UK Retreat 2020 - Memory Bridge

Spirit to Spirit: UK Memory Bridge Retreat

In partnership with St. Christopher’s Hospice, we’re excited to announce Spirit to Spirit: The Memory Bridge UK Summer Retreat at Sarum College in Salisbury, England.

Over the course of five days, participants will explore the spirit-to-spirit communication that occurs between people with dementia and those who love them. Our intention is to break through the clichéd understandings of person-centered care to advance global awareness about the possibilities of communicating with persons with dementia in ego-transcending ways.

The Retreat is open to all people who are in relationship, personally or vocationally, with one or more persons with dementia. Full scholarships (except for travel expenses) will be awarded to the 12 persons from around the world who are selected to attend the Retreat.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Spirit to Spirit: The Memory Bridge UK Summer Retreat has been rescheduled for the summer of 2021.

Memory Bridge in Action at St. Christopher's Hospice

The Retreat is based on our “I Am a Bridge” training that positions people with dementia in the roles of teacher, guide, and companion. The central experience of the five-day retreat is the daily meetings with the elders with dementia who live in a nearby residential community and participate in the program.

In addition to the one-to-one and group visits with people with dementia, the experience incorporates a day of learning about tuning into the spirit through sound with percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie and composer John McHugh. The retreat will also include presentations, facilitated discussions, videos, literature, extensive reflection, yoga, daily meditation, and many hours of informal conversations with the other participants. On the final day of the retreat, we will go to St. Christopher’s Hospice in London to learn about their holistic philosophy of healing and allied care practices.

Interested in Participating?

Please contact us if you are interested in learning more or have questions about the retreat.

While the retreat schedule for this year has not yet been set, you can click below to see what we’ve done in years past during our annual US retreat.

2:00 – 4:00pm	Arrival and Check-in
5:00 – 6:00pm	Welcoming Meal
6:00 – 8:00pm	Opening Circle
8:00 – 9:00pm	Introducing the Journey

6:30 – 7:15am	Morning Meditation
8:00 – 9:00am	Breakfast
9:00 – 10:30am	Presentation: Listening Deeply in a Flat World
11:00 – Noon	Meeting Our Buddies (Buddy Bios)
Noon – 1:00pm	Lunch
1:00 – 2:30pm	1^st Buddy Visit – Autumn Hills Alzheimer’s Center
2:30 – 4:30pm	Relax and Reflection
4:30 – 6:00pm	Sharing our Buddy Visit
6:00 – 7:00pm	Evening Meal
7:00 – 9:00pm	Presentation: “Love is not Normal”
9:00 – 9:30pm	Evening Wind-down

6:30 – 7:15am	Morning Meditation
8:00 – 9:00am	Breakfast
9:30 – 10:30am	2^nd Buddy Visit
10:30 – Noon	Break
Noon – 1:00pm	Lunch
1:00 – 2:30pm	Sharing Our Buddy Visit
2:30 – 4:00pm	Relection and Relaxation
4:00 – 6:00pm	Creating I-Land Maps
6:00 – 7:00pm	Evening Meal
7:00 – 9:00pm	Discussion: The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Leo Tolstoy
9:00 – 9:30pm	Evening Wind-down

6:30 – 7:15am	Morning Meditation
8:00 – 9:00am	Breakfast
9:30 – 10:30am	3^rd Buddy Visit
10:30 – Noon	Break
Noon – 1:30pm	Lunch/Complete I-Land Maps, if needed
1:30 – 3:30pm	Presentation: Being With Care (with mid-way break)
3:30 – 5:30pm	Sharing Our I-Land Maps
6:00 – 8:00pm	Evening Meal (in town)
8:00 – 9:30pm	Drumming

