Residents at a Hamilton care home brought back special memories over the festive season with a trip down memory lane in their specially-decorated sensory room.
The space in the dementia unit at Abbeydale Court featured familiar sensations including traditional decorations such as paper chains and a tree with fairy lights, tinsel, baubles and sentimental decorations, along with the scent of oranges and the sounds of Christmas carols.
Staff, residents and families enjoyed spending time in the cosy lounge space and sharing their memories, and the festive room was the centre of the Christmas morning activity at the Strathaven Road home as they enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies to start the celebrations.
Abbeydale resident Drina Adams, 88, was thrilled to hang an angel on the tree that she’d had since her children were little, and unit manager Kerry McTaggart said: “I could see from her expression she remembered it from when her children were growing up. The day she hung it on the tree was a good one for her – you could see the glint in her eye, and she was in such a good mood.
“Many of the 36 residents in our unit have quite advanced dementia and rather than the more modern designs elsewhere in the home, we wanted to create decorations that meant something to every one of them – we used tinsel because as well as being something they would have all had on their trees, its feel and rustling sound adds to the sensory experience.
“We played carols in there because the residents really like hearing young voices singing; and made paper chains, which many of them did with their children so it really taps into their happy Christmas memories.”
The four sisters of resident Isabelle saw the impact the room had, with sibling Helen saying: “We loved the traditional decor and reminiscing on what Christmas trees looked like back in the day – this means a lot to us, and to Isabelle as she is able to see and feel the decorations. She’s unable to verbalise how she is feeling but we can see the smile on her face.”
Staff also brought memories of Christmas to residents unable to go to the sensory room – such as ensuring 80-year-old Eleanor Ballantine had a small tree next to her bed which has been in her family for years, with Kerry adding: “It’s a bit the worse for wear but the team brought bits to make it pretty and Eleanor was so thrilled to have it near her!”
The sensory room at the purpose-built Hamilton home opened last April to offer residents with dementia a cosy, lounge-like space to enjoy, and Kerry said: “It really came into its own for the festive season – we saw such a change in the residents when they were in the room, sitting enjoying the fairy lights glinting off the tinsel.”
Abbeydale’s festivities also included Christmas jumper and Christmas pyjama days, with local businesses also donating balloons and decorations for the unit.
Kate Quinn, whose dad Arthur lives at the home, said of the pyjama day: “It was really nice for Dad to be involved in something that was so visual for him and he genuinely demonstrated that he felt actively involved and included.
“He was happy and smiling and his grandson loved that his Granda dressed up in his Grinch clothes. Dad’s whole demeanour and body language communicated to us that he was having fun and enjoying this brilliant activity.”
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