Mytime Active Stories - Lynne
A familiar face in challenging times.
Lynne Panteli has been part of the Mytime Active community for more than 25 years and, despite being 75 years old, her weekly schedule is packed with keep fit and line dancing classes across Mytime Active’s venues in Bromley, Beckenham and Orpington.
For the last 15 years she has also been one of its most dedicated and beloved Primetime Buddies, volunteering at least 18 hours of her time each week to help and support other over 60s Primetime members. But her impact goes far beyond helping with classes – Lynne is a warm, reassuring presence for those members and their carers living with dementia. She offers a friendly face, someone to talk to and, crucially, someone who listens.
“I love helping people and if they have any problems they do talk to me about them. When I go on holiday, people tell me they’ve missed me – it realy means something,” she says. “Primetime feels like a big family. We look out for each other and I love being part of that.”
As part of her Buddy role, Lynne completed dementia-friendly training delivered by MIND in Beckenham; all Mytime Active Buddies and many of the Primetime team and Mytime Active staff and instructors are Dementia Friends, an initiative delivered by trained ambassadors from the Alzheimer’s Society to raise awareness and understanding about Dementia. The training helped Lynne better understand the many forms dementia can take and how to support members with patience and empathy.
“The training explained dementia like an umbrella, with different types - Alzheimer’s, vascular and various conditions relating to the brain - underneath. Inside your head are a lot of lights and whichever light goes out affects your brain. It was a good way of explaining the condition and that image really stuck with me. It taught me not to argue, not to say ‘do you remember,’ and to always be patient, especially when they ask the same questions all the time. It’s so easy to be sharp with people, so you need a lot of patience. But I’ve found my understanding really helps everyone, not just those with dementia,” Lynne continues.
Lynne now instinctively applies what she learnt in her weekly buddying; her familiarity and training help her spot subtle changes and offer sensitive support, without making anyone feel different or singled out.
She says: “It’s important to treat them as ordinary people and not make an issue out of it. We all get forgetful, especially as you get older. How many people go into a room and can’t remember what they were going to do? I know I have done it!
“It’s so important for people with dementia to continue classes – it makes them feel normal, and gives them something to think about. But it’s also the social side, it means they can still go out for coffee and meet friends.”
Lynne’s connection to the cause is deeply personal. Her younger sister, Ann, has lived with dementia for almost a decade, and seeing her decline, particularly after a fall and hip fracture, has been heartbreaking. Lynne says: “Ann doesn’t recognise us anymore, and when she cries during visits, it breaks my heart. I know she’s scared and confused. The carers and staff who look after people with dementia deserve our highest praise, they do the most amazing job under really difficult circumstances.”
Lynne’s personal experience has strengthened her commitment to remain a bright, energetic force for Mytime Active’s Primetime members. She believes the Primetime programme plays a vital role in helping older adults feel connected, active and valued.
“No matter what problems I have, when I go to Mytime Active I always try to be smiling; people don’t want to see someone miserable. I am a full glass type of person, I give it everything. It makes me feel valued in myself and gives me something to look forward to. If Primetime didn’t exist, many people would just be at home, isolated and depressed. This gives them purpose – and gives me purpose too,” she says.