Apron catches residents’ eyes
A plain kitchen apron, restyled into a colourful and shiny creation, has been described as a “calming tool” for a group of Queensland aged care residents living with dementia. The Groundwater Lodge in Granville is using aprons with extra features such as buttons, zippers and pockets to stimulate the minds of dementia residents.
A plain kitchen apron, restyled into a colourful and shiny creation, has been described as a “calming tool” for a group of Queensland aged care residents living with dementia.
The Groundwater Lodge in Granville is using aprons with extra features such as buttons, zippers, pockets and shiny objects to stimulate the minds of dementia residents.
Stephen Leggett, Groundwater Lodge facility manager, tells DPS News the ‘unique’ aprons have dramatically improved the quality of life for these residents.
“It’s simply helped to stop boredom,” Mr Leggett starts. “They can get agitated sitting at a kitchen table, and with these aprons on and the objects hanging in front of them, it catches their eye,” he adds.
Keeping residents occupied is important to Groundwater Lodge, which is reviewing many of its leisure activities and training staff.
“Whether it be tiny projects like playing dominos or getting a resident to arrange artificial plastic flowers… that’s fine because that’s what it’s all about – keeping them interested,” he says.
Staff have noticed reduced agitation, more socialising and a recall of memories among patients after introducing the aprons three months earlier.
Diversional therapist, Ivy McAuley, worked with Marborough aged care nurse, Toni Kenny, to create the aprons after introducing a similar idea with a tablecloth two years ago.
Mr Leggett believes putting greater money towards introducing more diversional therapists into aged care is vital.
“It is something every aged care facility needs in order to care for residents,” he claims.
“We do our best with what we’ve got, but it’d be nice to have more funding to afford to have more staff on the floor.”
Groundwater Lodge hopes to redesign a small tablecloth in a similar fashion for its next project.
