engage their loved one. “Relatives say that they enjoy sitting with their mum or dad in this area, looking through the objects together and chatting about the memories they bring,” adds Julie.


Bringing a smile It’s not just objects and conversation that can stimulate memories, reminiscence can also be delivered through activity. Julie explains: “For instance, many of our residents take part in a music group where they sing along with songs that will have been familiar to them all their lives. It is amazing to see how some people with very late-stage dementia, who cannot maintain a conversation, can still sing along word-for-word with a song like Jerusalem, with wide smiles.”


Seeing this effect on residents is what spurs Julie, the activity coordinators and staff team at Pemberton to always find new ways to further develop their reminiscence programme. “Our memories form our sense of identity,” Julie concludes, “and there is nothing more rewarding than being able to support people with dementia to find this; to see beyond their condition and to give them the comfort they deserve.”


Memory bank Last year a team of employees from Barclays Bank's IT Team took part in a volunteering challenge at St Stephen's Care Home in Cheshire. They decided to try their hand at something a little more creative when they designed and built a 1950’s style room for residents...


“We thought long and hard about what we could do to make our mark on St Stephen's


and came up with the idea of creating a reminiscence room for residents to relax in with family and friends,” explains Barclays IT Manager and Project Team Leader, Leanne Dow. “So, armed with rolls of vintage-style wallpapers, antique furniture, a sewing machine and lots of lovely fabrics, we set about transforming an ordinary sitting room into a step back in time!”


The result of the team’s hard work is truly amazing, delighting residents and staff alike: “The Barclays team have done a terrific job and everyone at St Stephen's is so thrilled with it,” says Deputy Home Manager, Cindy Southhall. “Residents now use the new room to sit with family and friends, listening to the radio or just having a cup of tea. As well as being a real talking point, all the old fashioned memorabilia is really comforting to residents, stirring fond memories of years gone by.”


You First | www.c-i-c.co.uk | 11


A guide to Reminiscence for


people with dementia…. By Sue Lord, Home Manager – The Dell, Manchester.


“There are many things that can be used for reminiscence sessions. Memories are brought back to us in a number of ways: through our sense of smell, with familiar objects, using music and videos; books and pictures; and also through everyday conversation.


When delivering reminiscence sessions for people with dementia it is important to keep things simple by not providing too much information at one time. Just using one visual aid works better than using several items, reducing confusion for the individual or group involved. Also, encouraging loved ones to take part can help, as familiar faces encourage participation and can also help provide information.


Making sure people feel included and listened to is integral to a productive reminiscence session. Not only does this boost their sense of self-esteem, you may also find that you learn some fascinating things yourself!"


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