People with dementia can find new surroundings daunting, so we launched our Forget-Me-Not dementia appeal as an initiative to support them and make their stay in hospital more comfortable.
We created a 100-metre long memory walk, featuring iconic local and national images to help patients reminisce and start a conversation. We also transformed wards, purchased reminiscence machines, calm carts, and pay for interactive sessions to improve our patients’ wellbeing.
The Forget-Me-Not Dementia appeal was launched in March 2014 to raise £25,000 and to date has raised over £100,000.
We continue to enhance the care of patients with your support. In 2020 we ensured each ward had a sensory box containing items such as glitter wands, twiddlemuffs and stress balls to aid a patient when they are feeling anxious. We also purchased radio/CD players for the wards and bays to help create a calm environment.
2021 saw us provide three digital reminiscence machines called RITAs. These cost around £4,000 each and allow patients to watch old movies, see old news clips, play games, listen to music and to reminisce.
Every three minutes, one person in the UK develops dementia. We need your help to continue enhancing the care patients receive.
Help us continue to support patients with dementia and enhance their stay at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust by donating here or to find out more about supporting us or to leave a gift in your Will, contact the My WiSH Charity fundraising team on 01284 713466.