Sandra Leckey, a care home worker, uses everyday objects from the past to help people with dementia remember and communicate. The Remember When initiative provides reminiscence therapy using these tangible triggers.
A pair of worn leather ice skates. A decades-old dog-eared Beano, its spine frayed and torn. Milk bottles, an abacus, a school handbell. These are just some of the things that Sandra Leckey uses in her day job - working in a care home with people living with dementia.When she put them on the table, they helped trigger memories and conversations. People started to lift them and talk.
It was a moment that helped inspire her to set up the Remember When initiative, which provides reminiscence therapy. 'In that group there were three people who played golf and they hadn't even met each other,' she told BBC News NI. 'All of a sudden for a whole hour I had their attention and they had my mine, but the objects were all original and they were all from the past. 'A lot of times people with dementia don't remember what they had for breakfast, or sadly who their family are, but they do remember the long term.Eleanor Jack, 84, and Ken Jack, 89, have been married for nearly 65 years. Ken has dementia and has been a full-time resident in Pond Park care home in Lisburn for three years and Sandra has been helping him communicate using old objects.'It gives you something to talk about, because what else do you talk about? 'You can't come in and tell him about what's happening in the village, that's not in his head at the minute. 'Sometimes it does help us as a couple to bring back those memories but sometimes it's also very hard because he doesn't remember you, who you were or the things you did.' Ken has had dementia for several years and has been a full time resident in Pond Park care home in Lisburn for three yearsMemory loss is the most common symptom, particularly the struggle to remember recent events. Others can include changes to behaviour, mood and personality, becoming lost in familiar places, or being unable to find the right word in a conversatio
Dementia Reminiscence Therapy Memory Loss Care Homes Objects As Triggers
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