Dementia Action Week 2026 | Celebrations Across Our Care Homes

At Minster Care Group, Dementia Action Week was a powerful reminder of the importance of compassionate dementia care, meaningful engagement and community connection across our care homes throughout the UK. From Nottingham and Northamptonshire to Scarborough, Cornwall, Oxfordshire, and North Shields, residents, families, and care teams came together to celebrate memories, encourage well-being, and raise awareness about living with dementia.

The Dementia Action Week witnessed the contribution by our social media family as every Like was worth £1 and every share worth £2 donation to the Alzheimer’s Society across all social media platforms.

Across our residential care homes, nursing homes and specialist dementia care communities, activities focused on reminiscence therapy, music therapy, sensory experiences, intergenerational relationships and person-centred care, all essential aspects of supporting individuals living with dementia.

The Love To Remember Forever!

At Hillcrest House Care Home in Looe, Cornwall, we were privileged to share a truly touching moment this Dementia Action Week when John, the devoted husband of our lovely resident Brenda, gifted us a glimpse into their life together—sharing two photographs taken 45 years apart alongside a beautiful, self-written poem called ‘Forget-Me-Not’. His words are a poignant reminder that while dementia may alter memory, it can never dim the love, connection, or shared history built over a lifetime. Moments like these sit at the absolute heart of everything we do at Minster Care; they allow us to see the vibrant individual beyond the diagnosis, ensuring that their unique identity and personal relationships remain central to their daily care. Whether in residential care or nursing care, we take the time to truly listen, learn, and value every life story, and we are incredibly grateful to John for sharing such a personal, powerful reflection of enduring love.

Music Therapy and Reminiscence in Dementia Care

Music continues to play an important role in dementia support, helping residents reconnect with meaningful memories, emotions and familiar experiences.

At Broadgate in Beeston, Nottingham, residents enjoyed a nostalgic karaoke and music session featuring songs from the 1960s and 1970s, including classics from The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Alongside themed word searches and colouring activities, the session encouraged conversation, memory recall and social interaction. Broadgate Care Home provides residential, nursing, dementia and palliative care near the University of Nottingham in Nottinghamshire.

At Littleport Grange in Ely, residents welcomed a live entertainer for a morning of sing-alongs, country classics and musical reminiscence. Familiar songs created a joyful atmosphere filled with laughter, participation and emotional connection.

Residents at Leycester House in Knutsford also enjoyed live singers, quizzes, bingo sessions, and musical entertainment throughout the week, creating opportunities for cognitive stimulation, companionship, and well-being.

At Three Elms in Warrington, residents travelled back through the decades during a retro party celebrating the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. The event featured music from resident DJ Keith Prowse, creating a truly personal and memorable experience for everyone involved.

Residents at Sycamore Lodge in London had live entertainment which took them on the ride to the old golden days, making it a really special day for residents and family members.

Dementia Activities Focused on Memories and Identity

Reminiscence activities remain a key part of dementia care because they help residents maintain identity, confidence and emotional well-being.

At Lakelands in Wigan, residents spent time sharing treasured photographs, wedding memories, holiday stories and family experiences. Conversations about childhood, loved ones, and life journeys helped create meaningful moments of connection between residents and staff.

The Cedars in Holmes, Chapel, created a Dementia Memory Wall using stories and memories gathered through one-to-one conversations with residents. Their “All About Me” identity project celebrated every resident’s personal history, hobbies, achievements and life experiences.

Golborne House in Warrington created a beautiful Memory Tree featuring heart-shaped cards filled with residents’ favourite memories and meaningful life moments, encouraging families to become part of the dementia awareness activities taking place within the home.

Intergenerational Activities and Community Engagement

Strong community relationships are an important part of life within Minster Care Group homes, particularly for residents living with dementia.

At Hillcrest House in Looe, residents welcomed children and teachers from the primary school for an intergenerational church service and sunflower planting activity. Residents also supported the school’s fundraising initiative by donating towards new sports goalposts, reinforcing the importance of purpose, inclusion and community involvement in later life.

Leycester House also hosted family craft sessions where grandparents, parents and grandchildren spent quality time together, strengthening emotional connections across generations.

Littleport Grange in Ely, residents attended a local coffee morning at St George’s Church and also enjoyed a scenic boat trip along the Great River Ouse, sparking conversations and reminiscence about earlier life experiences and travel memories.

At Cheaney Court in Desborough, Northamptonshire, residents welcomed the Mayor of Desborough to their Memory Lane Café for tea and cake as part of local Dementia Awareness Week fundraising activities.

Person-Centred Dementia Care and Meaningful Activities

Throughout Dementia Action Week, Minster Care Group homes delivered activities designed to support independence, emotional wellbeing, mobility and social engagement.

At Hourigan House, residents and staff enjoyed pyjama-themed activities, exercise sessions, sports days, games and coffee mornings that encouraged inclusion, fun and companionship.

Holcroft Grange organised gentle exercise sessions, relaxation and sound bath therapy, pet therapy visits and celebratory social events designed to support emotional comfort and reduce anxiety.

Elm Lodge in Greenford, London, focused on dementia workshops, exercise, teamwork, music therapy and a Purple Tea Party where residents, families and staff came together through dancing, singing and social interaction.

At Kingfisher Care Home in North Shields, residents participated in poetry competitions, arts and crafts, forget-me-not activities, dementia word searches and gardening sessions. The home also planted forget-me-not flowers in the garden to leave a lasting symbol of awareness and remembrance.

Raising Dementia Awareness Through Education and Empathy

Several Minster Care Group homes also focused on dementia education and awareness to help strengthen understanding, empathy and compassionate care practices.

At Cheaney Court, staff created a Dementia Awareness Board featuring dementia symptoms, communication guidance, support resources and inspirational messages for residents and families. The home also delivered a Dementia Simulator experience where staff wore distorted vision glasses, restrictive gloves and headphones with white noise while completing everyday tasks. The activity provided valuable insight into how sensory changes and cognitive challenges can affect confidence, independence and daily living for individuals with dementia.

Chestnut Lodge in Ealing, London, created Memory Boards featuring poems, family reflections and supportive dementia awareness messages while distributing forget-me-not badges to residents, staff and visitors.

Bringing history, fitness and joy to daily life

At Eagle View in Scarborough, residents powerfully reclaimed their identity through our “I am not my Dementia, I am…” project, which ran alongside a nostalgic retro party, a lovely ‘Time for a Cuppa’ social, and a wonderful intergenerational visit with children from Thomas Hinderwell Academy. A brilliant energy filled the lounges at Amberley House, where residents connected deeply through storytelling over games of bingo and a high-spirited G Fitness exercise class. Meanwhile, Karam Court turned back the clock with a spectacular 1920s retro party that brought history and music to life, and the team at Grays Court captured the beautiful, joyful essence of daily life, showing how small moments of shared laughter form the heart of compassionate care.

At Greenacres, residents enjoyed active mornings of chair yoga, meditation, music-making, and historical trivia booklets before proudly helping their colleague Alyson cross the finish line of her inspiring “31 Miles in May” fundraising walk. In tandem with these resident activities, the Greenacres team took part in an invaluable educational session with award-winning NHS nurse Kellie Leatherbarrow to discuss the ‘Living with Dementia Passport’ initiative. Across all of our homes, these diverse activities highlight our unwavering commitment to person-centred care—ensuring that every resident living with dementia remains visible, connected, and deeply valued within our family.