Charity donation remaps Dementia care in hospital

An award-winning charity which designs and makes custom equipment to help disabled people live more independent lives has made a welcome, if unusual, donation to…

An award-winning charity which designs and makes custom equipment to help disabled people live more independent lives has made a welcome, if unusual, donation to Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

Remap delivered 12 specially designed jigsaws to help improve the care of Dementia patients staying on the Mallard Ward after they were contacted by local charity, DonMentia, to find a solution to shop-bought jigsaws not being suitable for hospital use.

The specially crafted puzzles are made from a wipe clean material which complies with the hospital’s infection control measures and will not break, snap or bend. They have been made in various sizes, with either six or 12 pieces, and are all based around the theme of ‘memories from days gone by.’

Gemma Betts, Activities Coordinator on the Mallard Ward, said: “We can’t thank Remap enough for this generous donation. These aren’t just jigsaws, they are conversation starters. The pictures on the designs depict a time that the patients can remember and then the activity becomes about remembering and discussing that moment, not just about completing a jigsaw. It’s important we provide the right cognitive stimulating activities for our patients and with the variety of sizes, shapes and pictures provided we can now do that .”

The jigsaws were made by the charity’s engineers, who are all retired craftsmen. The Doncaster Remap panel has five engineers all working from their own homes, gardens and sheds to bring specially designed equipment to individuals with disabilities, on a volunteer basis.

Brian Downes, Chairman of Remap, said: “Everything we create is made with the user in mind and in this case we tested many fibres and fabrics to find the most suitable one to make the jigsaws from. It’s great to know that every time we deliver a creation, someone is able to achieve something or get involved in an activity they enjoy doing that would have been otherwise impossible before.”

The jigsaws are part of the Trust’s commitment to person-centred care which recognises the importance of providing a comforting and positive experience to vulnerable patients which can help speed up their recovery.

Photo shows: (l-r): Gemma Betts, Activities Coordinator; Brian Downes, Chairman of Remap Doncaster; Eileen Harrington, Founder of DonMentia and Michael Mettham, Remap Engineer.