Wellingborough care home creates 'shops' for residents as part of dementia therapy scheme

A Wellingborough care home has created two ‘shops’ for residents as part of a dementia therapy scheme.

Lancum House care home has installed ‘Stanwell Flowers’ and the ‘Redwell Boutique’ clothes shop, which recreates the atmosphere of the retail environment that residents can ‘work’ and ‘shop’ at, with the aim of providing dementia residents with a more familiar environment to talk about their memories.

The clothes store is stocked with items donated by staff and their relatives, while the florist is full of artificial flowers that residents can take for their own private spaces.

The home now has colourful bedroom doors, as well as windows in the corridors - giving it a high street-like experience.

Alysha Coleman, manager at the home operated by Shaw healthcare, said: “These shops have been a welcome distraction over the past couple months.

“They are a great way to help our residents carry on with familiar tasks and it encourages interaction between them as well as keeping some independence.

"We have a few residents who love to ‘work’ in the shops and it really gives them a sense of purpose which helps their well-being no end.”

Lancum house provides care for up to 43 people including those living with dementia.

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