A care home in Beccles, Suffolk has installed a dementia-friendly shopping lane to boost the physical and mental wellbeing of its residents.
Wellbeing Care launched the shopping lane initiative at its St George’s care home after it proved successful at its Lowestoft sister home, The Dell. Inspired by a traditional and nostalgic vision of a British High Street, the new shopping lane includes a fresh flower shop, a mini grocery store and telephone booth, and leads residents to a new coffee area in the dining room aimed at encouraging residents to chat with loved ones over tea and cake.
By undertaking familiar tasks such as buying fresh ingredients from the grocers and visiting the newsagents, it is hoped that residents will maintain a sense of independence and normalcy, which has proven beneficial for those living with dementia.
St George’s offers accommodation for over 30 residents in need of residential or dementia care. More broadly, the group provides residential care, nursing care, dementia care, respite care, day care, and supported living services across Suffolk and Northamptonshire, and currently operates three care homes.
Joy Henshaw, registered manager of Wellbeing Care, said: “Following the success of our shopping lane at The Dell care home, we decided to launch the shopping lane across our other care homes too. The initiative has already proven successful, as residents have reported feeling more independent. It is clear that the shopping lane provides a higher sense of self purpose, subsequently improving residents’ confidence and self-esteem.”
She continued: “The shopping lane facilitates social gatherings, as residents can now arrange to meet up with friends, fellow residents or family members in a secure, controlled environment. We hope the increased social activity will help combat resident loneliness, which has been heightened nationally due to the recent lockdowns and restrictions. We look forward to continuing seeing our St George’s residents react to the improvements we are making, as well as the subsequent effect it has on their happiness and wellbeing.”
