding and we are hugely grateful to them.”

Close to 100 people used the programmes before the donation and Ms Stewart believes there is potential for many more to now come on board.

There are about 1,000 Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers in Bermuda, which is roughly on a par with those suffering from cancer.

Krista Tatem heads up the charity’s activity programme in her role as activation specialist and programme coordinator.

“We are able to tap into the care home and rest home population now,” she said. “The beauty of that is that the care staff can see how we model engaging with the clients. There is an education built into it.

“The programmes are designed to tap into all of their needs, whether it be social, intellectual, spiritual, physical.

“We know that these activities help with behaviours associated with dementia, such as anxiety, loss of memory, spatial awareness and sense of time. They are dramatically decreased through activity. There is a residual effect which helps the caregivers as well, they need as much support as possible.”

Andrew Vaucrosson, a Zurich volunteer, has started taking his mother, Margaret, to some of the programmes.

“I am dealing with a family member who is in the early stages and so I thought it would be a helpful thing,” he said. “My mom likes it. It is important she gets to come out with other people of her age and it is very stimulating. People get isolated in their own homes, which can make the problem worse.”

• Anyone interested in the programmes cam e-mail alzbermuda@yahoo.com or call 505 3679.