Patients enjoy tea party to mark Dementia Awareness Week

Patients and staff on Elsing Ward at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) celebrated Dementia Awareness Week today enjoying tea, cake and music at their very own tea party.

Nursing staff on Elsing, which specialises in caring for older patients with dementia, provided a host of sweet treats and hot beverages with entertainment in the form of music and singing with qualified music teacher volunteer Heather Edwards who has been specially trained in dementia awareness.

Heather is part of a local support group called “Come Singing” which provides singing groups for people of all ages living with dementia and has kindly previously donated a keyboard to the ward.

Heather says: “Singing is a wonderful way for people to share emotions and memories. It’s good to encourage patients to sing along and choose songs if they are able, but even a tap of the toes or a nod of the head is a wonderful reward.”

Jane Douglas, Matron for Elsing Ward, says: “Tea parties are a great way for the patients to get up out of bed and enjoy music from previous years which may bring nostalgic memories. It is a small effort for the staff and has maximum effect for our patients.”

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital was one of the first hospitals in the country to sign up to being dementia friendly in an initiative led by Norfolk and Suffolk Dementia Alliance. The aim is to improve the care for patients with dementia, as well as improving the sense of pride and well-being in staff who care for people with dementia in acute hospitals.

The tea party on Elsing ward is just one of the many dementia friendly activities occurring at the hospital; you can find out more and join in the dementia social media campaign #iCare on twitter for more information.