Bexhill-on-Sea Town Council has announced it is able to certify as a Dementia Friendly Town.
Councillor Winter has been researching best practices and recently visited Prideaux Lodge for its Christmas party last month. The town council’s youngest member has been supporting the care home on Barnhorn Road over the past few months, listening to the views of residents and understanding the challenges of the pandemic on the home and visiting family members.
Connor has also been participating in the homes ‘Resident Support Group’, which is made up of staff members and the family members of residents. Its aim is to support both residents and staff in engaging with the community.
To begin the town’s dementia friendly initiative, the council is looking into how it can host dementia friendly coffee mornings for care home residents to encourage them to venture safely out into the community.
Councillor Winter said: ““It has been a real pleasure to be able to visit and support the residents, staff and family members of Prideaux Lodge. I’ve enjoyed assisting them with finding the right way in getting back out into the community whilst following COVID-safe guidance.”
He added: “I am busy working with Bexhill Dementia Action Alliance and local care homes to build on the coffee morning idea. There are plenty of dementia friendly coffee mornings locally but none that are individual to care home residents to use. Care homes struggle to use publicly available facilities because of the vulnerability of their residents, this is why my idea of specific individual dementia friendly coffee mornings in a community setting is a great start.”
