A GROUP of ladies from Snowdon House have been raising awareness for dementia with their knitting needles.

The group, led by volunteer Pat Jones, whose mother-in-law lives in Snowdon House, has been creating dementia muffs and hand bags for residents at another Chard home, Sunnymeade.

Snowdon House, in High Street, is an extra care housing facility, while Sunnymeade is a residential care home in Helliers Close.

Pat Jones, a volunteer at the care home, said: “Two ladies at Snowdon House had been knitting dementia muffs and knitted some little hand bags to hold glasses and things, and donated them to Sunnymeade Care Home.

“Two residents and two members of staff came from the care home to collect them and they were thrilled to bits.

“One lady wouldn’t take them off.

“A dementia muff is similar to a comfort blanket for children.

“They have bit on the inside that people can hold on to and soft parts on the outside.

“I was first approached on the internet by a lady who asked if we could knit these dementia muffs.

“When we had knitted some I couldn’t get back in touch with her so decided they should go to a local cause and then checked with Sunnymeade.

“They said they would love to have them.”

Following the handover of the dementia muffs and hand bags, the two homes have now started to organise functions together.

Mrs Jones has organised a number of events for the residents at Snowdon House now, including this year’s Easter bonnet parade which was judged by Cllr Jason Baker.

She is hoping that a number of the homes in the Chard area will now be able to join forces to organise more fun events for their residents, and raise some awareness in the process.

She added: “This awareness for dementia scheme is basically to make people aware that there are people in residential homes that might need your help.

“This is good for the residents as well because they have been without a warden and they need the continuity in their life.

“We are trying to encourage managers of some other homes in the area to get together for interesting events and fun days.”

For more information on Sunnymeade Care Home, visit www.somersetcare.co.uk/care-home/sunnymeade.