Making connections in a new community
When the sun shines, Moira, Viv and Paula will invariably be found soaking up the rays on the chairs outside the kitchen of ‘Discovery’ bungalow at The Russets.
Some of the first residents with dementia to start a new life at The Russets, the three are at the heart of the new community. They regularly share time together, joining up for different activities or making conversation at social points in the day.
At lunch and dinner time they sit at the same table, taking cues from each other about what and when to eat. Moira in particular enjoys the friendship and company. A seasoned hostess who always loved entertaining and regularly used to welcome people into her home, she still gets pleasure from sharing food and drink.
Often in the afternoon the three form a team in the kitchen, working together to bake a cake. Paula invariably takes charge, reading the recipe. Moira will look for the ingredients, which are labelled with large type to make them easier for her to find. For Viv, the pleasure is in beating the eggs, an activity she remembers and connects with from her past. For all three, baking is an opportunity to do something purposeful together and enjoy the conversation that evolves around their activity.
For staff, visitors and the other twelve residents of ‘Discovery’, the activity in the kitchen adds to everyone’s pool of positive emotion, filling the bungalow with the smell of freshly baked cake and an opportunity to share it together at tea.
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