Men Only Dementia Facility in Morrinsville – A First of its Kind
Through the years, we have learned that caring for men and women assessed with Dementia can be very different and housing everyone together in one building can have its challenges.
Based on our experiences, in 2019 we opened a ‘Men Only’ facility on our site in Morrinsville. The stand-alone site includes a Men’s Shed, a Potting Shed and a Veggie Garden, which keeps the blokes busy. Daily activities are offered around our male Residents’ own particular interests and their past hobbies.
The “Men’s Shed” idea is aimed at promoting the health and well-being of the male participants by giving them the chance to engage in meaningful activities that can help maintain strength, coordination, thinking skills, emotional well-being and the opportunity for them to remain as independent as possible. This is done by having a dedicated workspace for men and by keeping them engaged in woodwork and other projects which will be of interest to them.
Outings to places of interest are chosen to keep the men engaged and interested. They visit places such as the Classic Car Museum in Hamilton and other places which capture their imaginations.
A lack of purpose can be linked with poor health, depression and other medical problems and being able to participate in meaningful activities can make a person feel independent and valued.
The Men’s Shed aims to decrease the isolation and loneliness that many men with Dementia may feel by providing a common shared space for the men who attend and social interaction with other men which will help facilitate friendships, which is so important for all people living in Residential Care. The number of men residing in the Male Only facility is limited to 17 only, keeping the Staff to Resident ratio high to ensure that the men remain engaged.
A year of activities is pre-planned and projects include making a Tool Box and a Birdhouse, a Clock and Toy Truck. The men participate in many other interesting wood and garden projects throughout the year.
If you are, or you know someone, caring for a person assessed with Dementia and feel you need help, please call us now.
