Poole care home's icing on the cake for dementia research

A specialist dementia home, The Aldbury in Ringwood Road, Poole took part in Cupcake Day 2017 as part of a fundraising initiative.

Organised by the Alzheimer’s Society, schools, community groups and care homes across the UK are invited to decorate and sell cupcakes to help fund its support for dementia patients and research into a cure.

Using sprinkles, sweets and even edible butterflies, The Aldbury residents rose to the occasion and set to work decorating a mountain of delicious cakes baked by the home’s chef.

Activities organiser Juriaan Steenekamp, said: “We have just about every type of cake topping you could imagine and the residents have certainly enjoyed themselves, producing some really beautiful and also some pretty outlandishly-decorated cakes.

“We will now be selling them to staff and visitors so we can do our bit to help the Alzheimer’s Society’s vital work.”
Joyce Holden and Bernard Wickenden decorated their cakes with a mixture of chocolate buttons, coconut flakes, silver balls and rice paper butterflies.

Joyce said: “I’m not really one for baking, but I’m certainly enjoying decorating cakes and I’m quite proud of what I’ve produced.”

Bernard added: “I think I may have more sweets on the plate than on the cakes! But it’s good fun.”

Thanks to a partnership with the charity Dementia UK, Colten Care has also become one of the first private sector care home providers to appoint an admiral nurse, Kay Gibson, for specialist dementia care support.

Admiral nurses give expert practical, clinical and emotional support to families facing the challenges associated with dementia.

Kay Gibson would also like to offer her support to those living with dementia in the wider community and is inviting people to meet her for tea, cake and a chat, about any aspect of dementia care, at The Aldbury from 11-1pm on the first and third Thursday of every month.

No appointment is necessary.