Kindhearted residents, staff and families at a Dorset dementia care home have raised more than £1,300 to help all those in their community who live with the condition.
It follows a series of activities at Colten Care’s Fernhill in Longham, one of the south coast provider’s four dedicated dementia care homes.
Among residents attending the handover of a £1,313.15 cheque was Robert Simpson who described the support for the Ferndown Dementia Friendly Town group, the home’s charity for the past year, as ‘a great cause’.
Fundraising events have included fetes, gala lunches, garden produce sales and performances by a community choir involving Fernhill residents, families, friends and team members.
The group is part of the Growing Compassionate Communities Charity and works to ensure those living locally with dementia, and their families, have guidance and practical support. Its committee includes a range of community volunteers including representatives from Colten Care and other local businesses.
Fernhill Home Manager Lorraine Bell said: “We are proud to support a charity that makes such a meaningful difference to people living with dementia.”
Representing Ferndown Dementia Friendly Town at the cheque presentation were Chairman Michael Deane and Secretary Emma Regan.
Emma said: “The funds raised by Fernhill will go a long way to supporting our local projects. These include our ‘Seed to Larder’ allotment projects, funding a fully accessible toilet for a year, and music concerts, especially the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Cake Concerts. Michael and I are so very grateful for all the support and funds from Fernhill.”
Maintaining community contacts is a key strand of Colten Care’s overall dementia care strategy for residents.
It has been evolved with extensive leadership and input from Kay Gibson, Colten Care’s Admiral Nurse, since her appointment in partnership with Dementia UK in 2016.
Kay said: “Engaging with the community is an important aspect of life in our dementia care homes. The connections between social interaction, companionship, memory and wellbeing are incredibly powerful.”
