Funeral home staff in Stafford create special ‘twiddlemuffs’ to help people in the area with dementia
Posted by rob smyth | Published: 12/10/2017
Colleagues from Central England Co-operative Funeralcare in Stafford have been working together to help create ‘twiddlemuffs’ for patients with dementia.
Funeral Director Ruth Johnson, who oversees funeral homes in Stone Road and Queensville, has spearheaded an effort to produce knitted woollen items worn on the hands covered with adornments such as ribbons, large buttons and textured fabrics.
Patients with dementia can ‘twiddle’ in their hands while visiting and staying in hospital — a big help for those who have restless hands and enjoy having something to keep them occupied.
The items will be donated to local nursing homes and Dementia UK after the charity was named the Society’s corporate charity partner earlier this year.
Ruth said: “We are creating the twiddlemuffs among ourselves to present to local nursing homes and Dementia UK to give a little back to the community in which we serve and help out our corporate charity partner.
“The twiddlemuffs are a great lifeline to people with dementia and can be a vital tool as part battle the illness.”
Dementia UK provides specialist support to families affected by dementia through the charity’s Admiral Nurse service and Dementia Helpline.
Admiral Nurses work alongside people with dementia and their families and offer one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions so they can face dementia with more confidence and less fear. The nurses can be found based in the community, as well as operating out of hospitals and care homes.
The Dementia Helpline is available to anyone and is staffed by Admiral Nurses who offer support with any Dementia related problems and to ensure those with Dementia and those caring for them get the best possible care and advice.
To find out more about Dementia UK visit www.dementiauk.org or pop in to your local store to make a donation, Central England Co-op have collection points in retail stores, funeral homes and travel shops and run regular fundraising events throughout the year.
Notes to editors
About Central England Co-operative
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with projected gross sales of £927million for 2016/17. The Society’s principal areas of activity are food, funeral services, and property. The company’s funeral business consists of over 120 funeral homes across 16 counties, 10 florists, masonry production and administration, Bretby Crematorium and Terry Smiths coffin factory.
Central England Co-operative has more than 430 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The Society has an ambitious food store and funeral home development programme for 2017.
Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility. It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence. The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.
Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.
Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop
For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, @mycooplife and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative
Rob Smyth at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140
Email – publicrelations@centralengland.coop