DAD in Bristol

Bristol celebrated Dignity Action Day on February 25. During the week, we demonstrated how we put people’s dignity and respect at the centre of services. We raised awareness of the Dignity campaign and encouraged people to sign up as Dignity Champions.

Our Westleigh and Greville day care centres arranged 1940s street parties for people living with dementia and their families. A Dignity Tree enabled people to write what dignity meant to them on a dignity leaf. The parties also had home made cakes, union jack hats, bunting and a sing-a-long.

Westleigh presented a £50 donation to St Peter’s Hospice, because they felt the charity provided dignity to people at the end of the lives.

The Lord Mayor (with his daughter acting as lady Mayoress) caused much excitement by attending the street party at Greville. They cut the Dignity cake, and the event featured in the local newspaper, the Evening Post, on Saturday February 26. Heart and Radio Bristol also reported our Dignity events and asked people to sign up as dignity champions.

Other care homes did a range of Dignity events:

1. Rockwell organised a pamper and make over session followed by a cream tea dance.

2. Gleeson organised a spring pot-planting day.

3. Coomb and Bowmead elder persons and Greville home for people with dementia also hosted coffee and cake events, parties, and discussions about Dignity

Feedback from our Dignity events included:

“I don’t want anyone to take my Dignity, I like to dress myself, have my privacy and have some space”

"The staff did very well. The Lord Mayor made the event a real occasion. Dignity don’t cost nothing”

“Dignity is about being kind and helpful to people. We’re all the same. We all want to be treated with care and kindness, which we have at Westleigh”.