Issue 122 28.09.22
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Resident uses background to help others A RETIRED GP from Southampton, living in Richmond Villages Cheltenham, is helping staff and residents to understand the realities of living with dementia. Dr Jennifer Bute built a wellrespected career in the medical profession: she ran a hospital in rural Zululand, South Africa where she was often the only doctor on-site; she has taught doctors and nurses in various countries; and she worked as a GP for 25 years. She was forced to take early retirement when she was diagnosed with Young-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease in 2009. However, her diagnosis certainly did not put an end to her goal of helping others. What drove her to the medical profession is now fuelling her in her retirement. She has spent the last decade working tirelessly to dismantle stereotypes about dementia and to help improve dementia care in retirement homes and medical settings. Not only does she speak at conferences, post online about her experiences, and run regular memory groups for fellow dementia patients, but in 2018, she also co-wrote a book with Louise Morse about her experiences, Dementia from the Inside: A Doctor’s Personal Journey of Hope. When discussing her
motivation behind the book, she added: “I want to help other people: it’s all that’s important to me. I’m not interested in myself and promoting myself, but I am interested and concerned and wanting to help everybody else.” Jennifer has lived at Richmond Villages Cheltenham in an assisted living apartment since January. While she has help with daily tasks such as with cleaning and cooking, she spends her own time helping other residents with their dementia diagnoses. Not only is Jennifer able to connect with other dementia patients and help them to understand the disease, but she also works with Richmond Villages staff. She said: “The staff have just been so wonderful in not only accepting my help, but encouraging me. “That has meant so much to me: the fact that they want my help because they know that it also helps me to have a purpose and to know that I have some value here too. I’m very privileged to be here. I’m so grateful to all the staff.” To the residents and staff of Richmond Villages Cheltenham, Jennifer has become an inspirational figure. Jennifer has been running memory groups to help fellow dementia patients to find value and slow down the progression of dementia.
Residents of Connors House Residential Care Home in Canterbury spent a day monkeying around when they visited Wingham Wildlife Park. With summer drawing to a close and the arrival of cooler days, the eagle-eyed residents spotted all the animals in their enclosures, some of which they were even able to feed and pet. General manager Christine Devlin said: “We all love a day at the zoo and as the weather is still nice we thought it was a great opportunity to enjoy a day out. The residents had a brilliant day and haven’t stopped talking about it since.”
Resident sells artwork to boss A RESIDENT at Birchwood care home in Chesham, Buckinghamshire is looking forward to seeing one of her paintings on public display. Elaine Baker, who lives at the home, which is operated by Salutem Care and Education and supports people with complex special needs and disabilities, created her masterpiece over many months and was delighted when it caught the eye of chief executive John Godden. He bought the colourful, modern painting and it now hangs in the company’s Windsor head office. He said: “We have some incredibly talented and creative individuals within our services, and I was blown away by Elaine’s painting.
As soon as I saw it I knew it would find a perfect home in our Windsor head office. “It is really important to us that everyone within Salutem is supported to live their best lives and Elaine is certainly doing that. I will very proudly show off her artwork to anyone visiting us in Windsor.” Elaine, who has cerebral palsy and has a visual impairment, has been part of an art group at Birchwood for more than 10 years. Supported by volunteers, members of the group have created, sold and exhibited many pictures, some of which have been used for cards and calendars. She is currently working on her latest project but is keeping it a secret until the unveiling.
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