Doing what comes naturally

Over the last few years, I worked in the care sector as an Activities Coordinator.  

This involved getting to know each resident in the home: what their previous careers had been; where they had lived, etc.

The people I worked with had moderate and progressive Dementia, so for a lot of the time were not able to recall facts about their lives.  Their families would fill in the gaps, but sometimes my residents would be able to remember whole scenes from their past. 

                            My role was to organise a weekly timetable filled with things the residents could choose to join in with.  

This included: a morning each week where a hairdresser came; a service on Sunday afternoons provided by the local minister; cinema afternoon; a singalong choir, and weekly coffee morning, to name just a few things on offer!

But one of the activities that proved most popular was something I did every Sunday teatime.

I provided a wooden board, sliced bread, butter, sliced ham and cheese - and the residents could make their own sandwiches rather than be served as they were all week.

The carers, instead of being servers sat down with the residents and had sandwiches made for them too.

And with help, the residents used small teapots and wee jugs of milk (rather than the larger sized ones that were used away from them due to health and safety) and poured tea into teacups.

After our 'tea' I provided a couple of plastic washing up bowls with dish soap and tea towels.

And they washed and dried the dishes.

This was one part of the week where every resident joined in with the activity.

There was smiling, bits and pieces of recall, listening to each other chat and what seemed genuine enjoyment.

Even in a small way, remembering and doing what comes naturally.