With the disease now affecting some 800,000 ageing people in the UK with a staggering 44 million people worldwide, strategies need to be provided to assist in the well-being of these sufferers and their carers. With Government backed funding and trials guided by Loughborough University the works have been completed to great effect and recommendation.

The team made the decision to repurpose one bedroom within each of the two care homes, a decision not taken lightly as these rooms are the primary source of a care home’s income. The rooms are clutter free and created to provide a comfortable stay for any user. A ceiling height lighting pelmet was created and a row of RGB LED flex was installed to the top section allowing the ceiling to be washed with light and the same to the lower section of the pelmet washing the walls with light, creating a stunning and changeable mood lighting and feature, providing the correct atmosphere for each sensory experience. An Ultra Short Throw projector was installed, projecting onto a fixed frame screen allowing for full screen multimedia presentation from an Apple TV, Microsoft Xbox Kinect and blu ray player. An audio system and modern aroma devices are also provided along with artefacts from an era relating to the individuals. Little Islands offer the facility to create a person’s life story in full multimedia format with the assistance of their family members. The more information that can be selected then the more memories are recalled and the happier the individual.

The results are amazing, are appreciated by all concerned and were announced as a total success at the grand opening during May 2014. The rooms attracting many inquisitive visitors announcing that they will look to use the facilities regularly. The mood enhancing lighting and soothing background music coupled with beautiful aromas is a great way to just relax with family or staff. The Xbox provides a fun way to exercise or play interesting mind stimulating games using voice and gesture commands, or to Skype with friends and family. The Life Stories and Slide shows are a fantastic way of reinforcing lifelong memories, creating joy and happiness for people living with dementia.

Little Islands passionately provided environments and activities that enrich the lives of people living with dementia, giving fun, fulfillment, happiness, and fewer feelings of isolation.