Care home knitters create cushions to help people with dementia

Home news

Mar 13, 2013

Residents at Care UK’s Little Holland Hall have hit upon a way of using their talents to make life more comfortable for older people with dementia.

The home’s knitting group has planned and made a collection of cushions that are designed to stimulate the senses, as well as being decorative and comfortable. The group now plan to hand over the cushions to the residents of Care UK’s Haven Lodge, at a special coffee morning to mark the ‘Time for a Cuppa’ campaign (1^st-8^th March), a national event to raise awareness and understanding of dementia.

Activities Coordinator Mandy Cooper, who runs the knitting group with her colleague, said: “The cushions are beautiful, they have knitted fronts and material backs, some have pockets, others have material on that can be scrunched and makes noises, others are furry and some have rough sections. Some use velcro and others have large and colourful buttons and all of them are designed to stimulate the senses.

“The ladies have worked very hard on them in the sessions and some even have taken them back to their room to work on in their spare time.”

Little Holland Hall Manager Pauline Goh said: “I was delighted to hear that the group wanted to support people with dementia and I was amazed when I saw the level of creativity that had gone into the designs. Each one is eye-catching and will help to stimulate senses and memories for anyone holding it.

“It also helps the knitting group to keep up their own skills and dexterity and I know they have a great time chatting away as they work, which is also a great way of keeping up their mental and social skills.

“People think moving into a care home marks the end of your life within the community and the end of your lifelong hobbies. This shows nothing could be further from the truth. These ladies have kept up their compassion and interest in other members of the community while keeping up their much loved hobby. I am proud that they and the team have taken on such a worthwhile project.”

The presentation will take place on Thursday 8^th March at Haven Lodge as part of the Clacton home’s own celebrations of the ‘Time for a Cuppa’ week.

Little Holland Hall is a purpose-built care home that also offers specialist nursing care for  people recovering from strokes, and Haven Lodge, in Clacton-on-Sea, offers specialist care to people with dementia.