Laundry day activities spark laughter and memories
An imaginative morning’s fun dreamed up by the activities co-ordinator at a Wellington dementia care home has had residents sharing reminiscences about their days as young parents with a lounge-based ‘laundry day.’
Harriet Burraston of Camelot House and Lodge said: “We made a washing line out of two wooden spoons and some string and had lots of pictures of socks for the residents to match up and hang up on the washing line.
“Obviously we included a sneaky odd sock - because there’s always one, isn’t there!
“This made them laugh, and while they hung the socks on the line they were reminiscing and joking about doing their children’s laundry and how it always seemed like a never-ending story especially with their little boys out playing in the mud.
“It was such a lovely activity – not only did it get everyone chatting and exchanging memories, but it involved them in matching up colours and was good for their manual dexterity too.
“We shall definitely do it again!”
Another innovative activity Harriet has shared with residents was an ‘Agony Aunt’ afternoon, when staff asked their ladies and gents some of life’s big questions like the secret to a happy marriage, parenting advice, how to get over a broken heart and how to make friends.
Harriet said: “We had some heart-warming answers, and some hilarious ones.
“What is important about activities like this is that our ladies and gents can tell we’re really interested in the advice they have to share with us, and that we value their life experience.”
Camelot House and Lodge is run by award-winning dementia care provider Camelot Care, who have other homes in Bridgwater, Plymouth and Yeovil, with a fifth to open in Holsworthy, Devon, later this year.
