Poole care home residents ring in new year with dementia-friendly disco

Residents at a care home in Poole got their groove on as they celebrated the new year with a dementia-friendly silent disco.

Team members from Care UK’s The Potteries, on York Road in Broadstone, took residents, relatives and the local community back to the ‘70s during the home’s new year party.

The disco was designed to encourage reminiscence of the residents' younger years, improve mobility and offer music therapy, with headphones used to provide the option of reducing noise and overstimulation.

After an afternoon of ABBA, Neil Diamond, Tina Turner and Auld Lang Syne, there were giddy smiles all around as residents and guests showed off their inner dancing queens – and kings!

Celebratory prosecco and refreshments were on hand, and the home’s kitchen team provided sweet and savoury treats. The residents had the opportunity to write out their new years resolutions where Phyllis Bentley wrote “Eat more cake – you only live once!”

Commenting on the disco, Pearl Cruickshanks, said “It was lovely to all come together and celebrate song and music.”

Zita Turner, Home Manager at The Potteries, said: “We were delighted to host our dementia-friendly silent disco and pleased to say it was a success. Music can have many therapeutic benefits for older people – especially for those living with dementia – by offering them a way to communicate and express themselves while also triggering happy memories from their younger years and the associated emotions.

“The team at The Potteries worked hard to demonstrate to the community how living with dementia and growing older shouldn’t mean that you stop taking part in the fun activities enjoyed during younger years. The party never stops at The Potteries!

“We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who attended the disco. We’re already planning our next big music event and look forward to putting on our dancing shoes again soon.”

The Potteries offers full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The home has been designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilling lives in a luxury environment and boasts plenty of space – both indoors and out – for relaxation and recreation.