The Sporting Memories Foundation has been chosen by Person Centred Software as its charity of the year. The charity tackles dementia, depression and loneliness through the power of sports reminiscence. The importance of reminiscence therapy in care homes was highlighted by NICE when they updated their quality standard on dementia in June 2019. NICE added the recommendation that people with dementia in care homes should be offered wellbeing-enhancing activities such as reminiscence therapy.
The Sporting Memories Foundation offers community-led intergenerational groups as well as training for volunteers, and a Sporting Memories Package for care homes include sets of photographic Replay Cards on themed sports to aid reminiscence conversations and an app for recording sports reminiscence to support activities co-ordinators. Throughout 2019, Person Centred Software will be raising awareness and funds for The Sporting Memories Charity.
On news of charity partnership, Susie Brindley, CEO of The Sporting Memories Foundation said, “We are thrilled to have been chosen as Person Centred Software’s charity of the year and are looking forward to working with such an innovative company. Both organisations share so many similar values and we both have a common goal in improving the lives of older people and celebrating their memories. The funds raised over the year will make a big difference to help us continue to support our free weekly Sporting Memories clubs across the UK.”
Explaining why the company chose The Sporting Memories Foundation, Heidi Thomas, Head of Marketing at Person Centred Software, says: “I believe we have a corporate responsibility to give back to the care industry. The Sporting Memories Foundation groups and resources for care homes have huge value for people living with dementia, depression and loneliness to feel less isolated, to get involved in sports reminiscence despite their diagnosis, talk about their sporting memories and improve their mood. This has a huge impact on people’s wellbeing. We are excited to raise awareness and funds for The Sporting Memories Foundation.”
Person Centred Software provides its electronic care planning and evidence of care system, Mobile Care Monitoring, to over 1,300 care homes in the UK supporting over 40,000 service users. 70 per cent of people living in care homes have dementia or severe memory problem according to Alzheimer’s Society.
As dementia diagnoses rise, dementia care in residential care settings is becoming increasingly important. In March 2019, Person Centred Software launched a new ‘Who I Am’ feature to enable staff to provide a more responsive and personalised quality of care for residents living with dementia and improve their quality of life.
