Gillingham Care Home Team Walks 30 Miles For Dementia Charities
Staff, residents and relatives at a Gillingham care home walked 30 miles to raise nearly £500 for two charities supporting people living with dementia.
The team at Fern Brook Lodge, which provides residential, respite and dementia care, raised £492 for local cause, Dementia Friendly Gillingham, and national charity, Alzheimer’s Society, as a result of their ‘Memory Walk’.
Colleagues from departments across the home, which is run by not-for-profit charity Care South, took turns to walk laps of the garden with any residents who wanted to take part. Every member of staff who took on the Memory Walk has completed Care South’s in-house training programme to become a Dementia Champion. This equips them to support colleagues in providing person-centred care that meets each resident’s individual needs.
Annie Kings, a Dementia Friends Champion at Dementia Friendly Gillingham, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone at Fern Brook Lodge who took part in the walk. This money will help us continue supporting people living with dementia and their loved ones in Gillingham. It is wonderful to see the team’s commitment to raising awareness and improving the lives of those affected by dementia.”
Dementia Friendly Gillingham is a volunteer-led organisation that supports people living with dementia and their loved ones through community activities and initiatives. It also hosts a monthly ‘Sing-a-song of Praise’ session at Fern Brook Lodge for residents and their families, as well as the local community.
Lauren Taylor, Home Manager at Fern Brook Lodge, said: “We are so proud of everyone who took part in the walk, which raised a fantastic amount for Dementia Friendly Gillingham and Alzheimer’s Society. Delivering great dementia care is so important to us, and our team works hard to ensure every resident feels respected, understood and supported. The walk was a lovely way for our team, residents and relatives to come together in support of causes that mean so much to our community.”
