At Knights Care supporting those in our homes to thrive and live well with dementia is a key focus every day. We are truly passionate about person-centred activities and creating an environment where our residents’ emotional, social, and practical needs are met. Personalised activities encourage residents to get involved in things they like and are familiar with and we find that these activities contribute to residents’ psychological well-being by giving them a sense of achievement and purpose.
Marjorie is a resident of Branthwaite Care Home in Retford, and has been living with us since 2023. She is a cheeky, charismatic lady whose energy lights up the room - she is the first one on and the last one off the dancefloor, and loves to remind us that we are all just 'silly - buggers'.
What's remarkable about Marjorie, although she is living with dementia and struggles with her short term memory, knitting is a lifelong passion of hers and if you hand her needles and wool, she will start to knit with no hesitation. She can explain every step in the process, and she loves to teach others the skill. Countless staff have enjoyed a cup of tea and knitting lessons with her, and she remarks how it makes her feel useful because she, in her own words "loves to knit and wants to be doing it"
As time has progressed however, it has become apparent that it is her body rather than her mind bringing her trouble. Marjorie was becoming frustrated as a decline in her hand mobility was causing her to struggle with her knitting, leading to her becoming upset that she couldn't do it as well as she once could.
One of the homes activity team members Beckie noted the distress this was causing, and brought in her personal knitting machine for Marjorie to try and her reaction speaks for itself, she even thanked Beckie for 'making her feel alive'
With our focus being strongly around person - centred activities, without question it was decided that Knights Care would purchase Marjorie her very own machine to ensure she can continue to knit and enjoy it as much as she has done in the past. We wanted to ensure that Marjorie's declining mobility would no longer prevent her from doing what she loves.
We held a grand unboxing, and her shock, smile and gratitude once she realised the gift was for her left not one dry eye in the room.
There was no time wasted, and she got straight to business working on a scarf for herself. With the support of the Activities Team, Marjorie has now finished her scarf and has been wearing it proudly around the home. Marjorie's knitting machine is safely stored in her personal activities box, which the team use daily for one to one person centred engagement with her.
We are thrilled that Marjorie has had the ability to overcome the challenges she was facing and will be continuing to do something she has always been passionate about - all the while reminding us that we are still 'silly buggers' in her eyes.
