Every September, people worldwide come together for World Alzheimer’s Month. It’s a time to raise awareness of dementia and show support for everyone affected.
Across our homes in North Wales, residents, families and staff marked the month in their own ways. There were memory trees, tea parties, alpacas and a great deal of purple. Here are some of our favourite moments.
At Merton Place, residents sat down together to talk about autumns gone by. They shared memories of the season with their families: crisp walks, harvest time and cosy evenings at home.
The team wrote each memory onto a printed leaf, and together they built an Autumn Memory Tree. It now stands as a colourful collection of stories from the people who live there.
Later, the home hosted an afternoon tea party in support of World Alzheimer’s Day.
The team at Fairways Newydd made one resident’s wish come true: to meet a real, fluffy animal face to face again.
The Forget Me Knot Alpacas came to visit, and the home filled with smiles. Residents, families and staff all came out to meet them. Everyone enjoyed it so much that the alpacas will be invited back for another visit.
At Eryl Fryn, the month began with painting and planting forget-me-nots. Then came a game of music bingo, with every song chosen by residents from the years they remember best.
In week two, residents enjoyed afternoon tea and stepped back in time at a Pop-Up Memory Sweet Shop and Post Office. They also spent time together in the home’s Memory Café.
Familiar sights, sounds and tastes like these can spark conversation and help people feel comfortable and at ease
Week three brought a sound guessing game, with residents listening closely to see if they could recognise each sound. There was plenty of laughter, and a few proud correct answers too.
Residents also made purple ribbons together, the colour of Alzheimer’s awareness.
The team also created a “Person Behind the Uniform” board. Staff shared photos of themselves enjoying life outside work, with their families, pets and hobbies.
On 21 September, the dining room was decorated in purple, the colour of Alzheimer’s awareness. Staff and residents wore purple too, which brought a real feeling of togetherness to the day.
If you’re starting to think about care for someone you love, we’re here to talk it through. Visit our care homes to find a home near you, or call the home directly to arrange a visit.
