Hartlepool care home residents and staff go the extra mile for dementia care

Residents, staff and friends went the extra mile for dementia support when a Hartlepool care home held a memory walk.
Memory walkers ready for the off at Warrior Park in Seaton Carew.Memory walkers ready for the off at Warrior Park in Seaton Carew.
Memory walkers ready for the off at Warrior Park in Seaton Carew.

Warrior Park in Seaton Carew raised about £200 for the Alzheimer’s Society by taking part in the sponsored event.

Participants included a number of residents who live with dementia, including those in wheelchairs.

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Staff even came in on days off to take part and the event was supported by family members and their children.

Memory walkers ready for the off at Warrior Park in Seaton Carew.Memory walkers ready for the off at Warrior Park in Seaton Carew.
Memory walkers ready for the off at Warrior Park in Seaton Carew.

Organiser Amy McIntyre, a care assistant at Warrior Park, said: “Dementia not only affects the people who have it but the family around them. We always do a coffee morning for Macmillan but no-one really sponsors dementia.

“It is getting more and more of a big issue now and we look after a lot of people with dementia in our EMI (Elderly Mentally Infirm) unit, so it’s good to do something for them.

“Some of our clients hadn’t been out of the building in over a year but they wanted to come.”

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It was a damp and blustery day but that did not stop the group from completing a circular route starting and returning to the home in Queen Street and taking in the sea front.

The walk took a circular route of Seaton taking in the seafront.The walk took a circular route of Seaton taking in the seafront.
The walk took a circular route of Seaton taking in the seafront.

Participants raised money through sponsorship for the Alzheimer’s Society, and games, raffles and a sweepstake on the day were in aid of Warrior Park’s residents fund for activities.

Sarah Stamper, whose mum Barbara Orley is a carer at the home, joined in with her three children and the family’s dog.

Sarah said: “My mum’s dad passed away last year from dementia and my aunty has got it.

“We just wanted to show support for them all.”

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The Alzheimer’s Society is encouraging people to hold memory walks of between 2k and 10k with similar events happening all over the UK.

The society said: “Our research programme aims to improve care for people with dementia today and finding a cure for tomorrow.”

Current research includes developing a test to improve diagnosis of different forms of dementia.

Actress Barbara Windsor recently launched an open letter urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to fund improvements to dementia care.