Homes across the Country Court Care Group united against dementia this Dementia Awareness Week, 14-20 May. Country Court Care have four care homes in Lincoln; residents and staff came together for a series of special events and activities to mark Dementia Awareness Week.
Eccleshare Court on Ashby Avenue in Lincoln and Neale Court Care Home in North Hykeham held a Dementia Dance workshops for residents, facilitated by Charlotte from Lincoln NHS Partnership. Residents had a fantastic time hand jiving and chair dancing with moves designed especially for people with dementia.
Homes held Dementia Friends coffee mornings which included reading poems and meaningful discussions between staff, residents and families about dementia. The coffee mornings are designed to enable people to offer support, ask questions and find out more about caring for someone with Dementia. The sessions are facilitate by the homes’ Dementia Champions.
On Wednesday residents from all Country Court Care homes in Lincoln met at Swanholme Court care home on Ashby Avenue to enjoy entertainment from local singer Jeremy Hilliard.
“Jeremy has a great rapport with residents” said Lisa Dent, Swanholme Court Home Manager “He got everyone joining in the singing and dancing. It was lovely to see our residents from our care homes across Lincoln making chatting and establishing friendships”.
The finale to Dementia Awareness Week was the unveiling of our Dementia Tree mural at Eccleshare Court Care Home. Together with Activities and Well-being Coordinator Sharon Kinsella-Pullen, residents had been busy all week making handprints to create the leaves on the trees. The hand-prints feature comments and thoughts about Dementia written by residents. The tree is positioned in the central courtyard at Eccleshare Court for all the residents, staff and visitors to the home to see and enjoy. Despite the rain, residents and staff enjoyed seeing the final tree unveiled by resident Joyce and Home Manager Susannah Spencer.
Dementia is set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer. But awareness and understanding remains low and many families are facing it alone. That’s why, during the Week, Alzheimer’s Society want everyone to come together and take action. By uniting, we can raise awareness, offer help and understanding, improve care and urgently find a cure.