Everyone loves to touch and feel something, whether it is a packet of biscuits or a silk scarf. Chatterwood raised money last year by selling unwanted goods and doing raffles to raise money for the people living here. One of the things we bought using this money, was some sensory equipment. The equipment is made up of different size balls made up of different textures. They are all different colours. For the residents who find it difficult to participate in everyday activities due to illness or disability, they really respond to playing and utilising this equipment. Staff have been sitting and talking to residents and rolling a ball to them, to and fro, and they report that concentration, coordination and willingness to participate has improved immensely. It has encouraged residents to use their hands and helped with their eye co-ordination. As the balls are very light they are easily moved around and unable to cause injuries. This equipment has proved valuable to the people who live in Chatterwood. Now, every person can participate in an activity with others and feelings of isolation anyone may have had are gone. A very big Thank You to all the families and friends that have supported our afternoon events, sales and raffles.

Here, Ellen is trying out our new sensory blanket made from donated material from residents families, items include, buttons, zips, ribbons, knotted ribbon different types of textured material & bells. It’s been tried and tested on dementia residents and proven that these blankets can help stimulation.