A CARE home activities manager has taken over running a monthly community social event and is inviting residents to join them this December.

The New Deanery and St Mary’s Court in Bocking regularly hosts events which provide party time for people living with dementia and their carers. 

Activities manager Jo Whitehouse said: “The event was originally started by the Alzheimer’s Society and run for many years by community volunteers Glenda Bocking and Gwen Stedman, but after Glenda sadly died, there was no one able to take it on and relaunch it after the pandemic. 

“I had attended the events with some of our residents and there was no way I could let them fall by the wayside, so I stepped in.”  

Now called Joy Birds Sonnet Social, the parties, complete with entertainers, dancing, refreshments and a raffle, take place on the last Wednesday afternoon of each month at St Mary’s Church Hall in Bocking, with Gwen continuing to help out. 

Jo said: “I am now getting regular phone calls from people living in the community saying there are not enough activities like this for them to attend with loved ones who are living with dementia. 

“At our November event, we had five new couples from the Braintree area joining us.” 

The next Joy Birds Sonnet Social will be the Christmas party, with entertainment provided by Joanna Lee, on Wednesday, December 21, at 2pm.

Entry costs £6 per person, carers attend free of charge. 

Next year, Jo is also hoping to start up a monthly dementia café at St Mary’s Court, which will be open to members of the community, to provide another opportunity for those living with dementia to meet up and interact. 

For more information, email Jo Whitehouse: jo.whitehouse@sonnetcarehomes.co.uk.