Our Dignity Day

We started the day off by adorning staff with bright pink Dignity in Care sashes (that stood out) then supported residents to choose their Dignity In Care flowers (which they all thought were beautiful)

This started the days conversations off, as residents started to "ask what are the flowers and sashes for?"

Staff and residents held good conversations reguarding Dignity throughout the day, when visitors arrived the residents began to inform them what day it was and what the meaning of Dignity was.

In the morning we had the hairdresser come in and provide her services

At lunch we offered a variety of pink foods: ie Tomatoe and cream soup to start, followed by a Traditional Mousaka (this went down a treat) and to end we had pink Flan and cream (all empty plates with a ummm sound)

The chef also prepared pink fairy cakes for afternoon tea (she found it a little difficult to write dignity on each cake, so iced them instead)

Residents were asked if they knew what Dignity meant, Some of the residents gave one word answers ie.choices, integrity, self worth and others stated a phrase, I asked each resident if would be alright if I used their phrases they concented.

A 98 yr old Gentleman stated Dignity means "one maintains ones dignity by going through life following thier life experiences and value to improve"

A 93 yr old Lady stated "having respect for myself and others"

We also used the words that the Residents gave us and laminated them and put them onto our tree

with names of the person that gave us that word

Residents that were unable to participate in this activity were supported by staff to achieve a word.

Thease were then placed on our Dignity Tree

Afternoon we had the activities co ordinator in and Exercise class began, this was well recieved by residents that wanted to participate

We feel that our Dignity Day was very successful as it made residents, family and staff more aware of what Dignity means

Staff involved

Liz Johnson Deputy Manager

Marcela Kalinakove, Deputy Manager

Katarina Drotarova Senior

Mikki Vornicu

Emily Jerere

Sharon Johnston

Lucy Horsfield

David Lomas

Lynn Odriscoll

and all our 28 Residents