Twirling around dancefloors, making sandcastles and swinging golf clubs – video

Dementia: Telling stories through our hands 

Patients living with dementia in Lincolnshire have had their stories and memories shared in a powerful video released today. 

Ten patients from Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s (LPFT) Langworth Ward in Lincoln have had their hands pictured to show the person behind the dementia diagnosis. Pictures have been shared alongside favourite memories such as twirling around dancefloors, looking after children, making sandcastles on the beach, swinging golf clubs, rescuing people from fires, knitting and making things. 

These memories have then been put together in a moving video, which has been released as part of Dementia Action Week (15-19 May). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue8mwt7xkc0 

Anita Laskey, is an activity coordinator on Langworth ward.

She explains: “Patients are with us for a short period of time for assessments, care and treatment. Sometimes people struggle to share how they are feeling, what they need and what is important to them, so we work with  their carers and loved ones to help us can understand more – learning about what they did in the past, what they may enjoy doing now, who is important to them and key moments in their life. By doing this, we can create meaningful activities on the ward which help our patients to relax, reminisce  and most importantly, make them smile! 

“Sophie, one our current patients, remembers making sandcastles on the beach, so we try to create and do activities which help her remember how she felt at the time. Dennis, another patient, grew his own vegetables, so we try to get him involved in planting activities.” 

Jackie Tyson, staff governor older people and frailty at LPFT, adds: “For us, providing person-centred care is key to supporting patients to live as well as they can with dementia, to socialise, communicate and  to continue living a meaningful life. This video is an example of how we try to see the person, not the dementia.” 
For more information about LPFT, visit www.lpft.nhs.uk/memoryassessment