Raising Awareness Of Dementia At Hicare Homes
Hicare embraces Dementia Awareness week with two fabulous open days
For Dementia Awareness Week 2016, Hicare Homes, Leicester hosted a variety of activities with the aims to inform the local community about dementia and how people can live well with dementia. Dementia Awareness Week is a national event which seeks to raise understanding of dementia across the country. Hicare has always been a supporter for dementia awareness. Their homes have dementia friendly environments and many features throughout the homes to help residents with dementia feel safe, secure and happy; assisting in day to day activities like navigation, knowing the date and time etc…
Dementia Awareness Week was from 15th May – 21st May and Hicare Homes had open days on 17th and 20th at Meadow’s Court and Spencefield Grange respectively.
Meadow’s Court chose to embrace the “Golden Age of Cinema” as their chosen theme and activities were all based around this. Activities were chosen to spark conversation between residents and to encourage reminiscence of the Golden Age such as:
- Movie star cards from the 1940’s/50’s to evoke memories.
- “Gone with the Wind” vintage cinema experience
- Sensory room experience
Spencefield Grange hosted a Victorian themed open day. Staff were dressed up in vintage clothing whilst residents took part in traditional games and activities.
- Skittles
- Point of view cards
- Dominoes
- A “dementia play” was also performed by the managers to show how someone living with dementia and their families can feel. This provided a lot of insight to all the guests and staff.
Spencefield Grange also prepared a “Who Am I?” display in reception with pictures of residents and staff from the home in their younger years. This was a conversational point for everyone to get involved in and everyone had a lot of fun guessing who was who. The home were also honoured by a visit from the Salvation Army band, who provided the residents with an afternoon of musical entertainment.
At both open days, Hicare held Dementia Cafés hosted by their very own Dementia Champion, Manisha Zala. These sessions provide visitors with information about dementia and how to encourage and support people living with the condition. It also allowed attendees to become Dementia Friends at the end of the session and make a pledge to get in touch with someone they know living with dementia.
Operation’s Manager, Manisha Zala, said “Having been in care for over 15 years, dementia is a cause that is very close to my heart, having seen firsthand the affects it can have on our residents and the general community. I am very proud of all our staff for putting on these fantastic events. Hopefully with more events like this one, we can improve the lives of all people affected by dementia in our local community.”
