A lifesaver of a service

Emma Wilde, our new Senior Day Services Coordinator, talks about her first impressions of our dementia respite service and the positive impact it’s having on its members.

As a new member of staff (not quite two months into my role) my first impression of our Withywood dementia respite service is how caring the Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin and Withywood staff and volunteers are about the people in our care; treated with respect, dignity and displaying a genuine interest in the person and their past. This creates a warm and welcoming environment for people with dementia to spend their day.

Carers also see our dementia service as a welcoming place to be, one carer said of her husband: ‘He is very fond of the team, his face lights up when he arrives and sees Neil and the team waiting for him.’ Another carer commented on her husband’s eagerness to join: ‘He even starts to get things ready on a Sunday and I know he benefits from attending.’

The team ensures the activities on offer are stimulating, varied and can meet differing abilities. We usually have a theme; recently we have organised our activities around Bonfire Night, Halloween, Remembrance Day, and with Christmas fast approaching we have lots of activities planned, such as card, wreath and cake making, all whilst listening to our favourite carols and munching on a mince pie or two! One carer told us of her husband’s enjoyment: ‘It helps him enormously. He is so much brighter in himself when he gets home and that lasts to the next day.’

The dementia respite service not only caters for the person living with dementia but enables the carer to take a break too, one carer said: ‘This is a lifesaver. Just being able to get stuff done without having to worry is priceless.’

If you know someone with dementia who would like to join our group, please call Emma on 01743 233 123 for more information.