Dementia Futures Fund
Dementia affects over 47.5 million of us (source Dementia.org). Its symptoms are not a natural part of the ageing process. Young-onset dementia can affect people of working age who have commitments and plans for their futures. It also affects those in their later years of life, which can put added pressure on an already strained health service. There are also many myths about dementia and its causes.
As a medical charity, renowned for its work in the field of cancer, few people realise that we are also striving to improve the way we diagnose and treat dementia.
Dementia patient wellbeing in Cheltenham
Cobalt staff and volunteers have been volunteering their time to create therapeutic knitted items for local dementia patients. The knitted tubes, affectionately known as Twiddlemuffs keep the hands of dementia patients busy at the Fritchie Centre run by 2Gether NHS Foundation Trust based in Charlton Lane, Cheltenham. The knitted sleeves are made out of all sorts of oddments of wool and additional pieces of interest are sewn on such as stretchy elastic, textured materials or even buttons. They can be made in the person’s favourite colours or reflect the strip of their football or other sports team.
Joanne Parker, Activities Coordinator at 2Gether NHS Foundation Trust said ‘The Twiddlemuffs provide comfort and help to reduce anxiety for our patients. People with dementia may show anxiety or nervousness through fidgety hands. They may pull or rub at clothes or wring their hands’.
These Twiddlemuffs are donated to the local dementia wards at Charlton Lane Hospital, however if you, or someone you know may benefit from the use of a Twiddlemuff, please drop an email to: fundraising@cobalthealth.co.uk . We only ask for a small £5 donation to our Dementia Futures Fund in exchange.
