Competition Win: St John’s wins Daily Sparkle care home competition

St John’s Winchester recently won a Daily Sparkle competition based on initiatives and innovation taking place in care homes across the country to support residents during the COVID-19 lockdown. We are thrilled that the charity was one of five winners.

Daily Sparkle is a resource that the Wellbeing Team at Moorside use regularly. They use it to get further inspiration, ideas for activities, and discussion prompts and stimulation to use with our residents at St John’s Moorside. Moorside is a specialist in dementia care. Activities and discussions help to aid cognitive functions, social interactions and overall quality of life for those living with dementia.

Last month, the Daily Sparkle publication ran a competition asking for people to nominate care home initiatives. Jo and Kate from Moorside’s Wellbeing and Activities Team entered the charity’s twin hearts initiative into the competition. The hearts initiative was a heartfelt and effective way of connecting with relatives who were unable to visit at that time.

Moorside won and awaited its mystery prize. The charity has now received this in the post: a creative magnet activity by Active Minds. This ‘Creative Scene’ enables people to build an allotment by using magnetic pieces. The puzzle is designed specifically for people with cognitive loss and other conditions. The durable plastic means that it is easy to clean, meeting infection control standards. It also offers a sense of achievement in completing the activity.

Each Creative Scene – such as the allotment we received – has carefully illustrated content. The images were commissioned to ensure they are reminiscent of the appropriate era so people like our residents living with dementia can relate to them and start conversations.

The Allotment

The ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign was set up during the Second World War in times of strict rationing. During this period, the nation was encouraged to grow its own food and make the most of green spaces. As a result, many areas like golf courses, gardens and parks were turned into allotments to meet the demand to grow produce.

People were inspired to ‘do their bit’ to make sure everyone had enough to eat. Not only this, but it kept people in high spirits during some difficult times – something which we can all relate to!

After discovering that as people’s dementia progresses they struggle to pick puzzle pieces up and place them in the correct place, which caused frustration. Creative Scenes were designed to have no wrong answer, whilst still giving that same sense of achievement.

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Here is a photo taken last month of Marion with the hearts and testing out the brand new activity!

Thank you to everyone at Daily Sparkle and our inspirational teams who continue to care and support our residents.