Jean

Thank you. My topic at Monday Memory Club and will add this.

Thank you, this is great.

Thank you for another month.

Hi Shane, A good few months have passed since you had your Mad Hatters Tea Party but my manager has now suggested that I do one. I downloaded your picture etc as inspiration for my team. Everyone is now working towards making it all happen on 2nd October. I have enough time to get the residents involved in cutting out and making decorations etc. Thanks

Hi Jill, Last year I organised an evening early it December when we got the residents themselves to decorate the Christmas tree. The Maintenance man helped me, he put the lights on the tree then we asked the residents to choose a baubel and show us where they wanted it put. We then turned off the lights, did a countdown and turned on the Christmas tree lights. We serves mulled wine and mince pies after and they all enjoyed it. Christmas day itself we have a big Christmas dinner and Santa gives out small presents . The main focus is the meal.

Some of the residents comment saying that we are late taking down the decorations, they think that they were put up for Christmas or a party whilst others just don't appear to see them any more. They have been up since before Easter and have accumulated. I display items that have been made by the residents for about a week then remove them, the residents can not remember making them or participating. I find it 'too'much but it is not what I want it is what the residents benefit from and that is why I was looking for other points of view. It consists of paper chains, mobiles bunches of dry plants and grasses etc and I am sure the residents did benefit in a sensory/spiritual way when tying them up initially but perhaps they should be moved on now?

We have set up a gazebo outside with a table and two chairs, one each end of the table in order to ensure social distancing. the table has a perspex screen across it and PPE is required to be worn by both parties. Only 1 visitor at a time by appointment and only 1 staff member is involved in taking the resident out. The system is working well and everyone respects the rules.

Our residents have dementia, our lounge is really 'well' decorated with paper chains, mobiles and other odds and ends of random craft work. does anyone have any information regarding how this will effect the dementia residents? Initially the aim was to brighten up the room but if a busy, noisy room is difficult for residents who are cognitively impaired will all these random decorations effect them in the same way? Looking forward to your views. Thank you.

Thank you so much, that's fantastic.

Is it going to become a regular feature? I would love to use it at 10AM teatime each day but do appreciate that it is a lot of work.