Dementia is a loss of cognitive functioning (thinking, remembering and reasoning) to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.
How we help
The activities we provide support our dementia patients with meaning activities during their stay, many of which are supported by voluntary organisations.
Wishing Well
Wishing Well is an interactive live music programme that aims to:
- enrich healthcare settings and support patients’ wellbeing through shared musical experiences
- provide training for musicians and healthcare professionals
- extend the reach of music in healthcare into more hospital, hospice and clinical settings.
Wishing Well partners with NHS Trusts and charities across the South East. Its musicians work closely with healthcare staff to make sure their approach is right for each individual.
Twiddlemuffs
A Twiddlemuff is a knitted or crocheted band we can attach items to for a patient with dementia to twiddle them in their hands while on the wards at our hospitals.
They help stimulation while in hospital and we’ve found they’re simple to make and use, and really valued by our patients.
We would be delighted if any willing knitters could help us create more Twiddlemuffs as part of our dementia awareness work.
You can drop off completed Twiddlemuffs at our hospitals’ receptions. Please enclose your name and address so that we can thank you for your kindness.
How to make a twiddlemuff
Materials
This muff pattern is perfect for using up left-over and odd balls of wool. Different textures of wool are also good for stimulation.
- needles: 6.5 mm straight needles or 8 mm circular
- beads, zips, ribbons – anything that can be twiddled but which will not break
Directions
Cuff
- cast on 40 stitches using 2 strands of double knitting wool (you can also use one strand of chunky wool instead)
- work in stocking stitch (knit a line, pearl a line) for 11 inches (28 cm).
- Muff body
- continue with stocking stitch and use up any oddments of different-textured wool – e.g. chunky, mohair, snuggly, ribbon, chenille
- knit until work measures 23 inches (58.5 cm)
- cast off.
Decoration and finishing
- decorate the muff body with beads, flowers, zips, loops etc. Make sure all embellishments are sewn fast and cannot be pulled off easily
- neatly join sides together with pearl side facing you
- turn inside out
- push the cuff up inside the muff body
- neatly sew together the two ends.
Well done and thank you for your support.
How to make a tiny twiddle
For fiddlers, twiddlers and anyone who needs a special friend. A Tiny Twiddle can be made in an evening and loved forever.
Equipment
• 4mm knitting needles
• Small amount of DK yarn
• Black yarn for eyes and nose
• Sewing needle
Instructions
Head and Body
• cast on 12 stitches
• knit 12 rows
• knit 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, bring yarn forward, knit to last 5 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, bring yarn forward and knit to end of row (making simple buttonholes)
• knit 1 row (to finish buttonhole structures)
• knit 12 rows- legs next
Legs
• working on first 6 stitches only, slip remaining 6 stitches onto a stitch holder
• knit 6 rows
• increase into every other stitch (9 stitches)
• knit 5 rows
• to finish legs break yarn and sew through loops to make feet
• repeat with remaining 6 stitches to make other leg
Arms
• cast on 24 stitches
• knit 6 rows
• cast off
To make up
• sew arms along long seam using whip stitch and put to one side
• sew legs up to body (as shown in bottom leg above – this one piece makes the head, body and legs)
• sew body (seam is at back) up to buttonholes
• thread arms through the buttonholes and sew ends together
• secure arms in place by stitching an arm onto each buttonhole
• lightly stuff body (a plump tummy looks fab!) – leave legs unstuffed
• continue sewing up to top of head and stuff lightly
• sew along top of head, making ears by sewing triangles in corners
- embroider eyes and nose, mouth using black yarn
- Ta da ! you have your tiny twiddle
Weald and Downland Museum outreach
Members of the Weald & Downland Living Museum’s Outreach Team are regular visitors to Worthing and St Richard’s Hospitals as ‘Dementia Friends’ to our patients.
The Weald & Downland Living Museum is dedicated to the buildings and lives of the ordinary people who lived in rural south east England over the last thousand years.
Their outreach volunteers bring materials and artefacts from the museum for our patients to enjoy looking at and handling.
The volunteers are skilled at finding an individual connection with the objects for each person, encouraging conversation between group members and promoting the learning of new skills.
They will also visit bedsides, which can be particularly powerful as some patients are often anxious or unwilling to visit the table on which the artefacts are displayed. Patients are left with something they have made, or have helped to make, (for example, a small corn dolly or a muslin bag with herbs) is another important part of the visit and is much appreciated by everyone on the ward.