Campaign puts focus on care.
Birmingham’s John Taylor Hospice is campaigning to change the lives of people with dementia by raising awareness of the disease in local communities.
Windmills of Your Mind, a campaign to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week in May, is the latest in a series of fundraising campaigns to come from the hospice. All money raised from the sales of homemade windmills will go towards improving the hospice’s facilities for people with dementia and providing specialist training to staff.
Clinical director Marie Bradley said: “Making the hospice dementia-friendly is all about equity. We’re a very welcoming hospice and we pride ourselves on providing expert care that is right for each individual.”
Marie emphasised the importance of promoting a better understanding of dementia care across a range of healthcare environments. “It’s essential that we understand dementia and the impact it can have. We’re raising awareness so that the needs of people with dementia are better understood. This is not just important for the hospice but also for our community as a whole.”
Dementia, a secondary illness for the majority of patients at John Taylor Hospice, affects more than 60,000 people in the West Midlands. Plans are in place to transform the hospice’s In-Patient Unit so that visitors with dementia feel more at home. Businesses from across the city will be helping the hospice to achieve its dementia care ambitions by providing volunteer decorators, painters and gardeners.
“The patients’ rooms need to be unique with places to store personal items so that they are clearly identifiable,” explained Marie. “Contrasting colours throughout the hospice and clear signage need to be added to avoid causing confusion.”
Inspired by the Noel Harrison song of the same name, Windmills of Your Mind will see handmade windmills on sale in various locations across Birmingham throughout May, including John Taylor Hospice’s reception.
Head of community investment Marcus Cox said: “We’re grateful for all the support we’ve received from the community and local businesses to help make our Windmills of Your Mind campaign a success.
“With the number of people living with dementia set to rise in the coming years, we’re dedicated to making sure John Taylor Hospice continues to provide expert care that is ‘Taylor-made’ for each person and their family. This campaign marks a big step forward in helping us to achieve that.”
If you would like to help with this campaign and help make the hospice dementia friendly then please contact Marcus Cox on 0121 265 4000. For more information on the hospice see www.johntaylorhospice.org.uk.