Dementia patients reminded of happy memories

The Ruskin unit at Carleton Clinic was transformed on Thursday 24th May into a 1950’s style café in support of Dementia Awareness week. The staff of Ruskin Unit, run by Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, took patients and carers back in time with their 50’s dresses and Rosie, the vintage bus, to help raise awareness of Dementia.

Jeannie Mark, Ruskin Ward Manager explains: “We decided to put on this event to help raise awareness of dementia. The staff have worked really hard to bring everything together. We have two memory boxes, kindly loaned by Tullie House, designed to encourage a patient’s long-term memories.”

The event was open to all patients and families and gave patients the opportunity to reminisce with memorabilia from an earlier time. The staff arranged for a band to play period music and a member of staff was dressed as an ice cream usher giving out treats.

Stephen Devlin, Patient and Public Experience Support Worker, said: Today has been great as it is a good opportunity to focus on the positives – many of the patients can talk about what has happened in the past. One of the patients, an elderly lady who has been quite distressed recently, has been up dancing and laughing – the change in her has been unbelievable.”
One relative who happened to be visiting a patient said “I didn’t realise this was happening today – it was a big surprise! They have really got into the spirit of it. My granddad is 90 so he is enjoying all the items from his past. It is a wonderful atmosphere”.