Rugs a boon to patients
Safety Bay Country Women’s Association members have been busy sewing, donating 48 sensory rugs to aged-care facilities in Rockingham.
The sensory rugs are created to help people suffering with dementia to reduce agitation and sleep disturbances.
The blankets have different items stitched on such as zippers, ribbons, buttons, bells, and different textured fabric to stimulate the touch senses.
Safety Bay CWA branch member Evelyn Mincherton said she had sewn 10 sensory rugs over the past two years.
“To see the pleasure on peoples’ faces is rewarding,” she said.
Member Joyce Ralston said the ladies were happy to put the rugs together knowing they would be well received by occupational therapists at aged care centres.
“More importantly, we hope they will make a difference to those people suffering with dementia,” she said.
The rugs will be donated to nursing homes across Rockingham including Bert England Lodge, Brightwater The Oaks, Tanby Hall, Bethanie Waters, and Hall and Prior.
The branch has donated more than 100 rugs during the past two years.
This is the second consecutive year the ladies have donated to Brightwater. Last year, Brightwater client service leader Elli Stevenson said the sensory rugs made a huge difference to the way people living with dementia spent their time.
“Some people who live with dementia become quite agitated so therefore they pace or just fiddle with things or move things around the home all the time, so their carer or family member can sit them with the fiddle rug and it keeps their mind active,” she said.
