Organised activities at our two nursing homes have been packed with a variety of things to stimulate the senses and residents have thoroughly enjoyed the experiences.
Our activity co-ordinators at Holy Cross in Sunderland and St Catherine’s in Newcastle pulled out all the stops to create some fascinating events and activities to mark Dementia Awareness Week, as our selection of pictures shows.
Residents enjoyed the fragrance of flowers with a trip to a garden centre; a visiting singer who performed wartime songs, reminiscence quizzes to evoke memories and some soothing pamper sessions.
A mysterious ‘what’s in the box’ game proved to be a great source of fun and involved residents reaching into a box to touch hidden items such as jelly, cotton wool, grains of rice and a peeled orange.
“Just about everyone guessed the items correctly, but it was a great conversation starter and there was lots of laughter,” said Holy Cross Activity Co-ordinator, Kayleigh Duddin.
The special week at St Catherine’s was rounded off in story-book fashion with their entire lounge transformed into Alice in Wonderland’s famous tea party. ‘Eat me’ and ‘drink me’ labels adorned the party food, there were ‘grass’ place mats, heart-shaped pastries and sandwiches and lots of playing card decorations.
“It all looked so beautiful it was a shame to eat any of it,” said resident, Dorothy Barrow.