What are 12 of the designs on a One Penny Coin, what is on the front and the back - top or bottom? Without checking in our purses, the highest score by some of our members was only six! These were the questions posed by this month's guest speaker.

He was Phillip Axe, a Dementia Liaison Nurse, who works with mentally ill patients under the umbrella term of 'Dementia'. He explained that there were many forms of Dementia, ie Vascular, Alzheimer's etc and even other illnesses that can present with Dementia symptoms - for example - depression. So nearly all patients with Dementia problems attending for diagnosis present different symptoms, mainly due to the area of the brain that has been affected, or the fact that they don't even have Dementia.

Our test on the One Penny Coin was not to diagnose Dementia in all the members, but just to get over to us the difficulty of diagnosing mental health problems. He also told us that most of us would forget a good percentage of his talk tonight - that doesn't mean we have Dementia.

Infections and even prescribed medication can cause confusion and delirium and in older patients this can take many months to recover from - it doesn't mean they have Dementia.

Treating a person with Dementia should not mean contradiction, arguments, or constant disagreements. Dementia patients believe everything they remember is true (even if it happened over 50 years ago) and nothing will be achieved by trying to change what they believe - except a lot of unhappiness for all concerned - "Their reality is what really matters".

Tips for our members to keep well included, fresh air and exercise (walking), and drink plenty of water.

Many members had questions which were answered fully and were very helpful. This included the idea to write down our own wishes, ie a Power of Attorney for health and wellbeing as well as financial, or even a Living Will.

Our very enjoyable evening concluded with final arrangements for our Birthday Outing on July 1 to a local garden followed by a meal at Roskillys. Members were also asked to contribute towards our cakes and preserves stall at the Constantine Cottage Garden Show on July 20, and to give a thought to a location for our Christmas Dinner. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.