6:30 – 7:30am	Morning Meditation
8:00 – 9:00am	Breakfast
9:30 – 11:30am	4^th Buddy Visit (with drums)
11:30 – Noon	Break
Noon – 1:00pm	Lunch
1:00 – 2:30pm	Reflection on Bridging
2:30 – 4:30pm	Sharing Our Bridging Ideas
4:30 – 6:00pm	Rest
6:00 – 7:00pm	Evening Meal
7:00 – 9:00pm	Presentation: Over and Under and Back From Whence you Came
9:00 – 9:30pm	Evening Wind-down

6:30 – 7:15am	Morning Meditation
8:00 – 8:45am	Breakfast
9:30 – 10:15am	Final Buddy Visit
10:30 – 12:45pm	Sharing Our Experiences and Closing Circle
1:00 – 2:00pm	Lunch
2:00pm	Departure

Memory Bridge Retreat Video

Retreat Setting

Located in Salisbury, about two hours’ travel from London, Sarum College is a center for study and research, with a passion for learning that nourishes the human spirit.

Their courses, conferences, and facilities are open to people of all faiths and no faith. Founded in 1995, the College is based in historic buildings designated Grade I by the National Heritage List for England, and has a heritage of theological education stretching back more than 150 years in Salisbury’s Cathedral Close.

Retreat participants are housed in Sarum College’s guest bedrooms. Information about accommodations is provided on the College’s website. The cost of housing and meals at the College will be covered by the scholarship.

Sometimes I feel like my decision to work in an assisted living facility for people with dementia isolates me from a certain "normal" world that is going on without me. The retreat, however, allowed me to feel like I am right where I need to be, in terms of mattering as an important part of society.
Joshua Crane, West Hatfield, Massachusetts
I often feel alone at work as I try to change the culture of the places where I work to recognize the humanness, the person who remains with the dis-ease of dementia. Having been at the Memory Bridge Retreat I now feel that I have hands and hearts holding me in my work. The experience has changed me as an OT [occupational therapist].
Nancy Dubuar, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
This once in a lifetime experience was beyond anything I could have imagined; I arrived with an open heart and mind, hoping to learn, to grow, and to expose myself to new opportunities and challenges. The treasure I left with was a bounty so rich I was both fulfilled and overwhelmed.
Angela Christie, Clinton, Connecticut
The impact of the retreat is with me daily. At some moment each day some piece of what we talked about comes to the forefront and sits with me as I make decisions on how to move my organization further and do the best I can for my residents.
Rebekah Levit, Waltham, Massachusetts
In this room of accomplished, dedicated, educated, experienced dementia practitioners, we were open to wonderment and continually amazed at the human spirit. How wonderful spending a week being cared for. The retreat center was the perfect place.
Nancy Sondag, New York City

In partnership with St. Christopher’s Hospice, we’re excited to announce Spirit to Spirit: The Memory Bridge UK Summer Retreat at Sarum College in Salisbury, England.

The Retreat is open to all people who are in relationship, personally or vocationally, with one or more persons with dementia. Full scholarships (except for travel expenses) will be awarded to the 12 persons from around the world who are selected to attend the Retreat.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Spirit to Spirit: The Memory Bridge UK Summer Retreat has been rescheduled for the summer of 2021.

Interested in Participating?

While the retreat schedule for this year has not yet been set, you can click below to see what we’ve done in years past during our annual US retreat.

Memory Bridge Retreat Video

Retreat Setting

Copyright notice

Contact Us

In partnership with St. Christopher’s Hospice, we’re excited to announce Spirit to Spirit: The Memory Bridge UK Summer Retreat at Sarum College in Salisbury, England.

The Retreat is open to all people who are in relationship, personally or vocationally, with one or more persons with dementia. Full scholarships (except for travel expenses) will be awarded to the 12 persons from around the world who are selected to attend the Retreat.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Spirit to Spirit: The Memory Bridge UK Summer Retreat has been rescheduled for the summer of 2021.

Interested in Participating?

While the retreat schedule for this year has not yet been set, you can click below to see what we’ve done in years past during our annual US retreat.

Sample Daily Schedule

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Memory Bridge Retreat Video

Retreat Setting