Residents and staff at a Lymington care home created an immersive garden trail with thousands of candles so they could ‘shine a light’ on dementia for dozens of visitors.
Colten Care’s dedicated dementia care home Linden House was the venue for three evenings of conversation, reflection and learning coupled with fundraising for Oakhaven Hospice.
More than 70 guests, including representatives of local businesses, community organisations and schools, followed the trail at the Outstanding-rated home.
They took the opportunity to speak with members of the Linden House team and visiting professionals for guidance and reassurance around dementia care.
Among those in attendance was Colten Care’s Admiral Nurse Kay Gibson, who offered specialist insight and advice alongside staff from Lymington Community Centre.
More than £400 was raised for Oakhaven through donations.
The setting for ‘Shine a Light on Dementia’ was inspired by the autumn ‘Festival of Light’ held in the garden of Colten Care’s Brockenhurst care home, Woodpeckers.
As at Woodpeckers, the Linden House evenings saw garden space transformed into a light trail gently illuminated with thousands of candles and lanterns, weaving through trees and pathways to create a reflective, welcoming atmosphere.
Forget-me-nots, associated with memory and remembrance, were woven throughout the displays.
The project was shaped collaboratively by Linden House residents and team members along with staff from other Colten Care homes.
Also involved creatively were local schoolchildren who designed pieces displayed along the trail and community groups and local business representatives who attend Linden House’s bi-monthly business breakfasts.
Kay Gibson said: “Shine a Light on Dementia not only raised valuable funds for Oakhaven Hospice but also strengthened awareness of the support available locally for those living with dementia and their families.”
As a final gesture each evening, attendees were invited to take home a candle and a small pot with forget-me-not seeds.
Resident Pamela Bradley who painted a series of clay forget-me-not gifts, said: “I am just amazed. This was incredible, the garden looked magical and it was great to see the fruits of my hard labour.”
To create interest in advance about Shine a Light on Dementia, Linden House arranged for residents to receive Lymington’s Winter Olympic community torch, seen in a High Street run.
Home Manager Priya Joseph said: “After it was received, the torch was lit in a cauldron setting to symbolise the start of our three-day ‘shine a light’ event.”
