A new project aimed at engaging, sharing and recording memories of people living with dementia is coming to Dorset County Hospital.
By using themed boxes full of wonderful items, smells, sounds and pictures, The Memory Box Project aims to ignite the senses of lost or forgotten memories, and thereby encouraging patients to communicate and share thoughts, feelings and past experiences.
The project is organised by The Wessex Heritage Trust and is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.
The sessions are free and will be open to all people living with dementia, their carers and those supporting them.
Kayte West, coordinator of The Memory Box Project for Dorset, will be bringing the memory sessions to Dorset County Hospital.
The project is being run in conjunction with Arts in Hospital, a charity which exists to enhance the environment and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors, through artistic projects.
Every Monday, Kayte will be running a morning session on Barnes Ward followed by an afternoon session on Purbeck Ward, both in their Day Rooms.
Between Kayte’s visits, The Memory Box will remain on the wards to be continued to be used by staff, volunteers and patients.
To kick-start the project at DCH, Kayte will be running two ‘open’ sessions in Damers Restaurant on Monday 1 April, allowing all interested staff and volunteers to discover more about the project and see first-hand how they can use the project on the wards.
Vikki Tweedy, Advanced Nurse Practitioner for Dementia and Frailty at DCH, said: “We are very excited to welcome the project to Dorset County Hospital as this will provide meaningful and engaging activity for patients who are living with dementia.
“We are hopeful that this will prove to be an extremely positive experience for patients and will stimulate conversation, story-telling and an insight into their lives and experiences.”
Kayte added: “We are very excited to be bringing The Memory Box Project to Dorset County Hospital and are looking forward to engaging with many patients with dementia whilst they are staying on the wards.”
The Wessex Heritage Trust is a not-for-profit, self-funding charitable organisation which works with people of all ages to help them overcome personal disadvantage by engagement with their cultural heritage.
For more information about the project, visit www.weesexheritagetrust.org or emailcatherine@wessexheritagetrust.org
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